Noel worked briefly as an educator, teaching American history at the University of Missouri before joining the United States Navy in June 1941.
During World War II he served as a gunnery officer providing security aboard merchant vessels throughout the Pacific Ocean and Persian Gulf; in fall 1945 Noel discharged from the navy at the rank of lieutenant commander.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s Noel served with U.S. consulates in Italy, Saudi Arabia, France, Lebanon and Sudan.
Noel was particularly fascinated with the Middle East and regularly toured the region, learning the Arabic language.
On the evening of March 1, 1973, militants from the Black September faction of PLO stormed the Saudi Embassy in Khartoum, where a farewell ceremony for Moore had just concluded.