1st Lt. Phillip I. Neel, 27, of Fredericksburg, TX, died April 8 in Balad, Iraq, of wounds suffered when his unit came in contact with enemy forces using grenades. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Fort Hood, Texas. He was deployed to Iraq in October.

He was a 1998 graduate of Fredericksburg High School in TX., and Graduated from West Point in 2005. He had previously deployed as a paratrooper to Kosovo.

His military awards and decorations prior to his death included the Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal with Bronze Star, Global War on Terrorism (Service) Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Expert Infantryman Badge, the Parachute Badge and the Italian Parachutist badge.

He is survived by his father, Colonel Leroy Neel, mother Kathy Neel and five siblings.

Proceeds from the 1LT Phillip I. Neel bracelet will be donated to Legacies Alive in his memory.