On the night of 10 April 1972, Lt. Norris (SEAL adviser with STDA) led a five-man patrol through 2,000 meters of heavily controlled enemy territory to locate 3 downed pilots behind enemy lines. He located one of the downed pilots at daybreak, and returned to the 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, PO3 Nguyen Van Kiet [Left], 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 North Vietnamese patrols. 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. The third pilot was discovered and subsequently killed by the enemy.
For his actions, Lt. Norris was awarded the Medal of Honor, and PO3 Kiet the Navy Cross.
Six months later, in October 1972, Norris sustained a near-fatal head wound while conducting a raid deep behind enemy lines. A South Vietnamese soldier saw his severe head injury and left him, believing that Norris was dead. Fellow Navy SEAL Michael E. Thornton, upon hearing the news, went back intending to recover the body of his fallen comrade, only to discover that Norris was still just barely alive. Thornton was recognized with the Medal of Honor for his actions; he was the first person in more than a century to receive the Medal of Honor for saving the life of another Medal of Honor recipient.
Lt. Norris was discharged from the Navy due to the nature of his injuries and despite losing an eye and part of his skull, he joined the FBI and became an assault team leadet for HRT. #zerofucks #nofucks #stayzero #military #vietnam #war #epic #hardcore #usa #badass #hero #legend #SEAL