On This Day, 7-DEC 1941, We Honor a Fallen Hero
Noble Burnice Harris was born on July 9, 1918. Missouri and St Charles is listed as his home town. Noble enlisted January 9, 1940 in the Navy. He attended boot camp at the Naval Training Center, Great Lakes, Illinois. Noble’s occupational specialty was Coxswain. Coxswain work with canvas, handled boats and knew signaling. Noble was officially assigned to the USS Arizona (BB-39) beginning March 26th, 1940. The USS Arizona was a Pennsylvania Class Battleship built for the US Navy in the 1910’s and launched in 1915. Noble would serve briefly during World War II before war was declared.
Noble Burnice Harris was killed on the Arizona during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941. Noble, along with 1101 of his shipmates remain entombed on the USS Arizona today. Noble’s posthumous awards include: Purple Heart, American Defense Service Medal w/Fleet Clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/Star, WWII Victory Medal.
Four St. Charles County service men survived the Pearl Harbor attack. Sadly, Noble Harris did not.
Noble is honored and remembered at the St. Charles County Veterans Museum on the Wall of Honor.
USS Arizona shortly after the attack December 7, 1941