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FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Thomas R Norris ~ 30 July 2018
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Posted on 07/29/2018 5:06:39 PM PDT by Kathy in Alaska
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~ Hall of Heroes ~ Thomas R Norris
Info from here. |
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Thomas Rolland Norris (born January 14, 1944) is a retired United States Navy SEAL who received the Medal of Honor for his ground rescue with the assistance of Petty Officer Third Class Nguyen Van Kiet of two downed pilots in Quang Tri Province, Vietnam on April 10, 1972 April 13, 1972. At the time of the action, Lieutenant Norris was a SEAL Advisor with the Strategic Technical Directorate Assistance (STDA) Team. The STDA was known as Studies and Observations Group prior to 1971. Norris was one of three SEALs to receive the Medal of Honor for actions during the Vietnam War. |
Thomas Norris was born on January 14, 1944 in Jacksonville, Florida. He earned an Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology with a specialty in criminology from the University of Maryland. While at the University of Maryland, in 1965 and 1966, he was an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) wrestling champion. He hoped to join the Navy and fly jets, but he had problems with his visual acuity and depth perception that disqualified him from becoming a pilot. He then became a Navy SEAL. Norris struggled during BUD/S training, and the instructors seriously discussed washing him out of the course. He graduated from BUD/S Class 45. In April 1972, Norris was one of few remaining SEALs in Vietnam. When Lt. Col. Iceal Hambleton was shot down behind enemy lines, aerial combat search and rescue operations failed, leading to the loss of five additional aircraft and the death of 11 or more airmen, two captured, and three more down and needing rescue. Norris was tasked with mounting a ground operation to recover Lt. Col. Hambleton, 1st Lt. Mark Clark (the son of World war II General Mark W. Clark), and 1st Lt. Bruce Walker from behind enemy lines. Assisted by Vietnamese Sea Commando forces, he and VNN Chief Petty Officer Nguyen Van Kiet went more than 2 kilometres (1.2 mi) behind enemy lines and successfully rescued two of downed American aviators. Walker was discovered and killed by the NVA. Though Norris at first rejected the honor, he was recognized with the Medal of Honor in 1975. His actions were dramatized in the movie Bat*21. Six months later, in October 1972, Norris sustained a near-fatal head wound in combat while protecting forces evacuating to his rear. He was rescued by fellow Navy SEAL Michael E. Thornton. Thornton was recognized with the Medal of Honor for his actions; he was the first person in more than a century to receive the Medal of Honor for saving the life of another Medal of Honor recipient. Norris and Thornton received the Medal of Honor at the same ceremony from President Gerald R. Ford in a White House ceremony on March 6, 1976. Tom Norris lost an eye and part of his skull during the combat in which he was rescued by Michael Thornton. As a result of the head injury, he retired from the Navy. He then spent three years recovering from his injuries in the hospital and over a six year period underwent many major surgeries. In 1979, Norris joined the FBI and requested a waiver for his disabilities. FBI director William Webster responded, "If you can pass the same test as anybody else applying for this organization, I will waive your disabilities." In September 1979, Norris passed the test and subsequently served as an FBI agent for 20 years. He was an original member of the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team as an assault team leader. |
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a SEAL Advisor with the Strategic Technical Directorate Assistance Team, Headquarters, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam. During the period 10 to 13 April 1972, Lieutenant Norris completed an unprecedented ground rescue of two downed pilots deep within heavily controlled enemy territory in Quang Tri Province. Lieutenant Norris, on the night of 10 April, led a five-man patrol through 2,000 meters of heavily controlled enemy territory, located one of the downed pilots at daybreak, and returned to the Forward Operating Base (FOB). On 11 April, after a devastating mortar and rocket attack on the small FOB, Lieutenant Norris led a three man team on two unsuccessful rescue attempts for the second pilot. On the afternoon of the 12th, a Forward Air Controller located the pilot and notified Lieutenant Norris. Dressed in fishermen disguises and using a sampan, Lieutenant Norris and one Vietnamese traveled throughout that night and found the injured pilot at dawn. Covering the pilot with bamboo and vegetation, they began the return journey, successfully evading a North Vietnamese patrol. Approaching the FOB, they came under heavy machine gun fire. Lieutenant Norris called in an air strike which provided suppression fire and a smoke screen, allowing the rescue party to reach the FOB. By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, undaunted courage, and selfless dedication in the face of extreme danger, Lieutenant Norris enhanced the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Honors: The Naval Special Warfare Group Two in Little Creek, Virginia is located in the Lt. Thomas R. Norris Building. Norris' Medal of Honor actions have been re-told in numerous books and in the feature film Bat*21, which was the call sign for a EB-66C from the 42nd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (42 TEWS), 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, at Korat, Thailand. The aircraft was shot down while flying pathfinder escort for a cell of three B-52 bombing near the Demilitarized Zone. |
Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families. This is a politics-free zone! Thanks for helping us in our mission! |
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TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; Free Republic
KEYWORDS: canteen; heroes; military; troopsupport
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To: Kathy in Alaska
Freep mail me to be on or off the Daily Bread ping list
Overcoming Challenges
July 30, 2018
So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days.
Nehemiah 6:15
We gathered monthly to hold one another accountable to our individual goals. My friend Mary wanted to reupholster the seats of her dining room chairs before the years end. At our November meeting she wittily reported her progress from October: It took ten months and two hours to recover my chairs. After months of not being able to obtain the materials required, or find the quiet hours away from her demanding job and her toddlers needs, the project took merely two hours of committed work to finish.
