The American Spectator : An Honor Roll of One

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As you are reading this, the high school I attended, Montgomery Blair, in Silver Spring, Maryland, is having its 75th anniversary celebration. We are honoring some famous grads, including Goldie Hawn, the actress, Connie Chung, the TV journalist, Carl Bernstein, famous investigative reporter, Sonny Jackson, ace baseball player, and several others. The one who counts is named Tom Norris.

He was in my class, class of '62. He was a likable kid and a cross-country runner and wrestler. After the University of Maryland, he joined the Navy and became one of the first of the super-elite Navy Seals.

In April of 1972, he was sent into the midst of 30,000 North Vietnamese soldiers who were invading South Vietnam along with five South Vietnamese soldiers. He survived behind enemy lines for a week seeking to rescue a downed American flyer. Somehow, he found the man, badly wounded, and got him out while engaged in a constant, nonstop firefight with the enemy. Disguised as a local, in a sampan, he got the pilot to safety.

A few months later, in another action behind enemy lines, Tom was shot in the face and was barely able to escape to a nearby Navy vessel, thanks to the heroism of another Seal named Michael Thornton.

Tom was in surgery for years. He lost vision in one eye. In 1976, he received the nation’s highest honor, the Congressional Medal of Honor, for his first mission. Mike Thornton received the same medal for his action saving Tom. This makes Tom the only living American to be involved in two Medal of Honor actions. THE ONLY ONE.

When he got out of the Navy, with vision in only one eye, Tom joined the FBI and worked undercover against domestic terrorist units, especially the Aryan Nations in my beloved North Idaho. Thanks to his cool heroism, the Aryan Nations are pretty much gone from North Idaho. Recently on a late summer night, Tom and I sat by Lake Pendoreille and he talked of his deeds the way a man might talk about washing his car, with that little bravado.

Now, many people say America is finished, that it does not have the spirit that it once had, that its best days are behind. I beg to differ, and I offer as Exhibit A, my childhood friend and classmate and neighbor in North Idaho, Tom Norris, a man of total fearlessness and total modesty, Blair class of 1962. If our school had produced him and not one other person, it would still be a place of honor.

Letter to the Editor

topics:
Montgomery Blair High School, Congressional Medal of Honor

Keith Kennedy| 10.16.09 @ 6:46AM

I agree. Thank you, and thank him for me.

Don Free| 10.16.09 @ 8:36AM

May God continue to bless Tom Norris as God has blessed the United States with Tom.

elephant4life| 10.16.09 @ 8:54AM

Thanks to Tom Norris and Michael Thornton for their selfless service. Perhaps Mr. Norris could put in a good word for the Eagle Scout/Army recruit/West Point candidate in NY whose future is on the line now because his survival kit inside his own car contained a penknife. Our nation needs more heroes, and apparently the button-sorters in academia are more interested in making sure we have none. Maybe a Medal of Honor winner could make those administrators see sense. Doubtful, but possible.

Paul DeSisto| 10.16.09 @ 9:30AM

Fortunately I saw on Fox last night that the US Military Academy is not going to hold the student's school suspension against him in their selection process. My only regret is that the young man chose USMA instead of my alma mater USAFA.

Brucew| 10.16.09 @ 1:30PM

I heard on the radio yesterday the West Point does not see the pen knife incident causing any problems with his application to the Academy.

Paul Beisel| 10.16.09 @ 9:03AM

I read this with my eyes half open because I was captivated by a book called,"Lone Survivor" by Marcus Luttrell. These SEALs are truly "super-heros". The rest of us will never know or understand just how much thanks that we owe them. Thanks for calling Tom out as the one to honor. Thank you Tom.

Aaron| 10.16.09 @ 9:17AM

Not that they would want it, but why aren't these great Americans (and others like them) in congress instead of ivy league lawyers? I'm beginning to belive we deserve what we have gotten (on both sides). Thank you Tom Norris and Michael Thornton!

alyeska| 10.16.09 @ 3:39PM

they are in congress; on both sides of the aisle. jim webb is an outstanding senator; likewise john mccain!

i guess what you see depends a lot on what you're looking for.

