Junior Van Noy

Five yards from the water's edge, with enemy landing barges closing in and his position under attack, Private Junior Van Noy refused to retreat. Even after suffering devastating wounds, he continued firing until his ammunition was exhausted. His extraordinary stand near Finschhafen, New Guinea, on 17 October 1943, became one of the remarkable acts of courage recorded in the history of the United States Army during World War II.

Born Nathan Kilby Van Noy Jr. on 9 August 1924 in Grace, Idaho, he was known to his family and fellow soldiers as Junior. He entered the United States Army from Preston, Idaho, in February 1943 and served as a Private in Headquarters Company, Shore Battalion, 532d Engineer Boat and Shore Regiment. His unit participated in amphibious operations in the Pacific, supporting Allied advances along the New Guinea coast.

Van Noy had already been wounded in late September 1943, but declined evacuation and remained with his unit. Before dawn on 17 October, three Japanese landing barges carrying enemy troops approached the beach near Finschhafen. Positioned at a machine-gun emplacement just five yards from the water's edge, Van Noy opened fire as the attackers came ashore. One barge was sunk by Allied fire, while the other two landed dangerously close to his position. When his loader was wounded by a grenade and evacuated, Van Noy continued fighting alone. Despite being grievously wounded himself, he ignored repeated calls to withdraw and maintained accurate fire until every round was expended. He was subsequently found dead beside his gun.

His official Medal of Honor citation credited him with killing at least half of the 39 enemy soldiers involved in the landing. It further recognized that his determination, at the cost of his own life, saved the lives of his comrades and enabled them to destroy the attacking force.

For this extraordinary heroism, Van Noy received the Medal of Honor posthumously under War Department General Orders No. 17, dated 26 February 1944. His medal was presented to his mother by Colonel A. E. Merrill at Preston, Idaho, on 17 March 1944. His military honours also include the Purple Heart, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze service star for the New Guinea campaign, and the World War II Victory Medal.

Junior Van Noy died on 17 October 1943, aged just 19, and was laid to rest at Grace Cemetery in Grace, Idaho. His Medal of Honor is preserved at the Fort Douglas Military Museum in Utah.

His story remains a powerful testament to courage, sacrifice and devotion to duty. At a moment when survival seemed impossible, a young American soldier chose to stand his ground. Private Junior Van Noy gave his life defending his comrades, leaving behind a legacy of extraordinary bravery that continues to honour his name.