Thomas R. Norris

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Thomas R. Norris
Born January 14, 1944 (1944-01-14) (age 64)
  
Thomas R. Norris and Petty Officer Third Class Nguyen Van Kiet
Nickname Tommy, Ratso
Place of birth Jacksonville, Florida
Allegiance Flag of the United States United States of America
Service/branch United States Navy
Rank Lieutenant
Battles/wars Vietnam War
Awards Medal of Honor
Silver Star
Bronze Star (3)
Purple Heart
Other work FBI agent

Thomas R. Norris (born 14 January 1944) is a retired United States Navy SEAL awarded 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-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 be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions during the Vietnam War.[1]

Contents

[edit] Biography

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 the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) wrestling champion.[2]

He joined the Navy with hopes of flying; however, 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.[3] He graduated from BUD/S Class 45.

In April 1972, Norris and a Navy SEAL team effected the rescue of two downed pilots in enemy territory. For this action, he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Six months later, in October 1972, Norris sustained a near-fatal head wound in action and was rescued by his fellow Navy SEAL, Michael Thornton. Norris' rescuer, Michael Thornton, received the Medal of Honor for his actions. Thornton was the first person in more than a century to receive that the Medal of Honor for saving the life of another Medal of Honor recipient. Norris and Thornton were able to witness each other's Medal of Honor ceremonies. As a result of the head injury, Norris was retired from the Navy. To recover from this injury, he spent three years in the hospital and underwent many major surgeries over a six year period.

Norris received the Medal of Honor from President Gerald R. Ford in a White House ceremony on March 6, 1976.

In 1979, Norris decided to join 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 waiver your disabilities." In September 1979, Norris passed the test and subsequently served as an FBI agent for 20 years.

Tom Norris lost an eye and part of his skull during the operation in which he was rescued by Michael Thornton. Was an original member of the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team as an assault team leader.

[edit] 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 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.

[edit] Honors and Recognitions

Lt. Thomas R. Norris building
The Naval Special Warfare Group Two in Little Creek, Virginia is located in the Lt. Thomas R. Norris Building.
Books and film
Norris' Medal of Honor actions have been re-told in numerous books and in the feature film Bat*21, which is named for the Air Force code name for the original reconnaissance mission.

[edit] See also

United States Navy Portal

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ Virtual Polygraph. SEC.
  2. ^ Alumni Hall of Fame, University of Maryland. Retrieved on 2006-07-03.
  3. ^ Couch, D (2001). The Warrior Elite: The forging of SEAL Class 228. 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.

[edit] References