The FReeper Foxhole Profiles Two Navy Medal of Honor Recipients - Dec. 19th, 2004

http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/tho0pro-1 ^

[snippy_about_it]

Lord,

Keep our Troops forever in Your care

Give them victory over the enemy...

Grant them a safe and swift return...

Bless those who mourn the lost.
.

FReepers from the Foxhole join in prayer
for all those serving their country at this time.


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U.S. Military History, Current Events and Veterans Issues

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are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.

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Two Heroes


Michael E. Thorton and Thomas R. Norris


Michael E. Thornton
Congressional Medal of Honor



BIOGRAPHY
b. March 23, 1949

Michael Edwin Thornton was born in Greenville, South Carolina and raised on the family farm near Spartanburg. Thornton joined the Navy upon graduating from high school in 1967 and completed the rigorous training to join the SEALs, the Navy's elite sea-air-land special operations force. As overall American conventional forces were gradually withdrawn from Vietnam in the early 1970s, the "unconventional warfare" role of Navy SEALs grew. In the spring of 1972, Petty Officer Thornton was assigned to a mission under the command of Lt. Thomas Norris.

Thornton and Norris accompanied a three-man South Vietnamese Navy team on an intelligence gathering mission in enemy-held territory. Launched from a Vietnamese Navy junk in a rubber boat, the patrol reached land and found themselves far behind enemy lines than they had planned. Continuing on foot toward their objective, they came under heavy fire from a far larger force and were in danger of being surrounded. While inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy, they headed for the shore, in hopes of escaping by sea.



On learning that Lt. Norris had been hit by enemy fire and was believed to be dead, Thornton returned through a hail of fire to the lieutenant's last position and found him severely wounded and unconscious but alive. Quickly disposing of two enemy soldiers who approached at that moment, Thornton slung Norris over his shoulder and dashed for life over 400 yards of open beach, returning enemy fire as he ran. He carried Norris and another wounded comrade out to sea, beyond the range of enemy fire. The company floated for approximately two hours before being retrieved by the South Vietnamese Navy.

Michael Thornton was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor on October 15, 1973. He is the first person in more than a century to receive that honor for saving the life of another Medal of Honor recipient. Now retired after a distinguished Navy career that continued through Operation Desert Storm, he resides near Houston, Texas.

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FReeper Foxhole Armed Services Links

[snippy_about_it]

Thomas R. Norris
Congressional Medal of Honor



BIOGRAPHY
b. January 14, 1944

Thomas R. Norris was born in Jacksonville, Florida. His family moved to Wisconsin and later to the Washington, D.C. area, where Norris attended the University of Maryland, intent on pursuing a career in criminology with the FBI. Graduating in 1967, Norris enlisted in the Navy when his student deferment from the draft was not extended. He volunteered for the SEALs -- the Navy's elite special forces unit -- and after completing the brutally rigorous training program served multiple tours of duty in Vietnam.

In the spring of 1973, an American electronic surveillance plane was shot down over North Vietnam. One crewman survived the crash and narrowly escaped capture. The Air Force launched an unprecedented rescue effort. In five days, 14 people were killed, eight aircraft were lost, two rescuers were captured and two more were stranded behind enemy lines.

On April 10, 1972, Norris led a five-man patrol deep into enemy territory. Separating temporarily from his patrol, he traveled alone through the jungle and located one of the downed pilots just before dawn. He led his crew safely back to their forward operating base. Later that day, a North Vietnamese rocket attack on the small base inflicted devastating casualties and compelled the medical evacuation of the one other American officer, the remaining Vietnamese officers and all but a remnant of the Vietnamese supporting force. After an unsuccessful attempt to rescue the first missing flier, two of Norris's three remaining Vietnamese commandos proved unwilling to accompany Norris on further missions.

On the afternoon of the 12th, a forward air controller located the first pilot and notified Lt. Norris. Dressed as fishermen, Lt. Norris and a Vietnamese comrade, Nguyen Van Kiet, paddled a sampan up the river and found the injured pilot at dawn. Concealing him in the bottom of their vessel, Norris and Kiet headed down river to their base, dodging one North Vietnamese patrol and surviving heavy machine gun fire from a bunker along the river. This extraordinary rescue has been recounted in numerous books and a feature film, BAT-21, the Air Force code name for the original reconnaissance mission.



The following October he received a near-fatal head wound in action and was rescued by his fellow Navy SEAL, Michael Thornton. At first, Norris's doctors gave him little chance of recovery, but with constant encouragement from his family and from Michael Thornton, Norris fought on. In time, Norris and Thornton enjoyed the unique satisfaction of witnessing each other's Medal of Honor ceremonies at the White House. Thomas Norris ultimately realized his youthful ambition of joining the FBI. After many years of distinguished service in FBI hostage rescue operations, he now enjoys a well-earned retirement in Idaho.

