Noal Dewitt Henry of Plano, Texas passed away February 27, 2018, at the age of 70. He was born July 1, 1947, to Horace Dewitt Henry and Espanita Clemmons in Pampa, Texas. Noal graduated from Oklahoma High School in Altus, Oklahoma and attended West Texas State University, Mid -Western State University and was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha Fraternity.
He enlisted in the United States Marine Corp and served thirteen months in combat operations in Vietnam with Hotel Co 2/5 in the battle of Hue and 2nd CAG unit in I Corp in 1968-1969. Noal was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal for calling in an air strike on their own position after being overrun by a Battalion size NVA/ Viet Cong enemy force. The air strike destroyed the enemy, thus Noal was awarded The Navy Commendation Medal for bravery above and beyond the call of duty. He was also awarded The National Defense Medal, The Vietnam Campaign Medal With Ribbon, and The Vietnam Service Medal With Star. Noal was honorably discharged in 1969.
Five months after returning home, on December 19, 1969 he was involved in a motor vehicle accident. The driver and front seat passenger were killed and Noal was ejected from the back window. He lay injured in the freezing weather for approximately five hours. Noal suffered frost bite, a punctured lung and crushed vertebrae. He crawled with a broken back from a lower embankment to the road’s edge seeking help. The spinal injury led to his paralysis.
Noal never wanted sympathy and never considered himself disabled or lesser than. He traveled with the Chicago Bulls and played with the Chicago Sidewinders Professional Wheel Chair Basketball Team. Noal coached numerous children’s athletics including golf, basketball and soccer.
He was employed by IBM for 30 years as a National Duty Manager in Chicago and Dallas where he retired.
Noal was a member of the First Baptist Church in Carrollton, where he was baptized. He served as a greeter and often spoke of his love for his Sunday School Class. Noal became a Gideon and served his Lord faithfully. He made an impact on others even to the end of his life.
Noal is survived by his brother, Jimmy; cousin, Mary Ann Hughes; a life - long friend, Mike Perkovich; and numerous loving friends and relatives.
A memorial service will be held at 4:00 p.m., Saturday, March 3, 2018 at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home in Allen, Texas.
His Mantra that he lived by daily was: Adapt, Improvise, Persevere, Conquer and Never Surrender. Even though he was paralyzed and became legally blind later in life, Noal was the epitome of courage.