The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1954-07-09
Ben O'Neal, Notable Service Record,
Now Relief Commander OcracOke Group
Native of Ocracoke Is Son of Smy ONea, Lifelong
ocracoker; Experience With USDE, Army, UScG.

the sandy beaches and finding
work where ever posnible. How
ever, his main occupation as a
young boy was fishing, which is
the sole means Of survival for a
young fellow wishing to remain
on the Island.
Entered Ocracoke School at the
usual age and finished High
School with the graduating class
of 1887. Remained on the Island
until 1888 when he got his first
job away from the Island on Vir-
GINA Beach Blvd, as a service
station attendant. Staying only a
short time, missing the carefree
happy life of the Island, Ben re-
turned until November, 1889.
Keeping up the tradition, Ben
went North and applied for work
with the Engineering Depart
ment, Philadelphia District. There
he worked as a deck hand and
deck mate until entering the u.
Is. Army in 1941. AS his selective
service number was tWenty-nlne
(29), Ben was the first to leave
Ocracoke and his Island home to
oppose Hitler and his superior
forces.
He was married April 5, l941,
to the former Miss Naomi Simp-
son two days prior to induction.
Took Basic Training at Fort
Bragg, N. c., in Battery B, First
Field Artillery Training and Re-
placement Center. Upon compile
ton of basic training, was assign
ed to Battery B. 72nd Field Ar
tillery Regiment as a Cpl. Ben
was indicted for one year con-
script training. He had completed
eight (8)> months service when
the tragedy of Pearl Harbor oc-
cured. Considered we'll trained
troops, Ben awoke one morning
FINDING himself and his buddies
boarding a troop train for parts
unknown.
Now a Sergeant, leaving New
York harbor and the Statue OF
Liberty behind, with many
thoughts of loved ones and OF
Ocracoke. Ben sailed down the
Atlantic Coast which at this time
Twas infested with German Sub
marines, on to Panama, through
the Canal Zone and into the
Pacific. Making his first stop at
Melbourne, Australia some forty
days later, where he rested for a
two weeks period.
Left Melbourne and arrived at
Noumea, New Catalonia where
Ben was given extensive train
ing. Here his Division was formed
and named the Americal Division
for America and New Catalonia,
the only division in the U. S,
Army without number. Anyone
familiar with the Army during
World War II will tell you that
this Division was the backbone of
the Pacific fighting. Having serv-
ed at Melbourne, New Catalonia
and the New Hebrides, Ben help
ed reinforce the First Marine
Division under the Command of
Mai. Gen. Alexander A. Vande-
grift, USING, for which he holds
a unit citation for strongly de-
Tending positions against the jap
anese on Tulogi, Cavutu, Tanam-
bogo, Florida and Guadalcanal,
British Solomon Islands, complet-
ly routing all the enemy forces
and Selling a most valuable base
and airfield Henderson,, there
fore being on the first offensive
of World War II.
| After spending several months
on both Guadalcanal and the Fiji
Islands, Ben returned to the
U.S.A., via Samoa, as he was one
of the selected few returned for
the purpose of training and pass
ing on valuable information and
Experiences to the recruits which
were flowing into the Army at
this time. After being processed
at Angel Island, California, was
transferred to Camp Beale, Cali
fornia as recruit instructor. Was
later transferred to the 10th In
fantry Division at Camp Adair,
Oregon, as platoon sergeant. Here