Thomas P . Noonan , Jr . Thomas Patrick Noonan , Jr . ( November 18 , 1943 – February 5 , 1969 ) was a United States Marine who was posthumous ly awarded the United States ' highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor — for heroism during February 1969 in Vietnam . Biography . Noonan 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 . Coincidently , 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 . 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 . Decorations . A complete list of his medals and decorations includes : the Medal of Honor , the Purple Heart , the National Defense Service Medal , the Vietnam Service Medal with two bronze stars , and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal . 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 . 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 . The name Thomas P . Noonan , Jr . is inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial ( " The Wall " ) on Panel 33W Line 067 . Lance Corporate Thomas P . Noonan has a playground named in his honor in Sunnyside , Queens , NY . The Thomas P . Noonan Jr . VA Community Clinic in Sunnyside , NY is named in his honor .