Robert Norman Norris – Specialist 5, United States Army

Full Name: ROBERT NORMAN NORRIS

Date of Birth: 12/26/1950
Date of Casualty: 12/19/1969
Home of Record: TOWANDA, NEW YORK
Branch of Service: ARMY
Rank: SP4
Casualty Country: SOUTH VIETNAM
Casualty Province: THUA THIEN

NORRIS, ROBERT NORMAN

• SP4 USA
• DATE OF BIRTH: 12/26/1950
• DATE OF DEATH: 12/19/1969
• BURIED AT: SECTION 51  SITE 2939
  ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY

28 May 2006:

County commissioner Doug McLinko shared memories of a soldier, Bobby Norris from Towanda, who he said was killed in 1969 in Vietnam and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

“Bobby was born in Italy in 1950 and came to this country as a little boy and was adopted by Frank and Lori Norris,” he said. “Bobby grew up in Towanda on North Fourth Street next to Bert Williams, a World War II veteran, and across the street from my dad, a Korean War veteran. Bobby was an adventurous kid and was proud to be an American. Upon high school graduation, he enlisted in the army and became a member of the Green Beret K-9 unit.”

He said Norris and his German Shepherd perished during a training exercise over the jungle on Dec. 19, 1969.

He said a cable from a helicopter broke and the two fell to their deaths.

“Today, Bobby is in Arlington National Cemetery and in a world where the title ‘hero’ is bantered around for most anything, Bobby is a true American hero. I am most proud to have known him; he will never be forgotten nor will his sacrifice ever be taken for granted…”

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