Obituary of Henry "Hank" W Neill, Jr.
Henry (Hank) W. Neill, Jr., was born on August 19, 1939, living in Mendham until young adulthood. His parents were H. Wilson Neill and Ann Marie Langhan Neill of Mendham. He is survived by his sister, Margaret Neill of Gladstone, NJ, and his wife, Judy Neill of Springfield, VA. Hank was a member of St. Joseph Church and Boy Scout Troop One, whose leader was William (Green Bar Bill) Hillcourt, author of the Boy Scout Handbook and editor of Boys Life magazine. Hank’s photo often appeared in Boy’s Life modeling camping techniques. He was known around Mendham as “Buzz”.
Hank graduated from Morristown High School. He held a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Villanova University where he ran track under the legendary coach, James “Jumbo” Elliott. He graduated with a Master of Business Administration from the University of Colorado. Military education included graduation from the U. S. Army Finance School, the U. S. Army Command and General Staff College and the National War College.
Hank Neill enlisted in the U. S. Army in 1962 and was assigned to Turkey as a cryptographer with the Army Security Agency. After achieving the rank of Sergeant, he received a direct commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Army Finance Corps. Subsequent assignments took him to Vietnam, Turkey, Japan and numerous locations throughout the United States. He retired from active military service as Chief, U. S. Finance Corps (Regiment) and Commandant, U. S. Army Finance School. Among his military decorations, COL Neill held the Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster and Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.
After military service, Hank continued in public service in various leadership positions some of which were serving as Vice President of the Public Member Association of the Foreign Service, President of the Finance Corps Association and Explorer Post Leader for the Boy Scouts of America. Hank served as the Executive Vice President of the Association of Military Banks of America where he represented the banks operating on military installations and served as a board member and Corporate Secretary of the Armed Forces Financial Network, an automated teller and debit card network serving members of the armed forces and their families worldwide.
Those of you who ever spoke with Hank quickly found that he did not have to kiss the Blarney Stone to acquire that gift of “gab”. He loved sharing his stories. Over the years he attributed the soldiers of the Finance Unit, 5th Infantry Division, Mechanized, in Vietnam to enabling him to have a successful military career. Hank kept his soldiers safe in Vietnam and they supported him with dedication. The support of these soldiers with words filled his last hours with memories. I thank them as well as friends living all over the world, relatives and neighbors for being with me in spirit. I felt their prayers- they were comforting.
Hank died at home in Springfield, VA, on November 7, 2020. According to Hank’s wishes, burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery on March 17, 2021, St. Patrick’s Day, an appropriate date for a 100 % Irishman. Because of the pandemic, the funeral will be private. Memorial donations in memory of Henry W. Neill, Jr. may be sent to:
Center for Prostate Disease Research
c/o The Henry M. Jackson Foundation
6720A Rockledge Drive, Suite 100
Bethesda, Maryland 20817
Phone: (240) 694-2000
