Categorized | Carousel, Editorial

EDITORIAL: Perth Amboy’s Neil Lucey Honored Posthumously

Periodically the Amboy Guardian receives emails from the  New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Vietnam Era Museum & Educational Center. On May 28, 2016 I was looking at my emails and clearing out some of the old ones. As I was about to discard an email sent on April 28, 2016 from the NJVVMF, something told me to open it up before deleting it.

The second story listed caught my eye when it mentioned that Neil Lucey’s 101 year old sister will be receiving a New Jersey Medal for Valor honoring her brother, Neil Lucey posthumously. This ceremony took place on May 7, 2016.

The following is an account of that ceremony that took place  in Holdmel.

Neil LuceySister of WWII Soldier Receives NJ Medal During Remembrance Day Ceremony

Article and photo reprinted from http://www.njvvmf.org/

HOLMDEL/PERTH AMBOY – 101-Year-old Marie Liston received the medal for her brother, Neil Lucey, who died in the attack on Pearl Harbor. She received this medal at a ceremony which took place at the NJ Vietnam Memorial Annual Remembrance Day Ceremony on May 7, 2016. Marie Liston is the sister of WWII Navy Seaman Neil Lucey who died in the attack on Pearl Harbor, accepted a medal on her brother’s behalf. Neil Lucey was just 18 years old when he joined the United States Navy. He reported for duty March 12, 1940. Just 19 months later he would lose his life at Pearl Harbor, two days after his 20th birthday. His body is one of 1,177 entombed in the USS Arizona. Now, 75 years later, Neil’s sister will accept a medal on his behalf during a Remembrance Day ceremony at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation on May 7, 2016. Marie Lucey Liston is 101 and lives in Brick, NJ. She was born in 1914 in New York City and is the oldest of five kids. Her mother died in childbirth in 1924 and the siblings were sent to live with relatives in Perth Amboy. Their father, Timothy Lucey, worked for the railroad and would visit when he could. The death of Neil, who was nicknamed “Buddy,” was hard on the family. The first communication from the US Navy came on December 20, 1941, and informed the family that Neil was missing in action while the search for survivors at Pearl Harbor continued. The official death notice came on January 30, 1942 when it was determined that Neil had been one of those lost on the USS Arizona on December 7, 1941 after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.

He was awarded a Purple Heart posthumously for his valiant service as a Seaman First Class with the Navy. Neil was the first person killed in action from Perth Amboy in WWII. The City dedicated a park in his name and the park was renovated and rededicated in 2000. Gordon Pingicer is on the board of the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial Foundation, and is Marie’s son-in-law. “This medal means so much to the family,” Gordon said. “Just the recognition that New Jersey gives to people who served is very significant.” Remembrance Day was created by legislation in 1991 as a day in New Jersey to honor those who served in the military during the Vietnam War from 1959 to 1975. More than 200,000 New Jersey residents served in the armed forces during that time.

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Browse Current Issue - Click Here

Safety Announcement

We are taking safety precautions in the City of Perth Amboy, and emphasize that it is important: IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING!!
Report Suspicious Activity – Be Vigilant – STAY ALERT! Do not think that any call or report is too small. Don’t allow the actions of a few dictate your quality of life.
FOR ALL EMERGENCIES, DIAL: 9-1-1
FOR ALL NON-EMERGENCIES, DIAL: 732-442-4400