CEB| 10.16.09 @ 4:44PM

Please don't put the pornographer / war apologist Webb in the same category with these heroes. Webb is a rude-dog and a disgrace.

Tim| 10.16.09 @ 9:44AM

One reason we don't hear more about these soldiers is that media doesn't understand, and doesn't want to understand them. Hollywood is stuck on soldiers as pyscho killers and TV anchors are too engrossed with their own perceived "heroism" and the heroic calling of journalism to acknowledge them.

alyeska| 10.16.09 @ 3:23PM

did you even see "band of brothers" or "saving private ryan?"

appreciation of the military is not a partisan issue.

Tim| 10.16.09 @ 3:56PM

Yes, and I also saw Apocalypse Now, and several Rambos.
Certainly Rambo is no liberal icon, but he's still a psychopath, commie killer or not. The stereotype is non-partisan.
As for journalists, too many of them insert themselves in stories allegedly about our troops.

alyeska| 10.16.09 @ 5:26PM

i don't watch movies that i think i'll find offensive. perhaps you might consider doing that. or do you enjoy being cynical and upset. you know, it's not good for you.

Kevin McGilly| 10.16.09 @ 9:50AM

I am glad that Ben Stein has used his platform to tell the story of Tom Norris and Michael Thornton's heroism. I also agree with Stein that the nay-sayers who say that America is in decline are wrong. Our bright, capable young President and his inspriringly competent administration are doing the things that need to be done to right our nation's course and fix the mess his predecessor left behind.

Joseph Rosenberger| 10.16.09 @ 11:04AM

"Our bright, capable young President and his inspiringly competent..." (choking on my coffee). Excuse me? Earth to Kevin? Come in Kevin?

Richard L. Kent, Esq.| 10.16.09 @ 12:11PM

Dear Mr. Rosenberger:

You must not have gotten the memo. President Obama is bright, capable, and inspiringly competent. He must be. He wouldn't have gotten a Peace Prize for not being George Bush for a week otherwise.

David W. Stombaugh| 10.16.09 @ 1:50PM

re: The President. Bright? No one has ever seen his school transcripts and he won't release them. Average student? Competent? " I support this, well ...I use to but...ok ...I will...maybe...nah..ok Saturday Night Live was right". Capable? "Would Fox, Rush, Sean and Glenn quit picking on me. They are distracting" I feel better Kevin.

lenora Mobley| 10.21.09 @ 11:51AM

Another "Hope over Experience" citizen alert!

lilliang| 10.16.09 @ 1:02PM

What!!! We have a bright, capable President ? Then,who is this hopey/changey guy that lives in the White House?

Bob Moulder| 10.16.09 @ 1:34PM

Sound the claxons! Kool-Aid alert!

Mark Needham| 10.16.09 @ 3:51PM

Yes, Kevin. We are all so very proud of the Teleprompter-In-Chief and his many "Noble" accomplishments that no one can count.

Matt morehouse| 10.18.09 @ 10:21AM

Surely you jest. Do I detect a strong note of sarcasm? I sure hope so.
http://conversationsaroundawoodstove.blogspot.com

Griffin| 10.16.09 @ 9:50AM

Thank you Mr. Norris for your selfless service to the greatest country on the face of the earth. May GOD richly bless you and your family.

Myron Hale| 10.16.09 @ 10:00AM

Thanks Ben. G-d bless you and keep up the good work.

Ken (Old Texican)| 10.16.09 @ 10:04AM

Ben, I have only one quibble with your splendid tribute to Mr. Norris and company.

You used the term "fearless". No, I believe that Mr. Norris...and company...all "feared" a LOT.

They simply swallowed the fear and did the right thing, the best they understood it.
Having been on the sharp end, I think I am pretty accurate here. I would love to hear Mr. Norris' comment on that.
Thank God for the men and women all across this country just like 'em.

Ken (Old Texican)| 10.16.09 @ 10:07AM

Kevin, Thanks!
That was the best tongue in cheek irony I have read in a good while.

Keep up the good work.

