Military Life
Robert Noble enlisted in the United States Army on July 15th, 1942. At the time he died, he had achieved the rank of Private First Class, or commonly known simply as PFC. The image on the right is the insignia a PFC would wear to identify their rank. Robert was a member of the 506th parachute infantry with the 101st Airborne division. This means that his job was to jump out of planes behind enemy lines and attack the enemy from the rear, distracting them and making them vulnerable to the main attacking force at the front. Knowing the risks which this job had, Robert courageously jumped from the plane the morning of June 6th, likely before the main attacking force stormed the beach head at Normandy. Unfortunately, Robert was killed in action June 8th, just2 days following the invasion. Following his death, he was temporarily buried, but then later permanently interred at the United States Military cemetery at St. Mere Eglise, Plot E, Row 26, Grave 21.
Paratroopers, such as Robert Noble, had much to carry with them because they could not resupply as easy as normal soldiers. Items they had to carry with them include, but are not limited to, Helmet, gas mask, haversack, meat can, knife, spoon, raincoat, underwear, socks, handkerchief, canteen, first aid kit, ID Tags, Food rations, rifle, shovel, ammunition, bayonet, and much more.
Robert Noble was part of the 506th parachute infantry of the 101st airborne. Many will recognize this division because of the HBO series "Band of Brothers" who are also apart of this group. Up until D-Day, this division spent over a year in Ramsbury, England training. Parachute jumping into combat had never been used in combat, so this division was new and did not have history prior to the jumps at D-Day.