Medal of Honor: Thomas R. Norris – Vietnam War – April 10–13, 1972

Name: Thomas R. Norris
Rank: Lieutenant
Branch: U.S. Navy
War: Vietnam War
Unit: SEAL Advisor, Strategic Technical Directorate Assistance Team, Headquarters, U.S. Military Assistance Command
Date of Action: April 10–13, 1972
Location: Quang Tri Province, Republic of Vietnam

Summary of Action

From 10 to 13 April 1972, Lieutenant Thomas R. Norris carried out one of the most daring rescue missions of the Vietnam War in Quang Tri Province.

Two American pilots had been shot down deep inside territory heavily controlled by North Vietnamese forces.

On the night of 10 April, Norris led a five-man patrol through approximately 2,000 meters of enemy-held ground.

Moving silently through hostile territory, the team located one of the downed pilots at daybreak and successfully brought him back to the Forward Operating Base.

The next day, after the small base was struck by a devastating mortar and rocket attack, Norris immediately set out again.

Leading a three-man team, he made two separate attempts to rescue the second pilot, but both were unsuccessful.

On 12 April, a forward air controller located the missing aviator and relayed the position to Norris.

Knowing conventional rescue was impossible, Norris devised a bold deception.

Disguised as fishermen, Norris and one Vietnamese companion used a small sampan to travel through enemy-controlled waterways under cover of darkness.

At dawn they located the injured pilot.

They concealed him beneath bamboo and vegetation and began the dangerous return trip.

Along the route, they successfully evaded a North Vietnamese patrol.

As they neared the Forward Operating Base, they came under heavy machine-gun fire.

Norris calmly called in an air strike, creating suppressive fire and a smoke screen that enabled the rescue party to reach safety.

Through extraordinary leadership, courage, ingenuity, and repeated willingness to risk his life for others, Lieutenant Norris upheld the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Medal of Honor Citation

NORRIS, THOMAS R.

Lt. Norris completed an unprecedented ground rescue of 2 downed pilots deep within heavily controlled enemy territory in Quang Tri Province. Lt. Norris, on the night of 10 April, led a 5-man patrol through 2,000 meters of heavily controlled enemy territory, located 1 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 3-man team on 2 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 1 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 machinegun 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.