DennyK| 10.16.09 @ 10:27AM

Ben's comments are not enrirely correct. According to Wikipedia, "Nineteen men have been awarded the Medal of Honor twice. Five of these men were awarded both the Army and Navy Medal of Honor for the same action. Since February 1919, no single individual can be awarded more than one Medal of Honor for the same action although a member of one branch of the armed forces can receive the Medal of Honor from another branch, if the actions for which awarded were under the authority of the said branch. The maximum number of Medals of Honor earned by any service member has been two. There has never been a recorded case of a service member receiving three or more Medals of Honor."

Anastasia Mather| 10.16.09 @ 10:56AM

Wikipedia? Since when is that an entirely credible source? If you can find those facts somewhere else, they might mean something.

Interested Conservative| 10.16.09 @ 11:42AM

DK - Ben noes - the only "living" American. I think that is the distinction.

Smedley Butler is fascinating, though.

Geechee| 10.16.09 @ 11:59AM

"Wikipedia"? Are you serious? Anybody who can walk and chew gum at the same time can contribute to that site.

Huntred| 10.16.09 @ 12:29PM

Instead of simply critiquing the source, why not check the actual data?

Conrad Spiracy| 10.16.09 @ 2:13PM

DennyK, Huntred:

LISTEN UP!

Service branch medals are just that - service branch medals. Ben Stein is referring to the CONGRESSIONAL Medal of Honor. If you want to research the history of the award and recipients, go to the CMOH Society site (http://www.cmohs.org/), NOT WIKIPEDIA!

As DennyK noted, there have been 19 double recipients (at least someone at WP got something right). There are 3 commissioned dual recipients and 16 enlisteds. All of those dual awards occurred during or prior to WWI.

On the Friday before Memorial Day weekend in 2007, Jeff Emanuel published a lengthy piece on AmSpec called The Lost Heroes of the Global War on Terror. It was one of the most moving pieces I have read during the GWOT. He chose one member from each of the four major service branches and profiled their stories. The story no longer appears in its entirety on the site, and I wish RET would return the full text to life.

At the time one of them, Jason Dunham, Corporal, USMC had already been posthumously awarded the CMOH (January 11, 2007). Two others had been nominated, but not yet awarded. Michael Monsoor, Master at Arms, USN was posthumously awarded on April 28, 2008. Ross McGinnis, PFC, USA was posthumously awarded on June 5, 2008.

The story of the fourth was about Jason Cunningham, a USAF parajumper. It was also, to me, the most compelling. Cunningham died during the infamous Battle of Roberts Ridge early in the Afghanistan war. Cunningham was credited with saving the lives of, if I recall correctly, 11 SEALs and Marines, continuing treatment to the most critically injured, while being critically injured himself. To this day, I can’t understand why this hero of one of the bloodiest engagements of the GWOT hasn’t even been nominated for the CMOH.

Bottom line, know your topic, know how to locate the correct references on the topic, and cite those. Leave Wikipedia to the “I want to be important” crowd. I’d rather be right than important.

Respects, kudos, and eternal thanks to all who serve our country in uniform. Condolences to the survivors of those who never made it home alive.

Con Spiracy

P M Cronin| 10.16.09 @ 2:16PM

Until some time after World War I, the Medal of Honor was primarily the only decoration a warrior could receive for Valor (or conspicuous gallantry under fire above and beyond the call of duty). Later, a hierarchy of decorations for actions under fire (e.g. Bronze Star, Silver Star, Distinguished Service or Navy Cross, with the Medal of Honor being the highest) was developed, which tended to limit the amount of repeat recipients. But then, why would someone making a Wikipedia entry want to do research and enter facts?

BrentNick| 10.16.09 @ 2:22PM

I think you read incorrectly. Ben said he was the only person to be involved in two seperate MOH actions. If others rec'd multiple awards, they wre form two branches of the militray for the same action.

Paul Coffman| 10.16.09 @ 10:35AM

DennyK,

I think what Ben is saying is that Tom was personally involved in two seperate Medal of Honor actions involving him; not awarded it twice (such as Dan Daly or Smedly Butler). He was awarded for his action, and was the subject (the "rescued") in another. Might be a quibble, but it's the gist of what Ben was trying to say.