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Today's Educational Sources and suggestions for further reading:

[snippy_about_it]

Interview excerpts:

So both of you were given the Medal of Honor for a similar act of saving someone, someone you wouldn't give up on.

MR. NORRIS: Yes, sir.

When did you get your Medal of Honor?

MR. NORRIS: My medal was not given to me until 1976. That's a long time between action and medals.

MR. THORNTON: It goes through these different boards. We've had guys that have gone seven years without getting medals. Tommy received his with Admiral Jim Stockdale and Colonel Bud Day at the White House in March of 1976.

So you were there?

MR. THORNTON: Of course I was there.

MR. NORRIS: Part of the delay was when the teams wanted to have it reviewed because they thought that it was worthy of a higher award. I didn't believe it was. I did what I had been trained to do and I was very fortunate in being successful. To me it didn't rate that type of an award. The Awards Bureau disagreed with me and because of that I was a recipient of the medal.

I feel much like Mike does. That medal does not belong to me. It belongs to all the soldiers over there that fought and lost their lives and were part of a conflict that they gave their lives for, or they worked for, as well as the teams. That medal was not mine. It belongs to everybody.

"It's hard to explain to somebody that's never been there what it's like to work in an area where you're outnumbered."

Michael Thornton and Thomas Norris were interviewed together. Click here to learn more about these two heroes.

[snippy_about_it]

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[snippy_about_it]

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NOW UPDATED THROUGH JULY 31st, 2004
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The FReeper Foxhole. America's History. America's Soul

Click on Hagar for
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[shield]

Good Morning....snippy ;o)

[The Mayor]

December 19, 2004

Isn't He Beautiful!

Read: Isaiah 9:1-7

Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given. —Isaiah 9:6

Bible In One Year: Jonah 1-4; Revelation 10

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A group of children from our city were in a worship service, and we started to sing. Ariel, age 7, leaned close to me and softly said, "I love this song; it makes me cry."

The music and words about Jesus, her Savior, touched her heart: "Isn't He beautiful? Beautiful, isn't He? Prince of peace, Son of God, isn't He?"

Yes, the Lord Jesus is beautiful. We don't find a specific reference in the Bible describing Him that way, but His personal character is strong yet gentle, holy yet forgiving, majestic yet humble—all combined. Simply beautiful!

In his prophecy, Isaiah described Jesus and His coming in this way: "Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).

Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor—giving us comfort and wisdom. The Mighty God—acting with power and authority. The Everlasting Father—providing for all our needs and protecting us. And the Prince of Peace—offering reconciliation with God and others.

Isn't Jesus beautiful! Worship Him. —Anne Cetas

Beautiful Savior! Lord of the nations!
Son of God and Son of Man!
Glory and honor, praise, adoration
Now and forevermore be Thine! —Seiss

Jesus is the image of the invisible God. —Colossians 1:15

[SAMWolf]

I feel much like Mike does. That medal does not belong to me. It belongs to all the soldiers over there that fought and lost their lives and were part of a conflict that they gave their lives for, or they worked for, as well as the teams. That medal was not mine. It belongs to everybody.

What a difference in attitude from certain ex-presidential candidates.

[SAMWolf]

Morning shield.

[SAMWolf]

Good Morning Mayor.

[The Mayor]

Hi Ya Sam

[Soaring Feather]

Good morning everyone!

[E.G.C.]

Good morning, snippy and everyone at the Freeper Foxhole.

[The Mayor]

Hi Feather!

[Soaring Feather]

Hi Mayor!

You getting socked in with snow?? We are getting it here!

Cold wind blowing, snowing swirling in the air, ground is covered and more to come.

Happy happy!!

[Soaring Feather]

Alfa, you started it!! LoL!!

[The Mayor]

We have a pretty good storm upon us right now.
Not a ton of snow just an inch or so, but man it's cold.
Right now it's 16 and blowing snow like you.
Where are you in relation to me?
You know i'm just north of buffalo on Grand Island..

stay warm..

[Soaring Feather]

Dead center of N.Y.

At one time as a child we lived in Lackawanna. I have many cousins in Orchard Park. Lived there, too.

[The Mayor]

I didn't even realize till today you were in NY. Orchard Park is a nice community, Lackwana has gone downhill lately..

It's colder than I thought.. BRrrrrrr!

[Soaring Feather]

My father worked in the plane factories during WWII.


I was very small.

[shield]

Good Morning....Sam... ;o)