First person account of WWII written by Orlando resident Johnnie Herman Noles, and first person account of WWII, Korean War and Vietnam War by Forest Reid Noles, his brother.
After retiring from the United States Air Force as a Master Sergeant, Johnny settled in Orlando and worked as an appraiser for the Orange County Property Appraiser’s Office. He served as Supervisor of Appraisals for South East Orange County for a number of years before working as Director of Appraisals in Seminole County. Neil Hester, friend and colleague of Johnnie Noles for many years, donated this amazing primary source document to the Orange County Library System in memory of a “True-blue American.”
READ “My Small Part in the War” by Johnnie Herman Noles (pp. 1-37 with additional information 38-42) and “Forest Reid Noles – A Retrospective of Military Service 1944-1974” by Forest Reid Noles (pp. 43-81)
“My Small Part in the War” – Locations, events, persons mentioned include but are not limited to: Aviation Cadet Classification Center in San Antonio, Texas; University of Florida, College Inn restaurant in Gainesville, Florida; Camp Wallace, Norfolk Navy Yard, Mr. Rector, Mr. Denmark; Miami Beach, Air Corps Basic training; Camp Wallace, Texas; Army Air Corps, Camp Croft, North Carolina; Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Bill Nifong of Cherryvale, North Carolina, Fort Hood, Texas; Airborne Radio Operators School; Sioux Falls, South Dakota – USO (United Service Organization); Airborne Radio Operator, Aerial Gunnery School in Yuma, Arizona; Lakeland, Florida; Combat Crew Training in Barkesdale, Louisiana; B26 Martin Marauder; Lewis R. Powers, Neal S. Steffen, Alfred Ferrullo, James R. Shirer, Harold L. Simmons; Hunter Air Field in Savannah, Georgia; Camp Kilmer, New Jersey; ship Ile de France; Le Bourget Airport in Paris, France; Technical Sergeant Hunt, Technical Sergeant Webb; bombing missions in Germany; Battle of the Bulge, 497th Bomb Squadron, 344th Bomb Group, 99th Bomb Wing, Ninth Air Division, Ninth Air Force, V.E. Day, Fayetteville Victory ship, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
“Forest Reid Noles – A Retrospective of Military Service 1944-1974” – Locations, events, persons mentioned include but not limited to: Fort Jackson, South Carolina; Camp Bragg, North Carolina; Camp Croft; Camp Houze, Texas; Leyte Island, Camp Pickett, Blackstone, Virginia; Camp Kilmer, New Jersey; Camp Lucky Stricke, Le Harve, France; 4025th Signal Service Group, Base K, U.S.S. Stringer, U.S.S. Sargus, Vancouver Barracks, South Korea, Company B; Erlangen, Germany; 42nd Rainbow Division, Company K 222nd Infantry at Linz, Austria; 4th Constabulary Regiment, United Nations Relief Organization, Nuremberg, Germany; Rhyne Hauser Plant, Fort Lewis, Tacoma, Washington; Major General Harry J. Collins “Holly Harry”; Anti Tank and Mine Platoon Headquarters, Company 23, Infantry Regiment; 23rd Regimental Combat Team, 5th RCT, Wolfhound Regiment, 27th RCT, Colonel Mike McHalis; Colonel Paul Freeman, Commander 23rd RCT; Nachtong River, Captain Nile McIntire’s Raiders; United Nations Defense Campaign,, Taejon Ch’Ong Ju, Souel, Kaesong, Haeju, Private Cooper, 23rd RCT; Private Roberts, Texas Killed in Action; Korean War, Battle of Kunu River, Colonel Freeman, Chinese 38th Field Artillery, Chinese 40th Field Artillery, 3rd Battalion, 9th RCT; The Guantlet,, Karhyou-Dong, Pyongyang, French Foreign Legion Battalion, Operation Killer.
Johnnie Herman Noles, 83, of Vale, North Carolina passed away September 1, 2007. He was born on April 4, 1924 in Cherryville, Lincoln County, North Carolina to parents Arthur Augustus Noles and Beulah McAlister Noles. Johnnie retired from the US Air Force and also from Seminole County, Florida as a tax appraiser. He was also a graduate of Cherryville High School and was a 60 year member of Cherryville Masonic Lodge #505 AF & AM Lodge. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy Ann Murphy Noles, a sister, Laura Jean Drake, two brothers, Fred and Everette Noles. Survivors include a granddaughter, Lindsey Fuller of Vale, a sister, Ruth Hord of Crouse, North Carolina and two brothers, Forest Noles of Falls Church, Virginia and Edward Noles of Indian Trail, North Carolina.
On February 29, 2004, Forest Reid Noles was born on July 24, 1926 in Southpoint Township, Gastonia County, North Carolina to Arthur Augustus Noles and Beulah Grace McAlister Noles. He was married 50 years to Annette Noles. He is the father of James V. Noles, Mary Casis and Teresa Hennesee; grandfather of James R. Noles and Jonathan Reid Noles; brother of Johnny and Edward Noles and Ruth Hord. Mr. Noles was a member of Christ Crossman United Methodist Church in Falls Church. Friends may call at Advent Funeral Services, 7211 Lee Hwy., Falls Church, VA on Thursday, March 4, from 12 to 1 p.m. Services will be held at 2 p.m. at Christ Crossman United Methodist Church, 384 N. Washington St., Falls Church. Interment will be held at Arlington National Cemetery on Tuesday, March 9, at 2 p.m. Please assemble at the Administration Building at 1:30 p.m. The family requests memorials be made to the Hospice of Northern Virginia.
Back to topFirst person account of WWII written by Orlando resident Johnnie N. Noles. After retiring from the Air Force as a Master Sergeant, Johnny settled in Orlando and worked as an appraiser for the Orange County Property Appraiser's Office. He served as Supervisor of Appraisals for South East Orange County for a number of years before working as Director of Appraisals in Seminole County. Neil Hester, friend and colleague of Johnnie Noles for many years donated this primary source document to the Orange County Library System in memory of a "True-blue American".