Bruce| 10.18.09 @ 1:29PM

BrentNick and Paul Coffman are exactly correct - which I was about to point out to those with poor reading comprehension. The term used was ACTIONS - not double awards - which others have pointed out were not that unusual.

Cogs| 10.16.09 @ 10:44AM

Thank you for telling us about these heroes.

Anastasia Mather | 10.16.09 @ 10:57AM

These men inspire me. The young men and women coming up through the ranks and training inspire me. I'm thankful we still have this kind of courage embodied in our military.

Steven Marshall| 10.16.09 @ 11:00AM

I love the verse of A.E. Housman, and your story about Mr. Norris made me recall this from A Shropshire Lad:

Oh, God will save her, fear you not:
Be you the men you've been,
Get you the sons your fathers got,
And God will save the Queen.

Indeed, great states, in the end, rest on the shoulders of great men. Perhaps someone should remind our leaders.

SSG David Medzyk| 10.16.09 @ 11:02AM

Point of order: It is simply the Medal Of Honor....no "Congressional".

While authorized by Congress, it is NOT their medal.

Bruce| 10.18.09 @ 1:31PM

Another point often overlooked. Thank you, Staff Sergeant Medzyk, for pointing this out, and thank you for your service to our country.

Chris Bogdan| 10.16.09 @ 11:39AM

The Pritzker Military Library conducted an interview with both Tom Norris and Mike Thornton. If you haven't heard their story, please take the time.

Chris Bogdan| 10.16.09 @ 11:40AM

Sorry - here' s the link:

http://www.pritzkermilitarylib.....norris.jsp

JIM WHITTAKER, Hemet, CA| 10.16.09 @ 11:42AM

A thousand years ago, in another lifetime, in a place halfway around the world, I had the honor
of being in the company of some remarkable young men of amazing courage.

Many of those wonderful young Johnnys didn't
get to come marching home again. But they came
home with me... Then, and now still...

Not all were awarded medals. But they should have been. Not all were named Tom Norris. But
they could have been.

Tom Norris, and all those like him, stretching all
the way back to a little rickety wooden bridge at
Lexington & Concord are the beating heart of my
country 'tis of thee, America.

I don't need to say God bless you to them.

He already has...

But thank you, Ben Stein, for sharing the story of
your Tom Norris with us. There are still things, thank God, that causes a lump in the throat and
damp, misty eyes.

This story was one...

Geechee| 10.16.09 @ 12:06PM

What a great tribute.
I try to offer my own whenever I see a uniform at the mall or on the street.
I always pop them a quick salute and say "You guys are doing a great job, and we appreciate it." You should see how their faces light up.
Of course, not surprisingly, I get a lot of stares from bystanders since half of America doesn't have a clue at to the sacrifices these folks make, but I don't care.

David Minnich| 10.16.09 @ 12:30PM

I wonder how long we will have heroes that make sacrifices like this as long as stuff like this goes on unabated:
http://www.examiner.com/x-689-.....on-streets

Peter Rice| 10.16.09 @ 12:34PM

There is no such medal called "Congressional Medal of Honor", rather there is Gold Medal awarded by the US Congress (mainly to politicians) and the Medal of Honor awarded for highest valor. I assume you intended to write Medal of Honor.

Huntred| 10.16.09 @ 12:50PM

No Ben, it's an Honor Roll of Two.

To ignore Carl Bernstein is to do all Americans a great disservice. Tom Norris did indeed do very brave things but beyond saving the lives of his comrades in arms and serving as a too-little-known inspiration to others, his legacy basically ends there. History shows that Vietnam went entirely Communist despite the efforts of Tom and his fellows while the US remained fundamentally just as free.

Meanwhile, Carl Bernstein was one of the people who helped blow the lid off of a very large, corrupt government conspiracy that worked against the very principles upon which this nation was founded. This cabal was found to have elements in the FBI, the CIA, the US Justice Department, and even the White House. Carl's work in uncovering the extent to which this rot permeated the System was invaluable to this nation in many ways both then and now.

