The Battle of Cherbourg was fought after the Allied landings on France's northern coast, and saw mostly American troops fight to capture the port. This was an important step in the grander Allied invasion of Western Europe. The 79th Infantry Division of which Neely served in trained for amphibious operations like this one.

The Second Lieutenant rank was vital in the United States Army, serving as a bridge position between the lower ranked soldiers and the higher chain of command. One had to be a good leader, a risk taker, and highly skilled in combat to succeed in this position. 

Over 16 million Americans enlisted into World War II, a remarkable figure. Many young men were ready to put their lives on the line for their country, and hope to come back from the war with pride and honor. 

Edwin Neely enlisted on October 12th, 1942. When he died he was Second Lieutenant Warrant Officer, and was responsible for overseeing small units of soldiers in action and in training. He was a part of the Allied Invasion on Normandy, and his unit landed on Utah Beach and became a part of the assault on Cherbourg. The regiment moved along the perimeter of Cherbourg, and within several days encountered heavy resistance. He died on July 25th, 1944, right before the capture of Cherbourg. The 79th Infantry Division would continue to move across France and onto the French-Belgian border, before moving along to the Rhine and establishing occupational duty until the end of the war. He likely carried with him an officer's pistol and personal knife. He was permanently laid to rest at the Normandy American Cemetery, where he had fought and died.