Francis Norbury – Sergeant Major, United States Army

He died on December 3, 1993 at age 61 in a parachute jump at Camp MacKall, Fort Bragg, North Carolina.

He had served in the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War. He organized the Military Freefall School for Military Advisory Command Special Operations Group in Vietnam in 1970.

He later served as the First Sergeant at the Airborne School at Fort Benning, Georgia, and was later promoted as the plans and training Sergeant Major at the Infantry School. He served for 26 years and was the recipient of two Bronze Star Medals, two Air Medals and two Purple Hearts.

The burial in Section 8 of Arlington National Cemetery was held on December 10, 1993. (January 4, 1932-December 3, 1993)

I do appreciate your including Frank and it did make me very proud.  He was a great brother, a great man, and a great soldier.  His family was always proud of him.  He died while doing something that he really loved at an age when most men would have been enjoying their retirement.  He is really missed by us all and this has given us another thing to cherish.

 — Julia Norbury Benson
December 19, 1998

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard