World War II Honoree

Millard Noell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Stillwater, Oklahoma

Honored By

Robert S. Cox

SAILED OVERSEAS FROM THE NEW YORK PORT OF EMBARKATION ON MARCH 1, 1944 ABOARD THE CONVERTED BRITISH LUXURY LINER RMS 'QUEEN MARY' AND ARRIVED IN SCOTLAND, AFTER A STORMY CROSSING OF THE NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN. HE MOVED BY TRAIN TO CHESTER, IN NORTHWEST ENGLAND, SOUTH OF LIVERPOOL, AND ON TO AN ENGLISH CAMP NAMED 'HOUNDSTONE' NEAR THE TOWN OF YEOVIL, IN SOUTHWEST ENGLAND, WEST OF SOUTHAMPTON. SERVED AS A MEMBER OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL'S DIVISION OVERSEAS IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER WITH THE HEADQUARTERS OF A REPLACEMENT DEPOT. PARTICIPATED IN THE NORMANDY, NORTHERN FRANCE, AND RHINELAND CAMPAIGNS. THE MISSION OF HIS UNIT WAS TO SUPPLY REPLACEMENT PERSONNEL TO FORWARD UNITS. HIS PRIMARY DUTY WAS TO PREPARE ORDERS ASSIGNING REPLACEMENTS. HIS UNIT LANDED AT OMAHA BEACH IN NORMANDY, FRANCE ON JUNE 22, 1944 (D-DAY+15). WHILE OPERATING IN NORMANDY, HIS UNIT WAS SUBJECTED TO ENEMY AIR ATTACKS, PRIMARILY AT NIGHT, WHICH WERE MORE OF A NUISANCE RATHER THAN A REAL THREAT, DUE TO THE DIFFICULTY OF THE GERMAN PLANES IDENTIFYING TARGETS IN THE DARK WHILE SUBJECTED TO INTENSE ANTIAIRCRAFT FIRE. HE BELIEVED HIS LIFE WAS IN MORE DANGER FROM FALLING SHRAPNEL FROM FRIENDLY ANTIAIRCRAFT FIRE THAN FROM ENEMY BOMBS. ON ONE OCCASION, SOME ZEALOUS REPLACEMENTS MANNING ONE OF THEIR OUTPOSTS BEGAN TO FIRE AT THE AIRCRAFT, WHICH PERMITTED THE ENEMY TO PINPOINT THE LOCATION OF THEIR DEPOT. THE DEPOT CAME UNDER INTENSE BOMBARDMENT AND SOME 200 REPLACEMENTS WERE KILLED IN THE ACTION. HIS UNIT LATER MOVED TO LEMANS, FRANCE, AND TO A NUMBER OF OTHER LOCATIONS BEFORE THE WAR ENDED. AWARDED THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE SERVICE STARS (3 CAMPAIGNS), AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. HONORABLY DISCHARGED AND ISSUED THE HONORABLE SERVICE LAPEL BUTTON.