Noeldner, Daniel Morris
Army Sergeant

Daniel Morris Noeldner, age 23, from South Shore, South Dakota, Codington county.

Service era: Vietnam
Military history: 35th Infantry Regiment

Parents: Morris and Jessie Noeldner

Date of death: Thursday, March 6, 1969
Death details: Distinguished Service Cross citation: Sergeant Daniel M. Noeldner, United States Army, who distinguished himself by extraordinary heroism while serving as a senior medical aidman assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2d Battalion, 35th Infantry, near Pleiku, Republic of Vietnam, on 6 March 1969. On that day Sergeant Noeldner was serving with Company D, 2d Battalion, when it was ambushed by a force of the North Vietnamese Army. Several men in the point element were hit by the initial volley of fire and the cry for “Medic” was heard. Completely disregarding the intensity of the enemy attack and his own safety, Sergeant Noeldner rushed forward to the side of his wounded comrades. While treating the first man that he reached, he was wounded in the thigh. Refusing medical treatment for himself, he continued to assist the wounded while repeatedly exposing himself to the fire of the enemy force. Shortly thereafter he was again hit by enemy rounds while assisting his fellow soldiers. While attempting to bandage himself to stop the profuse bleeding another medic came to his aid, but Sergeant Noeldner directed him to check the other injured men. Although the crippling effect of his wounds prevented him from continuing his gallant mission, Sergeant Noeldner had significantly contributed to saving the lives of two men at the sacrifice of his own. His extraordinary heroism at the cost of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, was in keeping with the highest traditions of time United States Army and reflects great credit upon him and the Armed Forces of his country.
Cemetery: Saint Lukes Lutheran, Codington County

Source: National Archives, Evansville Courier & Press, “Legacy of War”, Daily Republic (1970), Associated Press (1969)