By David Ball

david.ball@panews.com

The word impressive doesn’t do justice when describing the Noyola brothers of Port Arthur and their service to their country.

The nine brothers served in every branch of the military from World War II to Desert Storm. One of the brothers paid the ultimate price by giving his life to his country. In fact, eight of the brothers were serving in the military at one time.

Robert Noyola, 80, for instance, went into the Air Force two weeks after he graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School. He said he stayed busy after he left the military 13 years later, before he moved back home to Port Arthur.

He was also a journalist in the military and for the The Los Angeles Times. He wrote 15 books on Port Arthur, Beaumont and Spindletop. Some of his books are featured at the Museum of the Gulf Coast and the Port Arthur Public Library. Some of his manuscripts are housed at the Tyrrell Historical Library in Beaumont.

Robert served as a radio operator on Johnson Island at Hickham Field during his time in the Air Force.

“I got tired of that,” he said. “I went into the reserves and I went to college on the GI Bill. I started writing novel manuscripts and I started thinking about writing full-length novels.”

Their parents migrated from Mexico. Their father worked at Texaco after jobs of picking fruit and working on the railroad. Though he couldn’t speak English well, he managed to build a house for his family and they always had food on the table. In addition, they fished often so they could eat seafood and they raised livestock in their backyard.

Besides the brothers, their parents had two daughters. Two of the sons went into law enforcement, one serving in the Port Arthur Police Department and one for the Jefferson County District Attorney’s office.

“We were lucky we were all born at St. Mary’s Hospital in Port Arthur. We did chores. My brother milked the cow. I sold The Port Arthur News at Texaco and Gulf. It was a good way to grow up,” Robert said.

Back then, downtown Port Arthur had a train station, a Greyhound bus station, a highway, people were buying cars and merchandise on Procter Street and Houston Avenue because they had good jobs, but now all of that’s gone, he said.

“Young people today are having a hard time,” he said.

By joining the military, Robert said he and his brothers were taught discipline, to get along and respect others because no matter what else, everyone wore the same uniform.

“I think everybody would do well with military training. It takes you from being a boy to a man,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity, you know you’ll get a paycheck and you can send an allotment to your mother like one of our brothers did. You have the GI Bill. You’re well fed, you have good health and you can use the VA (after discharge).”

Tom Noyola is the youngest brother, born in 1953. He said he heard his brothers’ stories and became interested in joining.

Nina Breaux, Robert’s caregiver, said she is honored to work with a man “who has led our country to be free through his sacrifices and due diligence for us.”

“This family’s commitment and devotion we all should learn about and support the men and women who honor our beautiful country,” she said. “God bless America and God bless this family. Thank you for your service.”

The Noyola brothers who served are:

Pedro Noyola Sr. who was drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II.

Jesse Noyola Sr. who was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict.

Carlos Noyola who was in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict.

Joseph Noyola Jr. who was in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict.

Leopoldo Noyola who was in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict.

Robert Noyola who was in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict.

Richard Noyola who was in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War and he was killed in action.

Paul Noyola who was in the U.S. Navy.

Tom Noyola who was in the U.S. Coast Guard in Kuwait during Desert Storm.