The Lord called Nehemiah to a far greater project: to bring restoration to Jerusalem after its walls had lain in ruin for 150 years (Nehemiah 2:35, 12). As he led the people in the labor, they experienced mockery, attacks, distraction, and temptation to sin (4:3, 8; 6:1012). Yet God equipped them to stand firmresolute in their effortscompleting a daunting task in just fifty-two days.
Overcoming such challenges requires much more than a personal desire or goal; Nehemiah was driven by an understanding that God appointed him to the task. His sense of purpose invigorated the people to follow his leadership despite incredible opposition. When God charges us with a taskwhether to repair a relationship or share what Hes done in our livesHe gives us whatever skills and strength are necessary to continue in our effort to do what Hes asked, no matter what challenges come our way.
Lord, please equip me with Your strength to persevere and finish the tasks Youve given me. May my labors bring You glory.
God equips us to overcome obstacles and complete the tasks Hes given us to do.
What kinds of challenges have you faced? How has God helped you to overcome them?
For further study on the book of Nehemiah, see christianuniversity.org/OT220.
2
posted on
07/29/2018 5:07:36 PM PDT
by
The Mayor
(Honesty means never having to look over your shoulder.)
To: Kathy in Alaska
3
posted on
07/29/2018 5:12:07 PM PDT
by
left that other site
(For America to have CONFIDENCE in our future, we must have PRIDE in our HISTORY... DJT)
To: Kathy in Alaska
What a Great American, Patriot and Hero!
4
posted on
07/29/2018 5:18:39 PM PDT
by
tallyhoe
To: Kathy in Alaska
To: Kathy in Alaska
Medal of Honor recipient rescued by Medal of Honor recipient, WOW. Lots of skill there.
6
posted on
07/29/2018 5:23:13 PM PDT
by
mountainlion
(Live well for those that did not make it back.)
To: The Mayor
Good evening, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.
Ready to take on the new week?
7
posted on
07/29/2018 5:32:23 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: left that other site
Good evening, ML...((HUGS))...good to hear that Penny now has a really nice place outside to enjoy doing nothing. You did make the mud room for her, right? LOL!
Did you and Blue get out?
8
posted on
07/29/2018 5:40:28 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
It was a heck of a story of real heroes totally ruined by Hollywood when they made the movie. Just telling it without all the “artistic license” would have been better. A good review of the whole operation is “The Rescue of Bat 21” by Colonel (Ret) Darrel Whitcomb who flew as a Nail FAC during the search. Darrel was also on Capt Steve Bennett’s wing when he went into the water saving his back seater’s life rather than saving himself. That action earned him a MOH postumously.
9
posted on
07/29/2018 5:41:20 PM PDT
by
CMSMC
To: Kathy in Alaska
Thanks for honoring tonight’s Hero, Kathy, dude is a real badass, kudos to his heroism!
10
posted on
07/29/2018 5:50:33 PM PDT
by
PROCON
('Progressive' is a Euphemism for Totalitarian)
To: MoJo2001; 007; 1 FELLOW FREEPER; 11B3; 1FreeAmerican; 1stbn27; 2111USMC; 2LT Radix jr; 300winmag; ..
~ Hall of Heroes: Thomas R Norris ~
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11
posted on
07/29/2018 5:57:58 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: tallyhoe
Welcome to the Canteen, tallyhoe, and we thank you for your service to our country.
12
posted on
07/29/2018 6:43:28 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska
Permission granted to cross the bow..
Hat tip...
13
posted on
07/29/2018 6:44:40 PM PDT
by
mylife
(The roar of the masses could be farts)
To: Kathy in Alaska
Gosh dang I have a UDT buddy, quiet guy, likes PBR., one day this jackwagogon started fooling around with a butterfly knife at work and Chuck sticks him with it.
Were all kinda like whos gonna write the Sitrep? wheres them towels?
Lawds I should not be here, but I should take notes,
14
posted on
07/29/2018 6:55:46 PM PDT
by
mylife
(The roar of the masses could be farts)
To: Jet Jaguar
Good evening, JJ...are your jets staying cool in all this warm weather?
We have not had very much rain so far this summer, so lots of fires in the interior.
15
posted on
07/29/2018 7:00:23 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: mylife
Good evening, my...have you cooled off any?
16
posted on
07/29/2018 7:07:53 PM PDT
by
Kathy in Alaska
((~RIP Brian...the Coast Guard lost a good one.~))
To: Kathy in Alaska; GodBlessUSA; Mrs.Nooseman; AZamericonnie; HiJinx; Colonel_Flagg; BIGLOOK; ...
Thomas Rolland Norris
born January 14, 1944
Retired United States Navy SEAL
received the Medal of Honor
March 6, 1976
A real live hero!
ANCHORS AWEIGH!
17
posted on
07/29/2018 7:17:09 PM PDT
by
luvie
(The bravery and dedication of our troops in keeping us safe & free make me proud to be an American!)
To: Kathy in Alaska
It is cooling, And then its august again LOL
18
posted on
07/29/2018 7:18:19 PM PDT
by
mylife
(The roar of the masses could be farts)
To: LUV W
I like this fellow, He is A OK
19
posted on
07/29/2018 7:21:29 PM PDT
by
mylife
(The roar of the masses could be farts)
To: LUV W
20
posted on
07/29/2018 7:28:14 PM PDT
by
mylife
(The roar of the masses could be farts)
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