James Noll

James Noll was drafted into the Army in 1968 and after going through basic training he was selected for officer candidate school. He was then commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant and sent to Vietnam where he was assigned as a platoon leader with the 101st Airborne Division. LT Noll spent a year in Vietnam and was awarded a silver star, 2 bronze stars and 2 Purple Hearts. He was shot in the leg and again later in the back. When his tour was over he returned home and joined the Minnesota Army Reserves and was promoted to Captain. By 1990, James Noll had been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and was a battalion commanded of a unit that was activated for Desert Storm. He spent several months in Iraq and was awarded a 3rd bronze star and was then promoted to full Colonel. Col. Noll then spent a year at the U.S. Army War college where he graduated in 1993. Col. Noll spent 6 more years in the Army and retired after 32 years as a full Colonel. Over those years he spent time in Panama, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and all over Europe. He raised 8 kids and now lives in peace in his home town in Minnesota.