Name: John Arthur Noonan Rank: Private Service Number: 31421409 Service: Company D, 351st Infantry Regiment, 88th Infantry Division, US Army Awards: Purple Heart Date of Birth: July 21, 1914 Place of Birth: Halifax, NS Date of Enlistment: September 16, 1943 Place of Enlistment: Boston, Massachusetts Address at Enlistment: Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts Age at Enlistment: 29 Height: 5 feet, 10 inches Complexion: Light Hair Color: Black Eye Color: Gray Occupation: Guard/Watchman Marital Status: Married Date of Death: July 15, 1944 Age: 29 Cemetery: Pinegrove Cemetery, Lynn, Massachusetts Grave: WWII Section A, Grave 9 John Arthur Noonan was the son of Arthur (1887-1969) and Elsie May (Noone) Noonan (1893-1954). His mother was born in Leicester, in Leicestershire, England; his father – in Wimbledon, Surrey, England. John had three brothers, Ralph Leo (1915-1986), Frederick Ernest (1919-1992), and Donald Calvin (1925-1995). John immigrated to the US approximately 1 year after he was born, sometime in 1915. The family settled in Lynn, Mass. John registered for the US Draft on October 16, 1940 in Lynn, Mass. He was working for White Lower. When John enlisted, he had completed two years of high school. John married Eva Ida Morse or Morso (d. 1992). They had a son John F Noonan (1942-2008), and a daughter Eva Ida born in 1943. After enlistment, Private Noonan was assigned to the 351st Infantry Regiment of the 88th Infantry Division (known as the Blue Devils), of the 5th US Army. The 351st was known as the Spearhead Regiment. The 351st entered a liberated Rome on June 12, 1944. Then followed the battles for Lake Albano, Tarquinia, Pomarance, Volterra, and Lajatico. In July, the Regiment fought in the battle for the Arno River crossing. Private Noonan was killed in action six days before his 30th birthday in Italy on July 15, 1944 in the fighting and pursuit of the enemy to the Arno River. He was initially interred in Europe, but the family choose to repatriate his remains and he was laid to rest at the Pine Grove Cemetery in Lynn, Massachusetts. A Family of Service All three of John’s brothers served with the US Armed Forces in WWII. His brother Ralph as a Technician 5th Class, in the tank corps in Europe and the Pacific. His brother Frederick served with the 4th Division, US Army, as a Staff Sergeant, fought in Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge and was awarded the Bronze Star. Frederick’s wife Kathryn Ann Gilmore also served as an Aviation Machinist’s Mate Third Class in the US Navy during the war. She served at Naval Air Stations in Dallas, Texas, Bunker Hill, Indiana, and Glenview, Illinois. John’s third brother, Donald, served as a Seaman First Class in the US Navy from 1942-1947 and a crew member of the USS Halibut when the submarine endured an intense depth charge attack by Japanese naval units in the Straight of Luzon. He also served on the USS Indiana, USS Grevalie, the USS Diablo and the USS Sennet. He received the Philippine Liberation Ribbon and the Philippine Republic Presidential Badge.

Sources: findagrave honorstates.org

John, Fred, Kathryn, and Donald