FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Thomas R Norris ~ 30 March 2020

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Thomas R Norris

Info from here.

           

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! 

 

[radu]

Howdy, LUV.

How’s your weekend gone so far? Still roasting down there are have you gotten a break from the heat?

I had to break down and turn the AC on Fri. night, it got so toasty here. Not too bad today and it’s going to be cooler the next few days ..... with more rain. *sigh*

[radu]

The shocker was actually getting a PERSON on the line when I called. LOL! But since I called at 2 a.m. Fri. night, there weren’t quite as many people calling in.
She said she sent in an order for someone to come out to check things out tomorrow but who knows if it’ll happen? If not, one of us will go to the office here and see if we can get someone out here. The problems have been going on too long. Since friends here had no problems, it’s something more localized and needs to be taken care of.

It was a loooooooooong two days, no doubt about it!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Luv...a hero for sure. Thanks for helping honor him.

[luvie]

Hey, radu!

That sounds like our Thursday with the AC! But it cooled way down to about 50 yesterday and then only got up to like 71 today, which was a lot more pleasant than 92!

I can’t believe you’re getting even MORE rain! I don’t know where you’re gonna put it. LOL! The lake has to be just about running over! I was happy when I heard that the tornadoes missed your area.

[MS.BEHAVIN]

*HUG*
Hiya Sis!
Yes, it is VERY scary!

[MS.BEHAVIN]

I know it’s annoying for you, Ma..
but I am REALLY glad you are working from home!

STILL no TP every time I go to the store!
Our facility will help us with that if push comes to shove!
Bad phrase, there!
LOL

[radu]

Your 50s will be here Tues.

We had three days in the 80s and today was 75. Low 70s tomorrow before the chill moves in for a day or so. Then 70s again. Roller coaster ride! LOL

It doesn’t look like we’ll get heavy rainfall this week but any at all will sit or run off. The lake here went from way down last weekend to summer pool or higher by Wed. and it’s still up.
I walked across the back yard this afternoon and water squished up through the little hole where the toe thong goes through the bottom of my flip flops. Wet feet. No visible puddles, just saturated soil. It’s going to be a while yet before anyone can begin thinking about planting.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Seems to be letting up here too. I’ll know when I see hand sanitizer again. LOL!

Most all stores have limits on how many of what you can get. It is a good policy.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Yeah, but this kind of interesting we can all do without.

Hear! Hear!!

[luvie]

Bam!

[radu]

Gotta go for it before PRO does.

[radu]

DANG IT!!!!!!!
LOL!

WOOHOO, ya snagged it, LUV.

[luvie]

EEUUWWW...ooey-gooey squishy. That’s a nasty feeling. LOL! Hope it dries out before long or it’ll be to LATE to plant, unless they can plant something that grows really fast....or survives in wet fields. Rice?

[Biggirl]

Hi!

[radu]

Not necessarily a nasty feeling. Just makes my feet slip and slide in the flip flops. LOL

We have a while yet to plant but it would be nice to do it earlier rather than later. Nah, not enough rainfall overall for rice in these parts. LOL Just have to hope the rain stops for a while so we can get into the fields.

[Kathy in Alaska]

2am is probably a good time to get some techie to answer the phone. LOL!

Sure hope they figure it out. Enough is enough.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Glad your facility has your back. I’ve been prepping for several years because if we had an earthquake or whatever I knew there was no way I could get my parents anywhere. So I prepped to shelter in place. I’m really glad I did because I have plenty of TP. LOL!

You stay safe too!!!

[radu]

Sure can’t get a tech on the phone during the daytime. Tried that before and gave up. Only waited about 10 minutes this time and got a nice young gal in the Philippines.

It was a huge, and very nice, surprise to wake up today and see all the lights on the modem lit up.

I was running out of things to clean. LOL

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, Biggirl….hope your day went well.

Stay safe!

[luvie]

Is this the year for corn? I hope the crop doesn’t dry out too much like it did last time. It seems to be either feast or famine lately, huh!