Troy Nealey remembered

On the drive from Eaton Rapids to Detroit to rejoin his unit, the conversation between Marine Lance Cpl. Troy Nealey and his mother took that "what-if" turn.

"He said he wanted a memorial to benefit the 4-H kids who won the livestock showman awards," Annette Nealey recalled Tuesday night. "He'd been in 4-H for 10 or 11 years, and he'd shown livestock. Troy wanted the money to go the kids."

Nealey, 24, was killed Sunday in action in Anbar province in Iraq. A Reserve Marine assigned to the Charlie Company in the 1st Battalion, 24th Regiment of the 4th Marine Division, Nealey and the other men of the Michigan-based outfit shipped out last month in one of the largest Michigan deployments to the war in Iraq.

The unit recently completed training at Twentynine Palms, Calif., and is expected to be in Iraq for a seven-month tour of duty.

The Defense Department announced Nealey's death Tuesday afternoon.

"He joined the Marines, he didn't go to college," his mother said. "He felt the Marines would give him the opportunity to grow. He joined the Reserve Marines, and he realized the war was on and he might be involved. He was proud to be a Marine."

Nealey had hoped to be an electrician -- his father Norman Nealey is a builder -- but his mother said his heart was really on a farm.

"He loved agriculture," she said. "He was exposed to farm life, and he loved the cattle and crops. If he'd been born on a farm, I think that would have made him the happiest."

His last civilian job before going on active duty was milking cows on a dairy farm, she said.

Nealey's pickup truck showed his colors.

"The truck had two stickers," his mother said. "One was 'Cowboy Up,' and the other was the Marines.

A graduate of Eaton Rapids High School, he played sweeper on the soccer squad and anchored relay teams.

"He was 5 feet 6, but he had a big heart and a big smile," she said.

In his first e-mail home, Nealey asked his mother to send hard candy that he could hand out to Iraqi kids.

Annette Nealey said she and others had started gathering Jolly Ranchers and Beanie Babies when she got the news of his death.

She said her son was a realist.

"He told me he was scared, and I told him, 'But, Troy, I want you to be scared. Be smart, be brave, but don't be a hero,' " his mother said.

"And he told me he wouldn't be a hero."

Nealey's funeral will be held Nov. 11 at 1 p.m. at Eaton Rapids High School.

From the Detroit Free Press

Eaton Rapids Marine left mark on many

EATON RAPIDS - The war in Iraq is hitting home for many in this small community where Marine Lance Cpl. Troy Nealey is being remembered as the "all-American boy."

Nealey, a 2001 graduate of Eaton Rapids High School, died in combat Sunday in Iraq's Al Anbar province, the Department of Defense announced Tuesday.

"He was good-looking, polite, kind and well- regarded by everyone that knew him," Eaton Rapids High School Principal Dave Johnson said.

Nealey, 24, is the first member of the armed forces from this city of 5,330 to be killed in the war. He's the 12th with known ties to mid-Michigan to have died in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"It's always so tragic listening as the numbers go up," said family friend Rick Smith. "But it didn't really sink in until yesterday. Now, it's really hit home."

Scott Boles, pastor of First Baptist Church of Eaton Rapids, said Nealey's parents and two younger brothers were notified of his death Sunday evening.

"They're so proud of what he's done, but they are deeply grieved," Boles said on the family's behalf. "There's been a great outpouring of support from the community. The family has appreciated that, but now they just need a few days alone."

Nealey was assigned to the Marine Forces Reserve's 1st Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, out of Lansing.

"We all knew him and really liked him," said Johnson, who announced the loss to the school Monday morning. "I can literally close my eyes and still see him walking down the hall.

"Sometimes I would be leaning against the wall in the hallway as classes changed and he would always make me smile if he walked by.

"If he was with a group of people, there would be laughter. He was such a great kid."

Boles got to know the Nealey family - parents Norman and Annette and their sons Troy; Todd, a sophomore at Michigan State University; and Michael, who is in the eighth grade - when he moved into the house next door in 2000.

Boles said Troy Nealey was a "respectful kid with a positive outlook" who loved his country.

"He was always so approachable," Boles said. "I have never met any kid so respectful of adults."

Nealey was involved in 4-H throughout his childhood, Boles said, and played soccer all four years of high school. He helped his dad, a builder, on construction projects and helped his woodworking teacher run electrical wiring in a pole barn.

In his senior year, the wing defender received the coaches' award.

"Kids like him made coaching very enjoyable," said Joe Honsowitz, the Greyhounds' former soccer coach.

