Thomas Patrick Noonan Jr. (November 18, 1943 – February 5, 1969) was a United States Marine who was posthumously awarded the United States' highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor — for heroism during February 1969 in Vietnam.
Thomas Patrick Noonan Jr. | |
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 Thomas P. Noonan Jr., posthumous Medal of Honor recipient | |
| Born | November 18, 1943 Brooklyn, New York |
| Died | February 5, 1969 (aged 25) near Vandegrift Combat Base, Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam |
| Place of burial | Calvary Cemetery, Woodside, New York |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service |  United States Marine Corps |
| Years of service | 1967–1969 |
| Rank |  Lance Corporal |
| Unit | Company G, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division |
| Battles / wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Purple Heart |
Biography
editNoonan was born on November 18, 1943, in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from Grover Cleveland High School in Ridgewood, New York in June 1961 and attended Hunter College in the Bronx, New York, graduating with a B.A. degree in Physical Education in June 1966. Coincidentally, he grew up with Sergeant Robert Emmett O’Malley, who would also be 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.[1]
He enlisted in the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve in Brooklyn, New York on December 26, 1967, and was subsequently discharged to enlist in the Regular Marine Corps on January 31, 1968.
Private Noonan completed recruit training with the 3rd Recruit Training Battalion, Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, South Carolina in April 1968, and was promoted to private first class on April 1, 1968.
Transferred to the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 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 January 1, 1969.
Noonan was killed in action on February 5, 1969, while participating in action against the enemy during Operation Dewey Canyon south of Vandegrift Combat Base in Quang Tri Province.[2]
Decorations
editA complete list of his medals and decorations include: the Medal of Honor, Purple Heart, Army Presidential Unit Citation, National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
 
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| Medal of Honor | Purple Heart | ||||
| National Defense Service Medal | Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars | Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal | |||
Medal of Honor citation
editThe President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS
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 February 5, 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
In memory
editThe name Thomas P. Noonan, Jr. is inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial ("The Wall") on Panel 33W Line 067.[3]
Noonan has a playground named in his honor in Sunnyside, Queens, NY.[4]
The Thomas P. Noonan Jr. VA Community Clinic in Sunnyside, NY is named in his honor.
See also
edit
References
edit- Inline
- ^ Lehrack, Otto J. (July 2008). "Bobby and Tommy: Two Boyhood Friends–Two Medals of Honor". Leatherneck Magazine: 24–26. Archived from the original on 2011-04-04.
- ^ Smith, Charles (1988). U.S. Marines in Vietnam: High Mobility and Standdown 1969. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps. p. 369. ISBN 978-1494287627.
- ^ "Thomas Noonan, LCPL, Marine Corps". The Virtual Wall. Retrieved 2006-07-03.
- ^ "Lance Corporal Thomas P Noonan Playground". Google Maps. Retrieved 2012-08-19.
- General
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Marine Corps.
- "Lance Corporal Thomas P. Noonan, Jr., USMC, Who's Who in Marine Corps History, History Division, United States Marine Corps". Archived from the original on October 31, 2006. Retrieved July 3, 2006.
- "LCPL Thomas P. Noonan, Jr., Medal of Honor, 1969, 2/9/3, Vietnam, Medal of Honor citation". Archived from the original on June 29, 2006. Retrieved July 3, 2006.