Robert Neely, Jr., was born on June 20, 1929, the first of six children born to Robert and Missouri Neely of West Point. He received his elementery and secondary education from Fifth Street School and Mary Holmes Seminary. He was remembered by his teachers and fellow students as a very bright student who would offer tutorial sessions for in-service teachers attending summer school at Mary Holmes.

Robert Neely was influenced by former servicemen attending Mary Holmes College under the GI Bill to join the Army. He volunteered for the U. S. Army at age 19 and received his basic training at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. He was immediately sent to Korea after basic training. He fought on the front lines with the 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division of the US Army.

He was in Korea only a short time when his parents received word on November 28, 1950, that he had been declared missing in action. His family was later notified that Robert Neely, Jr., had died of starvation in a North Korean prison camp.