As a long term result, the Freedom of Information Act was strengthened, the groundwork of campaign finance reform was put into place (including new financial disclosure laws) and the message rang out clearly to many ill-meaning politicians that their attempts to wrest freedom from the people would not be tolerated without question and The People mentioned in our Constitution document could and would flush out those who would try to deprive us of our freedoms.

victor| 10.17.09 @ 12:09PM

"History shows that Vietnam went entirely Communist despite the efforts of Tom and his fellows while the US remained fundamentally just as free."
Vietnam did not go Communist of its own accord. It was helped by Dead Kennedy and his fellow travelers. And to say that Vietnam is as free as the United States is fallacious at best.
You also conveniently forget the 5 million or so people that were massacred by the Communists and fogotttenn by democrats. Even to this day useful idiots such as John Kerry and Noam Chompsky attribute these deaths to a bad rice harvest.
As far as Carl and Bob Woodstein go, they should get a well deserved seat in th eash can of history.
Putting their names in the same breath as men who gave their lives in the service of their country is an obamanation.

Steve L| 10.19.09 @ 9:11AM

Well said, victor. If Bernward and Woodstein were such heroic figures, it's ironic that few in their profession are inspired to 'blow the lid off' current goings-on in Washington (attempts to push through bills with false deadlines, closed-door meetings, appointment of how many 'czars' with questionable pasts and radical agendas, a dearth of documentation on the president's own past, etc, etc.).
Hey, Huntred - where are these heroic 'journalists' as our Great Country is going down the tubes? Heroes don't cower into submission.
True heroes are the Tom Norrises and Mike Thorntons, and surely the countless others that have died without their stories having been told.

huntred| 10.19.09 @ 11:22AM

Steve - Just so we're clear, you are seeking to discredit the work of Woodward and Bernstein (fixed that for you) nearly 40 years ago by pointing out that contemporary members of their profession are not living up to your standards?

Steve L| 10.19.09 @ 1:27PM

huntred - not my standards - the supposed standards of their profession. What happened to 'truth', 'transparency', and 'the public's right to know'? And where is Bernstein now, either defending or decrying the current state of his profession? Carrying on the 'noble calling'?
Absent that, he should get the well-deserved seat that victor speaks of above. He cashed in, and then cashed out.
And no fixing necessary - I know their names.

huntred| 10.19.09 @ 5:32PM

Shackling Mr. Bernstein with the weight of today's modern journalism enterprise is patently unfair. He was certainly a hero and committed actions worthy of respect by anyone who opposes a government that slides towards tyranny. The results of his work benefit no "side" in today's acerbic political landscape save for that of the people. That you cannot appreciate the merits of his work is unfortunate.

huntred| 10.19.09 @ 11:30AM

The US remained fundamentally just as free as it would have been if Vietnam had not gone Communist. In other words, the engagement was a zero-sum game for most Americans with some gaining (those who typically profit from wars) and some losing (those who typically fight in wars) to varying degrees.

I did not forget about any number of people who were massacred by the Communists. But to be perfectly and bluntly honest, our foreign policy stance under any party was really not that concerned by those numbers.

Bob Moulder| 10.16.09 @ 12:56PM

Tom also was, to my knowledge, the only person for whom FBI vision requirements were waived in order for him to become an FBI Special Agent and, even more extraordinarily, the only such person to become a member of the FBI's extremely selective Hostage Rescue Team (HRT). I remember seeing Tom frequently when I was in New Agents' Class in 1983 and recall that he was one of those small, wiry and tough-as-nuts guys who was revered by his team members.

Bruce| 10.16.09 @ 1:10PM

Great story Ben. Thank God for heroes like these in our Republic. I'm sure there are a lot more heroes like these going unreported daily in Afghanistan while our troops are left unsupported and deliberated on.

