Frederick Allan O'Neal, of Chattanooga, died Saturday. A hero to his country, family and friends, he was 82.
He volunteered for military duty while a high school student in Shelbyville, TN in March, 1942, and served as a medic with "Rudder's Ranger's," the U.S. Army 2nd Ranger Battalion, from D-Day, through the Battle of the Bulge, and the Rhineland Campaign.
He was awarded the Silver Star and the first of his three Purple Heart
medals for his actions during the assault on Pointe du Hoc during the
Normandy Invasion of June 6, 1944.
After working for Western Electric, he became an electrician at Dupont's
Chattanooga Nylon Plant in 1950 and worked there until his 1982 retirement.
Among his leisure activities, he served as Scout Master for Troop 55 in the Boy Scouts of America Cherokee Area Council until that troop disbanded in the late 1960's.
He was preceded in death by his father, Frank O'Neal, and mother, Pearl (Lowrance) O'Neal, and brother, Charles Lawrence O'Neal.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Kathryn; his only son, Michael Allan (Jane Vass) O'Neal; granddaughter, Jordan Allan O'Neal; and great-grandson, Xander Allan O'Neal; sister-in-law, Mildred (Charles) O'Neal, of Red Bank, TN; brother-in-law, Mark Hale, of Tampa; niece, Linda C. Roach, of Philadelphia, PA; nephews, Larry (Shelly) Williams, of Benton, TN, Gordon (Martha) Brewer, of Ellijay, GA, and Charles (Carol) O'Neal, of Collegeville, PA.
Graveside services with military honors are scheduled for 2 p.m. on Monday at the Chattanooga National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Hospice of Chattanooga.
Send condolences at www.CovenantFuneral.com.
Arrangements are by Covenant Funeral Service, Crox family owned and
operated.