Ed O'Neal

Ed O’Neal first joined the U.S. Army in November 1977, serving in the Army until November 1980. He was commissioned into the U.S. Air Force in July 1986, serving for the next two decades until May 2007, serving with the U.S. Central Command, including time in Saudi Arabia during Operation Enduring Freedom.

In May 2004, O’Neal was serving at the “Oasis Compound” in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, when the location was attacked by Al Qaeda insurgents. The attack started early in the morning and fighting continued until after midnight. O’Neal was wounded while leading a group of four people, one other Air Force officer and three international civilian workers, during an attempt to escape the compound under darkness. While making their way through a courtyard between two large buildings, the group came under automatic weapons fire from an insurgent armed with an AK-47. O’Neal and the other Air Force officer were both wounded and were rescued several hours later. O’Neal was hit five times by ricocheting rounds five times. The attack claimed the lives of 21 people and many more were wounded.

Along with the Purple Heart, Lt Col O’Neal was awarded numerous medals and commendations during his service, including the Bronze Star with Valor Device, the United Nations Medal, and more.

U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Ed O’Neal represented his fellow Purple Heart heroes as North Carolina’s honoree during the 2023 Purple Heart Patriot Project Mission.