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Twitter Trackbacks for The American Spectator : An Honor Roll of One [spectator.org] links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

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Arlie O. Pritchard, Jr.| 10.16.09 @ 2:11PM

Thank you, again, Ben. Again, because I regularly quote your common-sense market observations. One of my friends and clients paid me the honor of introducing me to Mike Thornton , back in the late 90s. Mike is the real deal--a man-mountain with piercing blue eyes, a vice grip, and total confidence without a hint of cockiness. He is a man of few words. I read his Medal of Honor citation on the wall of The Raven, a Virginia Beach restaurant/bar that I have patronized since my lifeguard days at Little Creek, in the late 60s. East Coast SEALs train there. Now, I know the story of Tom Norris, Mike's friend and commander. Just like Marcus Luttrel, whose book I just completed, Tom, Mike and their compatriots are the ones who lay it on the line for the rest of us, every day. Frankly, Carl Bernstein doesn't deserve to be mentioned during a discussion of their heroism. If you want an accurate picture of how the media afffects the efforts of our military, read "Lone Survivor". Please keep doing what you do, Ben!

largebill| 10.16.09 @ 5:44PM

Arlie,

You're right about Mike Thornton being a mountain of a man. He has enough chest for two men. My last ship, USS SAN JACINTO, had a port call in Houston in the late 90's and Mike came aboard in Galveston and rode us up the river and then came back for a couple receptions that weekend. He seemed like a great guy with no BS about him. We asked him to pose for a picture with our Chief's Mess and he tossed me his car keys and told me to get his Medal of Honor from his glove box so he could wear it in the picture. Coming back up the brow I was gripping the medal box as tight as possible terrified of the thought of dropping it. Guys like him and Mr. Norris should never be allowed to pay for their beer. Should be a line of us grateful enough to say his next drink is on me.

Since you're in Virginia Beach you might be interested to know they named a building at Little Creek base for Tom Norris.

Elvira| 10.16.09 @ 2:47PM

Thank you, Ben. Now I don't have to hang my head in shame anymore when I tell people I am a graduate of Blair! My oldest daughter just got married in northern Idaho, Coeur d'Alene. Beautiful country. Also, the folks there are great. Now I can proudly cite you, Mr. Norris and Mr. Thornton as fellow grads. One question, was it true that Blair was the Quaalude capital of the US in the 60's?

gene Hauber| 10.16.09 @ 3:54PM

I HOPE TOM NORRIS WRITES A "GUTSY AND NO HOLDS BARRED" ACCOUNT OF HIS LIFE IN THE SEALS.
THIS IS SUCH AN IMPORTANT PART OF OUR MILITARY'S ABILITY TO REACH DEEP INTO AREAS OF INTEREST SO EFFECTIVELY, THAT WE CAN THWART THEIR EFFORTS, NO MATTER HOW POWERFUL THEY MIGHT BE.
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW THE SACRIFICES THAT OUR MILITARY, AND ESPECIALLY OUR "D" BOYS AND OUR SEALS ENDURE FOR US.

I SPEAK FIRST HAND FROM A MILITARY POINT OF VIEW WHEN I SAY WITH TOTAL CONVICTION, THAT ANY ATTACK ON THIS COUNTRY WILL BE A FAILURE OF OUR POLITICIANS AND NEVER A FAILURE OF OUR MILITARY.
THE MILITARY AND NAVAL FORCES OF THIS COUNTRY HAVE IT ALL TOGETHER. THE BEST LEADERS IN THE WORLD.

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Bille Baty| 10.16.09 @ 4:25PM

Thank you Ben Stein, for bringing us a small portion of the story of Tom Norris, and also Mike Thornton. These are men whose story needs to be told. Not so they can receive glory. Men and women serving in our military, heroically, do so not for the glory, but for the honor of serving America.

Their story needs to be told so the truth about America's service men and women may be told. The truth that America still has heroes...and they're not being lauded on television, or idolized in movies, or sung about in the popular songs of our day. They're silently serving all of us Americans, bravely, heroically in anonymity, around the world, not seeking glory, just serving and protecting.

God Bless Them All...

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alyeska| 10.16.09 @ 5:31PM

you people are real downers -- you take a wonderful story like that of Mike Thornton and almost immediately turn it into some kind of partisan rant. you're going to make yourself sick.

my idea of hell is that when you die you enter another state of consciousness and realize that we are all one and you are forced to remember how you treated yourself.

