Solon D. Neal was born in Hanover, New Hampshire, in 1846. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1866, beginning a long military career that spanned three decades and multiple enlistments.

Serving with Company L, 6th U.S. Cavalry, Neal distinguished himself during the Battle of the Little Wichita River, Texas, on July 12, 1870. In this fierce day-long fight against Kiowa warriors, Neal volunteered with others to dislodge enemy sharpshooters from the bluffs, enabling his surrounded command to withdraw. For his “gallantry in action,” he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Though his Medal of Honor citation records him as a Private, Neal continued to serve and rose to the rank of Sergeant later in his career. He remained in uniform through the 1890s, completing over 30 years of service to the United States.

Neal passed away on November 1, 1920, and is buried at San Antonio National Cemetery in Texas. His grave marker honors him as a Sergeant, reflecting the highest rank he achieved.

A son of New Hampshire, Solon D. Neal’s courage at Wichita River and his decades of service stand as a lasting testament to duty, sacrifice, and valor.