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Thomas Patrick Noonan, Jr. |
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Engagements: • Vietnam War (1960 - 1973) |
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Biography: | ||||
Thomas Patrick Noonan, Jr. Lance Corporal Thomas Patrick Noonan, Jr. (18 November 1943 - 5 February 1969) was a U.S. Marine who was posthumously awarded the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for heroism during February 1969 in Vietnam. Thomas Patrick Noonan, Jr. was born on 18 November 1943 in Brooklyn, NY. He graduated from Grover Cleveland High School in Ridgewood, NY in June 1961 and attended Hunter College in the Bronx, graduating with a B.A. degree in Physical Education in June 1966. Coincidently, he grew up with Sergeant Robert Emmett O'Malley, who was also awarded the Medal of Honor in Vietnam. The two attended school and church together and were friends throughout childhood. After Noonan's death in Vietnam, O'Malley remained in contact with the Noonan family and visited Noonan's mother every year on Memorial Day. Noonan enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve in Brooklyn, New York on 26 December 1967 and was subsequently discharged to enlist in the Regular Marine Corps on 31 January 1968. Noonan completed recruit training with the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, SC in April 1968, and was promoted to Private First Class on 1 April 1968. Transferred to the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, NC, he underwent individual combat training with the 1st Battalion, 1st Infantry Training Regiment. Ordered to the Republic of Vietnam in July 1968, he was assigned duty as mortar man with H&S Company, 2nd Battalion, 27th Marines, 1st Marine Division (Rein), FMF. In August, he was reassigned to the 3rd Marine Division where he saw combat as a rifleman, M-79 Man with Company G, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines. He was promoted to Lance Corporal on 1 January 1969. Noonan was killed in action on 5 February 1969, while participating in action against the enemy south of Vandegrift Combat Base in Quang Tri Province. For his heroic actions during that battle, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. Medal of Honor citation The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
LANCE CORPORAL THOMAS P. NOONAN, JR. for service as set forth in the following CITATION: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a Fire Team Leader with Company G, Second Battalion, Ninth Marines, Third Marine Division, in operations against the enemy in Quang Tri Province in the Republic of Vietnam. On 5 February 1969, Company G was directed to move from a position which they had been holding southeast of the Vandergrift Combat Base in A Shau Valley to an alternate location. As the Marines commenced a slow and difficult descent down the side of the hill, made extremely slippery by the heavy rains, the leading element came under a heavy fire from a North Vietnamese Army unit occupying well-concealed positions in the rocky terrain. Four men were wounded, and repeated attempts to recover them failed because of the intense hostile fire. Lance Corporal Noonan moved from his position of relative security and, maneuvering down the treacherous slope to a location near the injured men, took cover behind some rocks. Shouting words of encouragement to the wounded men to restore their confidence, he dashed across the hazardous terrain and commenced dragging the most seriously wounded man away from the fire-swept area. Although wounded and knocked to the ground by an enemy round, Lance Corporal Noonan recovered rapidly and resumed dragging the man toward the marginal security of a rock. He was however, mortally wounded before he could reach his destination. His heroic actions inspired his fellow Marines to such aggressiveness that they initiated a spirited assault which forced the enemy soldiers to withdraw. Lance Corporal Noonan's indomitable courage inspiring initiative and selfless devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country. /S/ RICHARD M. NIXON Medals and Awards Medal of Honor Vietnam Veterans Memorial The name Thomas P. Noonan, Jr. is inscribed on Panel 33W, Line 067. Death and Burial Lance Corporal Thomas Patrick Noonan, Jr. was killed in action on 5 February 1969. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Woodside, Queens County, NY. |
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Honoree ID: 1040 | Created by: MHOH |