Margie| 10.16.09 @ 11:55PM

I'm not quite sure what planet you're existing on out there in cyberspace missy, but perhaps it's Pluto because I can't see how on this Earth you could possibly see this thread as being a "downer." (With the exception of Huntred's disgusting and disrespectful comments), Must've been that Liberal College you went to. As for Hell, you'd better go read the Bible because your idea of it is just that, your idea.

Thank God for our brave and selfless Armed Forces. As far as I'm concerned, (I'll speak for myself), I know I can't possibly thank them enough. Ever. So I pray for them, and pray that our God given country will keep being the Land of the Free because of the Brave!

Bydand76| 10.17.09 @ 10:32PM

Thank You Margie.
Your prayers are well received and gratefully acknowledged.
May God Bless you and Keep you!
You have brought a tear to my eye.
I am deployed right now and I will return in Jan.
Thank YOU for being who you are. Please keep praying for all of us here.

Margie| 10.18.09 @ 12:16AM

No Bydand76,
Thank YOU for being who you are! You've encouraged my heart with your words and I'm glad you appreciated what I said. Remember this: "Greater love than this has no one, that anyone should lay down his life for his friends." Jn. 15:13. Christ did it for us, and He never forgets the sacrifices that you all are making everyday. And most of us don't either. Stay safe. You're already blessed. Keep us posted. Praying for your safe return. Tell your fellow soldiers we love them.

victor| 10.18.09 @ 10:35PM

It is we who should be thankful and grateful that men such as yourself and others are working day and night to preserve the freedom that we enjoy here.
I will always regret not having served when I could have, but chose to listen to the naysayers and subversives in society.
By the time I straightened out I was too old to serve. Now I can only admire and respect those who did and are doing so now.

Bydand76| 10.17.09 @ 10:26PM

Yes Alyeska,
I am sure Gen. Petreaus would agree with you. Or maybe George Soros would be a better person to ask in regards to making themselves sick due to partisan rants while discussing members of the Armed Forces both active and retired? What do you think?

As far as a partisan rant. What do you think you are doing? I cannot see anything partisan out of this thread other than some mis-guided people trying to inject some type of wierd advocacy for somone whom they feel is more worthy of a medal than the battle tested and proven Mr Norris. BTW Bernstein is a moral deviant and should not even be considered in this conversation. I seriously doubt if the man ever volunteered for a thing in his life if it did not directly benefit him outright. To be considered in the same light as Mr Norris is a travesty and an insult. I find it offensive to say the least.
One more thing. Before you bring up Mr Webb and Mr Kerry? Do your research on who the man is before you speak of their character. Actions speak louder than words in my experiance. Would you agree with me on that?

Alyeska,
again, you attempt to bring religion to a conversation that has no bearing on the subject. Why? I think you need to find a spiritual advisor of some type, whatever the flavor. A constant complaint that I hear from Liberals is the the "right " always wants to push their faith on others. I have to say you being an obvious person of the left leaning persuasion are far more guilty of that supposed crime than anyone else here. Have you ever considered the fact that maybe you have fallen victim to your own psyche? I think you need to relax a little bit and do some self relfection on what it is you truly believe in. Your idea of "hell" is silly to say the least. If your idea or perhaps your theology is correct then no one would be able to function because try as we might. It is improbable to go through life without harming yourself or someone else. Therfore every single one of us would be commited to your supposed idea of "Hell" Think about it for a minute and realize what your saying.

And yes. You sound young. I hear the same sort of silliness from my sisters kids. They are 16 & 17 respectfully. Have a great day!

Pro Deux et Patria

Serge from Wellington| 10.18.09 @ 2:00AM

You taught us not to watch movies which can annoy us... good advice. So why you torture yourself reading all the partisan rant you cannot stand? Follow your own advice.

