Feature Friday: Caleb McNeill

Feature Friday highlights the tremendous personal stories our coaches and cadet-athletes have to share on a weekly basis. Each Friday, a new feature story will be prominently highlighted on GoArmyWestPoint.com. The features will include multi-media pieces, as well as written stories by media outlets and the Army West Point athletic communications staff..

This story was originally published in The Fayetteville Observer and online at fayobserver.com

An Associated Press photographer's picture of former Gray's Creek football player Caleb McNeill running onto the field Saturday before the U.S. Military Academy's game against Tulane went viral.

McNeill was holding the French flag as he ran onto the field, running just behind a teammate holding the American flag, a symbol of solidarity with France in the face of the brutal terrorist attack Friday that the Islamic State has taken credit for.

But McNeill's father, Whit, said in a telephone interview that his son wasn't sure why he was chosen to carry the flag, or if officials at West Point were aware of Caleb's connection to the history of French and American support for each other, playing high school football in the backyard of a city named for a French hero of the American Revolution.

The Marquis de Lafayette came to this country to help Gen. George Washington in his fight against the British. As tribute to his service, many American cities were named for Lafayette, but the first one was Fayetteville, N.C.

It was also the only city bearing Lafayette's name that he actually visited during his tour of the United States 190 years ago.

Fayetteville also is home to Fort Bragg and the 82nd Airborne, another group with strong ties to France. The All American Division and Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Alvin York fought in France during World War I.

The 82nd played a vital role in the D-Day landings, parachuting behind German lines at St. Mere-Eglise in France to pave the way for the Normandy landings.

So accident or not, it was appropriate that a young man from the neighborhood of Lafayette's namesake and Fort Bragg was part of the show of solidarity Saturday.

"If they didn't take it into consideration, it's a pretty amazing coincidence," said McNeill's father, who has relocated to Waynesville since his son's graduation from Gray's Creek. Mr. McNeill said that although Caleb is a backup defensive back who mainly plays on special teams, he's often selected to serve as a spokesman and representative of the team.

The sports information department at the U.S. Military Academy would not make McNeill available for an interview until Tuesday at the earliest.

Mr. McNeill said he spoke with Caleb by text and said his son had mixed emotions about carrying the French flag. "He was pretty sad based on the tragic events, but he was proud to honor France in that way," Mr. McNeill said.

Caleb is a junior in athletic eligibility but Mr. McNeill said he will graduate West Point in 2016. His focus is in mechanical engineering and he has a 3.8 grade point average. "He's just a hard worker," Mr. McNeill said.

Caleb was a two-sport star during his time at Gray's Creek. He made second team All-Cape Fear Valley 3-A as a senior quarterback for the Bears in football. In the spring of 2012 he was chosen to the All-Cape Fear region baseball team as an outfielder where he made no errors during his final season.

Senior DB Caleb McNeill
(Ref.: Being selected to carry French flag)
"Truthfully, I'm not really sure what went on behind the scenes. From my point of view, it was kind of spontaneous. I was just stretching on the sidelines and Col. Bagley, who was giving us some tasks before, came up to me and said 'Caleb, I've got a secret and dangerous mission for you.' I was definitely honored to be chosen for that."

It meant a lot to me, and I know there's a few guys on the team that have some French decent. Truthfully, to represent the support that the United States has shown for France is just a real honor."

(Ref.: Thoughts before running out with French flag)
"Before I went out there, I was just thinking about what was going on at that time and how many people were affected. I knew it was going to be a powerful moment, but I didn't realize how many people it was going to be that powerful for."

(Ref.: Feeling in Michie Stadium vs. Tulane)
"Every Army football game is electric, but I think there was definitely a special moment at that time with everything that had been going on and the feelings around the world. To have that in the back of everyone's minds then being brought to the forefront was definitely a special moment."

(Ref.: Where moment ranks in McNeill's West Point experiences)
"That was definitely one of the coolest moments I've had as a Cadet."

(Ref.: Does an event like this have you thinking about life after West Point?)
"Here, you've always got to be thinking about the next step. If you're not, you get left behind. It's definitely brought a lot of things into my mind about what's going to happen next, and I'm excited for the future."

(Ref.: Being at the forefront of pictures/videos going viral)
"It's not about me, it's about West Point, the United States and how we're supporting France in everything they're going through right now. I was honored to be the one chosen for it, and I know it's not about me, even though my name has been put out there with it."

(Ref.: Reactions from friends/family)
"I've definitely gotten a lot of texts from old friends and other people, but I realize it's not about me. There's definitely a bigger picture going on."

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Feature Friday: Caleb McNeill

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Caleb McNeill

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