"He was always positive. I never heard him once be negative about anything. He was a model player."

Friends said Nealey's parents supported his decision to enlist, a decision he made knowing he might not make it home, Boles said.

"He knew the dangers, and he was willing to do whatever it took to serve his country," Boles said. "He was just proud to wear that uniform."

From the Lansing State Journal

Marine's mom remembers her fallen son with pride

EATON RAPIDS - Annette Nealey said talking about her son Troy helps bring some comfort.

She smiles as she recalls his generosity and sense of humor. But the fact of his loss is still so fresh, she pauses often, tears in her eyes as she remembers.

Marine Lance Cpl. Troy Nealey, a 2001 Eaton Rapids High School graduate, died Oct. 29 while conducting combat operations in Fallujah, Iraq. His death came about a month after he arrived in Iraq with the 24th Marine Regiment.

Troy, 24, was killed when the vehicle in which he was traveling was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade, according to information provided to the family by the Marine Corps. Of the four Marines in the vehicle, Troy was killed and another was seriously wounded.

Annette Nealey said it's her understanding the attack came as part of the Iraqi insurgency.

Since news of his death became public, the family has been "overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from this community," she said.

"Troy had a very big heart. He was so generous, fun loving and had a wild sense of humor," she said. "He found humor in everything in life. And he had lots of very close friends."

Troy was a Marine reservist, part of Company C out of Lansing. He joined the Marine Corps in January 2004. Before leaving for Iraq in September, he had trained in California for four months. That training included six weeks of intense preparation at Twentynine Palms, where, Annette said, all Marines headed for Iraq spend time before deployment.

Troy last saw his family - mother Annette, father Norm and his two brothers, Todd and Michael - in early August, when he was home on leave for about a week. Once he arrived in Iraq on Sept. 29, Annette said, she was able to speak to her son three or four times via satellite phone.

"If he could get to a phone, his girlfriend, Lauren Wood, was usually the first one he called. But I was next on the list," she said.

Annette last spoke with Troy a week before he was killed. "He said he was getting ready to do his laundry and looking forward to his first shower in a week."

He worried about family

He also said he was worried about the family being worried about him.

"But I told him: 'Troy, you are not going through this alone. You have to realize that what you are going through in this time in your life is important to all of us. (The worst) could happen to anyone at anytime, and we know that.' "

"I know, Mom," she said her son replied.

The family learned of Troy's death last Sunday evening, when several uniformed Marines rang their doorbell.

"It was the stereotypical scene," Annette said. "I remember seeing the Marines' hats come off and those words, 'We regret to inform you.' It didn't seem real."

Family proud of Troy

Despite their grief, the family emphasizes how proud they are of what Troy was doing for his country.

"I am very proud of my son," Annette said. "I've always known that men and women would be called to serve their country and to protect what we have here.

In the United States "we can go out for the evening - go to the movies or go to the mall - and not have to worry that we could be attacked, anytime, anywhere. Someone has to protect that."

She said that before Troy left home in August, headed back to California for more training, he was aware of what he was likely heading into.

"He said, 'This is what I have been trained to do. I want to go over there, do my job and come home,' " Annette said.

The Nealeys are life-long Eaton Rapids residents. Troy was the oldest of three sons.

Todd, 21, is a junior at Michigan State University and is in Officer Candidate School for the Marines. Once he gets his degree, he will make the decision whether to sign up as an officer, Annette said.

The youngest Nealey, Michael, is in eighth grade at Eaton Rapids Middle School.

Annette said Troy was always protective of his brothers, especially Todd because of their closeness in age. She said the 24th Marines are known as the "Band of Brothers," and Troy had his own band of brothers growing up.

She said she fondly recalls the close bond between brothers Troy and Todd and their neighbors and friends, Luke and Charlie Betts. Luke also is a Marine and has served in Iraq.

Her family has a long history of military service, Annette said. As a teen, she had dreams of joining the Air Force. Of her six brothers, four were in the service. Two served in Vietnam.

"Our family has never questioned its support of the military," she said.

As part of Marine tradition, Troy's body will have an official Marine escort home, Annette said. One of his team leaders during his training, Marine Cpl. Eric Miller, will have that honor.

Memorial service

A memorial service for Troy has been scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at the Eaton Rapids High School gym.

Annette said she sees it as an invitation to the community to celebrate Troy's life.

His friends are being asked to write down some of their memories of Troy to be shared during the service.

"There are other boys from Eaton Rapids that will be and have been affected by this, too," Annette said.

From the Lansing State journal

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Troy D. Nealey killed in combat