Desert Rat| 10.16.09 @ 8:41PM

As far as I am concerned, Huntred, Carl Bernstein and most of the other pukes in the media today aren't worthy to lick clean the bottom of Tom Norris's boots. And that includes Walter Cronkite, who was a traitor, in my view, for portraying Tet as a loss by the U.S. I hope a special place in hell is reserved for Cronkite, Jane Fonda and Ted Kennedy, who was largely responsible for the defunding of the U.S. military effort in Vietnam, resulting in Vietnam going "entirely Communist", as you put it.

huntred| 10.19.09 @ 11:46AM

No really, Vietnam went "entirely Communist" once the Communist North achieved control of the Republic of Vietnam. How I put it has no bearing on this fact of history and is not a matter of debate.

The (in)effectiveness of the Tet Offensive in both the immediate and long-term frames can be debated endlessly, but believing that the NVA - and their PRC/USSR "quartermasters" were somehow going to be easily mowed over is an extraordinarily simplistic view of the situation and is a sign of a significant underestimation of the goals and will of all the stakeholders.

Guy Hawkins| 10.16.09 @ 10:58PM

Many thanks to Tom Norris. But, I don't think we're graduating many Tom Norrises these days.

BigMac| 10.16.09 @ 11:17PM

Yeah...gotta say, Carl Bernstein ain't up there on my shelf o' heroes...........now, on the other hand.........Goldie Hawn...in her prime.......yowsah.

Jim O'Brien| 10.17.09 @ 12:01PM

Hats off to Tom Norris. Let's not forget that 58,000 American soldiers were killed in Vietnam (including guys I knew), and about 300,000 were wounded. It was a noble cause, but after Kissinger negotiated a cease fire Congress cut off funding for the South Vietnamese. We abandoned them, and hundreds of thousands were butchered by the Communists. The book to read is "No More Vietnams" by President Richard Nixon. He does not say we should not have been there, but that we should have fought to win.

It is immoral to send men into battle unless the national objective is victory. This lesson still has not been learned, and it is therefore incredible that so many Americans continue to serve voluntarily.

GFFounder| 10.17.09 @ 5:17PM

Selflessness, heroism, and bravado will continue to be significant factors in what makes the USA great. Tom Norris and Michael Thornton, and people like them will be our daily reminder (thanks in part to Ben Stein) of that. Despite what mainstream media may say, this blessed USA will continue to be the good conscience of the world.

Michael Parker| 10.19.09 @ 8:58AM

Because of men like him men like be get to do what we want and can become any thing we want ! I thank God everyday for men like Tom.

Richard Baker| 10.19.09 @ 7:20PM

I'm the son of a career soldier and I served 8 years myself in the Army and my heroes have always been been Medal of Honor awardees. Sad that the country all too often forgets these men. To view two amazing citations, read about Roger Donlon and Roy Benavidez from the Vietnam War at www.cmohs.org.

Pingback| 10.31.09 @ 4:29PM

Unto the Breach » Tommy Norris interview links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:

…enemy lines in Vietnam. The video and podcast are available here. In addition, Ben Stein, the writer and economist, graduated in the same high school class as Norris, and recently wrote a very heartfelt piece at The American Spectator honoring his friend. Posted on October 31, 2009 at 15:29 by Chris Carter · Permalink In: Military History · Tagged with: Navy SEALs, SEAL Team One, Thomas R.…

Mike Brown| 11.12.09 @ 12:51AM

I need to point you to a correction. Until the past year there were two other living Americans who had been involved in two Medal of Honor actions. One of them died during the past year, and you probably read of his passing. His name was Ed "Too Tall" Freeman. He was presented the Medal of Honor by President George W. Bush. The other half of the duo still lives; I visited with him last Sunday, November 8. His name is Bruce Crandall. Both of them received their medals for actions in the Ia Drang Valley. This is the action that was the subject of Hal Moore and Joe Galloway's book, "We Were Soldiers Once....and Young." That book became the Mel Gibson movie, "We Were Soldiers."

Switching subjects, your mention of Lake Pend Oreille also caught my attention. Sandpoint, Idaho is where I grew up. I believe that you (Mr. Stein) are acquainted with my sister, Marianne Love, who still lives there.

Mike Brown
DuPont WA

The American Spectator

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