Max L. Noe's .30-caliber machine gun

by
posted on December 16, 2011
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
sinews.jpg (127)

Somewhere near Wiltz, when the battle broke out, Noe remembers the last radio message his group received, "Hold out to the last man. Goodbye and good luck." During the chaos that was the allied side during he first hours of the German attack, a "company" of 118 men was assembled, and put under the command of a captain who until that morning was the division band director.

Noe was assigned duty on the machine gun because, unlike other members of his beleaguered group, he had received training. Unfortunately, there was no tripod so he drafted a spare apple box in an effort at taming its recoil. "Can you imagine shooting that machine gun," he said. "And if I hit a tank, it was like throwing rocks on a tin barn."

Noe and two others were all that remained of the company after 18 hours of fierce fighting, and despite trying to work his way back to allied lines for the next three days, he was captured by a German patrol. His Christmas dinner of 1944 consisted of a cracker and a spoonful of syrup.

Latest

.30-30 Winchester Smith & Wesson lever action
.30-30 Winchester Smith & Wesson lever action

First Look: Smith & Wesson Model 1854 Rifle In .30-30 Winchester

The 1854 Series is now available in a treasured lever-action cartridge.

First Look: Reptilia AR-15 Handguard

M-Lok-compatible and available in four different lengths.

FN Awarded the 2025 Ambrose Award

The Ambrose Award is awarded to a company that has made outstanding contributions to the field of small arms systems.

What Is Concealed Carry?

Is it a lifestyle, or a martial art?

First Look: Charter Arms Pathfinder II .22LR Revolver

An easy to carry, lightweight eight-shot rimfire revolver.

First Look: Taurus GX4 Strike Bravo

Created in collaboration with Strike Industries.

Interests



Get the best of Shooting Illustrated delivered to your inbox.