- Alfred H. Noble
Infobox Military Person
name=Alfred Houston Noble
caption=General Alfred H. Noble, USMC
born= birth date|1894|10|26
died= death date and age|1983|9|27|1894|10|26
placeofbirth= Federalsburg,Maryland
placeofdeath=LaJolla, California
placeofburial=
nickname=
allegiance=United States of America
branch=United States Marine Corps
serviceyears=1917-1956
rank= General
unit=6th Marines
commands=5th Marines MCRD Parris Island Department of the PacificCamp Lejeune Fleet Marine Force , Atlantic
battles=World War I *Battle of Belleau Wood World War II
awards=Navy Cross Distinguished Service CrossSilver Star (2)Legion of Merit (combat "V") (2)Croix de Guerre French Fourragere
relations=
laterwork=
General Alfred Houston Noble (October 26, 1894 – September 27, 1983) was aUnited States Marine Corps general served in combat with the Marines fromWorld War I in theBattle of Belleau Wood toWorld War II in thePacific theater . His last command, before retiring from the Marine Corps with over 39 years of service, was as Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force, Atlantic in Norfolk, Virginia.Biography
Alfred Noble was born on October 26, 1894, at
Federalsburg, Maryland . After graduation from St. John's College, at Annapolis, he reported for active duty as a Marine second lieutenant on May 24, 1917, and embarked for France that October.World War I
During World War I, Noble fought as commander of the 83rd Company, 6th Marine Regiment, in the Aisne-Marne Defensive, (Chateau Thierry), the Aisne-Marne Offensive (Soissons), the St. Mihiel Offensive and the Meuse-Argonne Offensive (Champagne and Argonne Forest). He was awarded the
Navy Cross , theDistinguished Service Cross , theSilver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and theCroix de Guerre with silver star and diploma. In addition he was cited twice in General Orders of the War Department and once by the Commanding General, AEF. He was also entitled to wear the French Fourragere which was awarded the 6th Marines.Noble's Navy Cross was for gallantry in action from 6-June 8, 1918, during the battle of Belleau Wood. The citation states in part:
"…He was conspicuous for his judgment and personal courage in handling his company in attacks against superior numbers in strongly fortified machine-gun positions. His fortitude and initiative enabled his command each time to achieve success."
By the end of World War I, he had risen to the rank of captain.
Interwar years
After the war, he served in the Army of Occupation in Germany until returned to the United States in July 1919.
In September 1919, Noble went overseas again to serve at the Marine Barracks, St. Thomas, Virgin, Islands, until June 1922. After that, he completed the Company Officers Course in the Marine Corps Schools at Quantico, Virginia, then served there as adjutant and secretary of the schools and as Commanding Officer of the Marine Corps Schools Detachment. He left Quantico in June 1927, and the following month, began a two-year command of the Marine Detachment aboard the USS "California" serving with that detachment on expeditionary duty in
Nicaragua . He returned to Quantico in July 1929, and during the next three years, he completed the Field Officers Course and served as an instructor in that course.From July 1932, until August 1934, Noble served with the 1st Brigade Marines in
Haiti . He was stationed in the Adjutant and Inspectors' Department at Marine Corps Headquarters, Washington, D.C., from September 1934 to May 1937, then was ordered once more to Quantico. There, after serving as Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps Schools and as a battalion commander with the 5th Marines, he took command of that regiment. He served in that capacity at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and elsewhere in the Caribbean during training and maneuvers before he was again ordered to Marine Corps Headquarters in May 1941. This time he served with the Division of Plans and Policies as Officer in Charge of the Material Section, and later, as Director, Division of Plans and Policies. He was a colonel when the United States entered World War II.World War II
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