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Vietnam Medal of Honor recipient Marine LCpl Thomas P. Noonan Jr.
Medal of Honor
Episode 2956 of the Vietnam Veteran News Podcast will feature Medal of Honor recipient Marine LCpl Thomas P. Noonan Jr. Information featured in this episode comes from the Military Hall of Honor website.
Marine Lance Corporal Thomas P. Noonan Jr. was no stranger to courage, but on February 5, 1969, during the Vietnam War, he demonstrated extraordinary valor that would etch his name into history. Born in Brooklyn, New York, Noonan had a strong sense of duty, a trait that carried him into the ranks of the United States Marine Corps.
Noonan’s unit, part of Company G, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, was engaged in a fierce firefight near Vandegrift Combat Base in Quảng Trị Province. The Marines were tasked with moving to a new location. They were hit with enemy fire atop an unforgiving ridge. The terrain was steep, and the enemy was relentless, raining down bullets and grenades.
Amid the chaos, Noonan volunteered to lead the rescue despite the near-certain danger. Climbing the treacherous slope under a hail of enemy fire, he pressed forward with singular determination. Reaching the wounded Marines, Noonan worked tirelessly, administering aid and organizing their evacuation.
As he carried one of his comrades to safety, an enemy grenade exploded nearby, mortally wounding him. Despite his injuries, Noonan’s efforts saved lives and inspired his fellow Marines to complete the mission. For his selflessness and heroism, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Thomas P. Noonan Jr. embodied the Marine Corps ethos of honor, courage, and commitment. His sacrifice reminds us of the profound price of freedom and the enduring legacy of those who serve with unwavering valor. Today, his name is enshrined among heroes, a testament to a life of extraordinary bravery.
Listen to Episode 2956 and discover more about Medal of Honor recipient Marine LCpl Thomas P. Noonan Jr.
I’d like to direct your attention to the loss of a valuable story piece in the Vietnam War saga. My friend, Greg Kleven, a Vietnam War veteran and an English language teacher in Ho Chi Minh City, died there on December 3rd, 2024. It should be noted that Greg was the first American & VN veteran allowed to live & work in VN after the war. At the time of his death, he was getting his finished book, “My War and Peace in Vietnam”, reviewed by a Chico, CA publisher.
Because of combat wounds sustained in 1967, and his medical discharge from the USMC soon after, Greg was handed an unexpected set of new priorities which offered hope beyond the unrelenting ghosts of war that haunted his nightly sleep.
Since 1991, Greg has permanently resided in Ho Chi Minh City. His credentials as a Vietnam veteran writer and speaker are well documented. He has appeared in documentaries, Vietnamese TV, “Hard Men Humble” book by Jonathan Stevenson, NY Times Magazine, People, Saigon Times, Stars & Stripes, L.A. Times, and Der Spiegel magazine.
As an early returnee to Vietnam in 1988 and later as a writer he pushed for “normalization” between the two countries. His written and verbal dialog offered clarity of thought upon a subject that dwelled in discontentment and disharmony.
He has never sought attention to himself in all the years of teaching in Vietnam. Yet his story plays a big part in the American-Vietnam post-war history that is little known. He’s always been willing to accommodate the media in the past and his desire to speak about the war and post-war in an intelligent manner has always resulted in an impressive encounter.
He had only recently finished his book, “My War and Peace in Vietnam”, and had a publisher in Chico, CA looking at it. I’ve read it, and it is compelling for sure. About a dozen photos accompany the text. Greg knew his days were drawing to a close, and really wanted his biography… his Oakland story, his First Force Recon story, and his teaching story, be shared in print, and become what he experienced in life, in war, and peace.
I myself am a Vietnam veteran and a life-long friend of Greg Kleven. I last saw him in 2019 during a visit to Saigon-HCMC. My contact info is email johnmailman2@yahoo.com. Let’s pray that his personal story gets published. Otherwise, history will be cheated.