Rene D. Noel Sr., 73, of Main Street died early Monday morning at his home after a struggle with cancer.
   He was born here, a twin son of Douglass and Marion Poisson Noel, and attended Holy Family School.
   During World War II Mr. Noel served in the Army's 82nd Airborne Division and took part in the invasion of Normandy. Among his decorations were the Combat Infantry Badge, two Bronze Star medals and two Purple Hearts.
   After returning to Sanford after the war, he opened a watch and jewelry repair shop. He later worked for the former Eastern Plastics Co. He retired from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in October 1980 after working there for 25 years.
   A lifelong resident of Sanford and Springvale, he was a communicant of Notre Dame Church, where he served as an usher for 15 years. He was a member of the Springvale Knights of Columbus council and the Fourth-Degree council of Sanford, a Cursillo member and belonged to the VFW.
   Mr. Noel enjoyed working with wood. He built many things and donated his works to organizations for fund-raisers.
   His first wife, Pauline D. Camire Noel, died in 1993.
   Surviving are his wife, Denise E. Provencher Soule Noel; a daughter, Mrs. Michael (Laurie) Todd of Virginia Beach, Va.; three sons, Rene D. Jr. of Windham, Paul D. of Waterboro and Michael D. of Springvale; two stepdaughters, Eva M. Luciw of Farmington, Conn., and Susan S. Shulins of Andover, Mass.; and eight grandchildren.
   Visiting hours will be from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at LaFrance-Lambert Funeral Home, 29 Winter St., Sanford.
   A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Thursday in Notre Dame Church. Burial will follow in Notre Dame Cemetery.

[Portland Press Herald, Portland, ME,- Tuesday, Sep 30, 1997 ]

Grave markers for Rene D. Noel in Notre Dame Cemetery, Springvale (York county), Maine.

Rene enlisted in the Army at Portland, ME on 5 January 1943. 

Pvt Noel parachuted into Normandy on D-Day, 6 June 1944 and was seriously wounded in action on 9 June.  He was evacuated but was able to return to duty on 13 July 1944. He was promoted to Pfc on 21 July 1944

Pfc Noël participated in the jump Into Holland on 17 September 1944 and was wounded in action the following day.  Again evacuated, he did not return to the unit. He was discharged on 8 August 1947, perhaps following a lengthy convalescence.

Although Rene's grave marker shows that he received the Purple Heart, he should have been awarded an Oak Leaf Cluster for his second wound.  The obituary reference to two bronze stars may be a confusion with the campaign stars which would have been awarded for the Normandy and Holland jumps.