Topic: Neville Brand

Neville Brand (August 13, 1920 – April 16, 1992), was an American television and movie actor.

Gravel-voiced Neville Brand was born in Griswold, Iowa, of Belgian, Dutch and Welsh ancestry. He was born to Leo and Helen Brand as one of seven children. Leo, an electrician and bridge building steel worker, and Helen were originally from Illinois, and Neville was raised in Kewanee, Illinois. After high school, he helped support the family while employed as a soda jerk, waiter, and shoe salesman in Kewanee. He entered the Illinois Army National Guard on October 23, 1939 as a private in Company F, 129th Infantry Regiment. Enlisted as Corporal Neville L. Brand infantryman on March 5, 1941, he was listed as being six feet tall and weighing 169 pounds.

He trained at Fort Carson, and served nine months and nineteen days in the U.S. Army in World War II seeing action with the 331st Infantry Regiment of the 83rd Infantry Division (Thunderbolt Division) in the Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central European campaigns. Brand, a sergeant and platoon leader, was wounded in action along the Weser River on April 7, 1945. His upper right arm was hit by a bullet, and he nearly bled to death. He was discharged from service in October 1945.