World War II Honoree

Edward J. Norman

Branch of Service

U.S. Army

Hometown

Middleburg, Virginia

Honored By

Edward C. Norman & Frederick R. Norman

Relationship

Sons

ENTERED SERVICE IN 1940; BASIC TRAINING WAS AT FORT LEE, VIRGINIA. ASSIGNED TO THE 260TH COASTAL ARTILLERY BATTALION; REASSIGNED AND STATIONED AT FORT BLISS, TEXAS IN THE LAST MOUNTED HORSE CAVALRY UNIT, UNTIL REORGANIZED TO AN ANTI-AIRCRAFT AND RADAR UNIT. FOLLOWING THE ATTACK ON PEARL HARBOR, UNIT WAS STATIONED IN WASHINGTON STATE FOR COASTAL DEFENSE MISSIONS AND ENEMY AIRCRAFT DETECTION. SELECTED FOR SERVICE IN THE 89TH DIVISION ACTIVATION CADRE FOR AN INFANTRY REGIMENTAL COMBAT TEAM AT THE HUNTER LEGGETT TRAINING RANGE IN CALIFORNIA. INCLUDED PROMOTION FROM TECHNICAL SERGEANT TO COMPANY 1ST SERGEANT. HE WAS LATER COMMISSIONED TO WARRANT OFFICER 1ST CLASS IN 1944 AND WAS THE REGIMENTAL MOTOR OFFICER. DEPLOYED FROM NEW JERSEY TO THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS IN 1944. ENTERED AT THE PORT OF LA HAVRE, FRANCE. ATTACHED TO BOTH THE 1ST AND 3RD ARMIES AT DIFFERENT TIMES. ENTERED GERMANY THROUGH BELGIUM AND AS PART OF THE RHINE RIVER ASSAULT. CAME WITHIN 13 MILES OF BERLIN, GERMANY AND WERE ORDERED TO HOLD WHILE RUSSIAN FORCES ENTER BERLIN. AWARDED THE COMBAT INFANTRYMAN BADGE, EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS CAMPAIGN WITH 2 BATTLE STARS (BATTLE OF BULGE AND RHINE), GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL AND WWII SERVICE RIBBON. RETURNED TO U.S. BY AIR ON ORDERS FOR LEAVE AND REDEPLOYMENT TO THE PACIFIC. WAR ENDED WHILE HE WAS ON LEAVE AND HE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REASSIGNED TO FORT SILL TRAINING SCHOOL, AS AN INSTRUCTOR. SERVICE ENDED IN 1945. DECEASED 12/27/03.