Thomas R. Norris
Thomas R. Norris | |
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University of Maryland (BS) | |
| Other work | FBI Special Agent |
Thomas Rolland Norris (born January 14, 1944) is a retired
Early life and education
Norris was born on January 14, 1944, in
While at the University of Maryland, Norris was an
Career
Norris enlisted in the United States Navy when his student deferment from the draft was not extended.[2] 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 considered removing him from the course.[5] However, the instructors decided to allow Norris to try to finish the training, and he graduated from BUD/S class 45 in July 1969 at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek. Norris completed his first tour of duty in South Vietnam with Fifth Platoon, SEAL Team TWO from February to August 1970 earning Bronze Star Medal with combat "V" device.
Ground rescue operation
In April 1972, Norris was one of few remaining SEALs in Vietnam serving with
Intelligence gathering mission
Six months later, on October 31, 1972, Norris and fellow Navy SEAL
Approaching by sea, the group was transported by junk until sunset, then paddled a rubber boat to within a mile of shore and swam the remaining distance. Moving inland past numerous North Vietnamese encampments, the group reconnoitered through the night.[6][7]
When morning dawned, the five-man group realized that they had landed 5 miles (8.0 km) to the north and were actually in North Vietnam. They soon encountered a two-man North Vietnamese patrol, which the South Vietnamese attempted to capture. Instead, enemy troops were alerted to their position. For the next four hours, the five men held off an enemy force estimated at 200–300 strong. Norris called in naval firepower on the enemy's positions, helping to keep them alive.
The North Vietnamese regrouped and surrounded the troops, and the SEALs and South Vietnamese decided to withdraw. Norris protected their rear while the others moved towards the water. He was shot in the head and severely wounded. One of the South Vietnamese who saw Norris' wound assumed he was dead. Thornton, upon hearing the news, ran through heavy fire to recover the body of his fallen comrade, only to discover that Norris was still just barely alive. He killed several North Vietnamese as they surmounted the dunes around his position and then carried the unconscious Norris into the water.
Thornton also carried one of the South Vietnamese soldiers who had been wounded and was unable to swim into the ocean. Thornton swam and supported the two injured men for more than two hours before they were picked up by the same junk that had dropped them off the night before. Norris' first surgery lasted 19 hours.
Thornton was recognized with the Medal of Honor for his actions of April 1972 by President
FBI
In 1979, Norris joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation (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 was an FBI Special Agent for 20 years. He was an original member of the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team as an assault team leader. He is a member of the Society of Former Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Honors and citations
Medal of Honor citation
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
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.
Awards and achievements
The Naval Special Warfare Group Two's Lt. Thomas R. Norris Building in
Norris' Medal of Honor actions have been re-told in numerous books and in the feature film
Norris received the
In 1976, he received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement.[9]
Military awards
Norris' military decorations and awards include the following:
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| Special Warfare insignia | |||||
| 1st Row | Medal of Honor | Silver Star | Combat "V" and two 3⁄16" Gold Stars
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Purple Heart | |
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| 2nd Row | Joint Service Commendation Medal
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Navy Commendation Medal w/ Combat "V" | Combat Action Ribbon | Navy Presidential Unit Citation w/ 3⁄16" bronze star | |
| 3rd Row | Navy Unit Commendation | Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation | National Defense Service Medal | Vietnam Service Medal w/ three 3⁄16" bronze stars | |
| 4th Row | Vietnam Gallantry Cross w/ Gold Star
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Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal 2nd class
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Vietnam Staff Service Medal 2nd class | Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Gallantry Cross) with palm and frame
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| 5th Row | Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation (Civil Actions) with palm and frame
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Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/ 1960– device | Navy Expert Rifleman Medal | Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal
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| Navy and Marine Corps Parachutist insignia | |||||
Bibliography
- By Honor Bound: Two Navy SEALs, the Medal of Honor, and a Story of Extraordinary Courage. St. Martin's Press. 2016. .
See also
References
- ^ "Virtual Polygraph". SEC-VeriSESAL. Retrieved July 3, 2006.
- ^ a b LT Thomas R. Norris Awarded the "Medal Of Honor"
- ^ "Alumni Hall of Fame". University of Maryland Alumni Association. Archived from the original on May 9, 2008. Retrieved July 3, 2006.
- ISBN 978-1-250-07059-3.
- ISBN 0-609-60710-3. Referred to in Couch's speech at graduation of BUD/S Class 228. Couch was in BUD/S Class 45 with Norris.
- ISBN 978-0-380-75886-9.
- ISBN 978-1-57965-314-9.
- ^ "Veteran Tributes". www.veterantributes.org.
- American Academy of Achievement.
External links
- "Thomas R. Norris Medal of Honor citation". Retrieved May 17, 2010.
- "Lieutenant Thomas R. Norris, United States Naval Reserve, Vietnam War Medal of Honor recipients, Naval Historical Center, Department of the Navy". Retrieved July 3, 2006.
- "Notable Navy SEALs, NavySEALs.com". Retrieved April 10, 2013.
- Lt. Thomas R. Norris, USN Biography and Interview on American Academy of Achievement
- "Stories of Valor: Thomas Norris". American Valor. PBS. Retrieved July 3, 2006.
- "Interview with Norris at the Pritzker Military Museum & Library". Retrieved April 30, 2014.
- Amazon.com. Pocket. April 3, 2001. )
- Appearances on C-SPAN
