Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, Lieutenant Thomas Rolland Norris received the Medal of Honor for his actions between April 10 and 13, 1972 in Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. At the time he was serving with Strategic Technical Directorate Assistance Team, SEAL Advisor, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Headquarters. Norris was 28 years old.
The medal was presented on March 4, 1976, 3 years after the action — the White House, presented by Pres. Gerald R. Ford.
Norris was born on January 14, 1944 in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida. His Medal of Honor is credited to Silver Spring, Montgomery County, Maryland. Norris is one of the living Medal of Honor recipients.
Norris is one of 274 Medal of Honor recipients from the Vietnam War and one of 85 credited to Maryland.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Lt. Norris completed an unprecedented ground rescue of two downed pilots deep within heavily controlled enemy territory in Quang Tri Province. Lt. Norris, on the night of 10 April, led a five-man patrol through 2,000 meters of heavily controlled 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, Lt. 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 Lt. Norris. Dressed in fishermen disguises and using a sampan, Lt. Norris and one Vietnamese traveled throughout the 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. Lt. 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, Lt. Norris enhanced the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval service.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Thomas Rolland Norris received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Vietnam War.
Timeline
- January 14, 1944Born in Jacksonville, Duval County, Florida
- April 10 - 13, 1972Act of valor — Quang Tri Province, Republic of VietnamAge 28. Strategic Technical Directorate Assistance Team, SEAL Advisor, U.S. Military Assistance Command, Headquarters
- March 4, 1976Medal of Honor presentedThe White House, presented by Pres. Gerald R. Ford
Biography
Thomas Rolland Norris (born January 14, 1944) is a retired United States Navy SEAL and Distinguished Eagle Scout, who received the Medal of Honor for his ground rescue with the assistance of Petty Officer Third Class Nguyen Van Kiet of two downed aircrew members in Quảng Trị province during the Vietnam War on April 10–13, 1972. At the time of the action, Lieutenant Norris was a SEAL Advisor with the Strategic Technical Directorate Assistance Team. Norris was one of three SEALs to receive the Medal of Honor for actions during the Vietnam War.
From the Wikipedia article “Thomas R. Norris”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
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