Junior N. Van Noy

Private, U.S. Army

Medal of Honor Recipient

World War II

Private Junior N. Van Noy (9 August 1924 - 17 October 1943) was a U.S. Army soldier who was posthumously awarded the U.S. military's highest award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for his heroic actions during World War II.

Junior N. Van Noy was born on 9 August 1924 in Grace, ID. He joined the Army from Preston, ID. On 17 October 1943, he was serving as a Private in the Headquarters Company of Shore Battalion, Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment. During an enemy attack that day near Finschafen, New Guinea, he manned a machine gun and refused to withdraw even after being seriously wounded. He destroyed half of the small enemy force before being killed. For his actions during the battle, he was posthumously issued the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor

Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Army, Headquarters Company, Shore Battalion, Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment.

Place and date: Near Finschafen, New Guinea, 17 October 1943.

Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action with the enemy near Finschafen, New Guinea, on 17 October 1943. When wounded late in September, Pvt. Van Noy declined evacuation and continued on duty. On 17 October 1943 he was gunner in charge of a machinegun post only 5 yards from the water's edge when the alarm was given that 3 enemy barges loaded with troops were approaching the beach in the early morning darkness. One landing barge was sunk by Allied fire, but the other 2 beached 10 yards from Pvt. Van Noy's emplacement. Despite his exposed position, he poured a withering hail of fire into the debarking enemy troops. His loader was wounded by a grenade and evacuated. Pvt. Van Noy, also grievously wounded, remained at his post, ignoring calls of nearby soldiers urging him to withdraw, and continued to fire with deadly accuracy. He expended every round and was found, covered with wounds dead beside his gun. In this action Pvt. Van Noy killed at least half of the 39 enemy taking part in the landing. His heroic tenacity at the price of his life not only saved the lives of many of his comrades, but enabled them to annihilate the attacking detachment.

Death and Burial

Private Junior N. Van Noy was killed in action on 17 October 1943. He is buried at Grace Cemetery in his birth city of Grace, ID.