CWO Doug Neale was born in Hamilton ON in 1942 and entered military service with the Royal Canadian Engineers in Toronto ON in 1960 at the age of 17. After completing his basic and trades training at the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering at Camp Chilliwack BC, Doug was posted to 1 Field Squadron in Camp Petawawa ON where he served for six years.
Doug served next in Werl, Germany with 4 Field Squadron and then returned to Canada to 22 Field Squadron in Camp Gagetown, NB. Promoted to Sergeant in 1971, he then deployed to the International Commission for Control and Supervision Vietnam. On return from this assignment, he was assigned to the Regular Support Staff with 56th Field Squadron in St Johns NL. The following year he was promoted to Warrant Officer and returned to 22 Field Squadron.
In 1979 Doug was posted to 5e Regiment de Genie du Canada as 1 Troop Warrant Officer. Upon promotion to Master Warrant Officer, he became Support Squadron Sergeant Major and held that position until he was posted to 2 Combat Engineer Regiment in Petawawa.
Doug was promoted to Chief Warrant Officer in 1981 and then served as a Doctrine Writer at Mobile Command Headquarters in St Hubert QC. He was subsequently appointed Regimental Sergeant Major of 4 Combat Engineer Regiment in Lahr. After this RSM tour Doug was appointed as the Canadian Military Engineer Chief Warrant Officer in 1988 and held that position until 1991 when he became the Base Chilliwack Chief Warrant Officer. He held that position until 1993 when he retired from the Canadian Forces. Doug then returned to Ottawa for a second career with the Public Service as Field Engineer Equipment Manager until his second retirement in 2005.