|
Frank R. Noe |
|
| |
Medic | |
| Many thanks to Frank's brother, Robert ([email protected]), for providing the photos on this page. | ||
With the 10th SFG in Germany Official SOG description of Frank's final mission in Laos. Ol Nov 67 Frank Ray Noe, SFC E-7, KIA-RR on a recon mission in Laos along with Don Albert Hawkins, SGT E-5, and David A. Woods who was killed the following day, all of whom were serving as Spike Team Members, FOB 1, Phu Bai, Ops 35 (The team discovered a gray, enemy communications wire and were directed to place a "Tap" on it. However, due to heavy enemy activity in the area, the team decided to "cut" the wire. The enemy sent out an element to check the wire and discovered the team resulting in a fierce fire fight. SFC Noe and SGT Hawkins were killed on 1 Nov and SFC Woods was killed on 2 Nov. A SGT Brown was wounded in the shoulder and managed to escape and was rescue.
|
Click here to view a Series of 16 photos Frank took, along with the comments he wrote on the back of each one.
16 Sept. 1967: 5 Day Op from An Dinh along the Song Cai with Recon 71 - Lt. Strum and Sp4 Miller, and CIDG Company 556 - SSG Noe and SSG York, Captain Andree commanding.
8/2004: Uncertainty Over Frank's Last Misson Resolved
The official records have Frank being killed while with a Spike team out of Phu Bai, during a mission in Laos. However, John Key who arrived at A-502 shortly after Frank's death on 2 Nov. 1967, states: "Frank Noe was KIA in a night ambush across the bridge on the Song Cai river Juan Sotello was with him." Robert also received a letter from Jerry C. Arrant, dated 23 November 67 which he states: "Hi Robert, The other medic Sgt. Sattla(sp ?) that was with Frank started mouth to mouth right away. But it did not help. Frank never knew what hit him.... Sincerely yours, Jerry C. Arrant" *Just received this:
Robert has been told that Frank had received orders for assignment to FOB 1, and prior to leaving A-502 wanted to go out on one final mission with the new medic (Juan Sotelo) to help bring him up to speed. That sounds correct as John Key and Jerry Arrants both mention that there were 3 Americans with the company, whereas two was the rule, and generally never two medics together. It sounds as if Frank's name might have been mixed up through clerical error in the paperwork for the Spike team which had taken causalities on the same day. If anyone has any information on this question of where Frank actually was when he was killed. 7 August 2004 Robert "Bob" Sweeney who was a Lt. at the camp, and later became the XO, just sent me a description of the events that occurred the night Frank was lost. While not on the ambush where Frank was shot, he went out with the Dust Off that took Frank to the 8th Field Hospital. Memorial at the Arlington Cemetery Website, put up by Ltc. Robert Sweeney, who was a Lt. at A-502 with Frank. CIDG MEMORIAL ERECTED FOR FRANK RAY NOE AND CSM BILLY WAUGH AT FRANK'S GRAVE IN ARLINGTON |
|
