Mezue ahịrịokwu na-esonụ: Neal jere ozi na United States Navy site na 1998 ruo 2002, na-eru ọkwa nke onye isi ndị isi nke 3rd Class ma nọ n'ụgbọ USS Cole, mgbe ọ bụ
onye gburu onwe ya n'abalị iri na abụọ n'ọnwa Ọktoba n'afọ 2000. Neal nwere egbugbu n'ogwe aka nri ya nke mkpụrụ akwụkwọ mbụ nke ezigbo enyi ya, bụ́ onye e gburu ná mwakpo ahụ. Mgbe mwakpo ahụ gasịrị, a chọpụtara na Neal nwere nsogbu nrụgide post-traumatic ma nọrọ ihe karịrị otu afọ n'ọrụ n'ọdụ ụgbọ mmiri tupu ya agwụchaa afọ anọ ya na ndị agha mmiri na 2002.