World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Thomas Gates 'Tom' Norris
Branch of Service
U.S. Army
Hometown
Tahlequah, Oklahoma
Honored By
OAMC, ROTC Class of 1943
SERVED IN THE ARMY RESERVE OFFICER TRAINING CORPS AT OKLAHOMA A&M COLLEGE AT STILLWATER, OKLAHOMA FROM SEPTEMBER, 1940 TO APRIL 5, 1943. SIMULTANEOUSLY SERVED AS A PRIVATE IN THE ENLISTED RESERVE CORPS WITH THE 1875TH SERVICE UNIT FROM JULY 1942 TO APRIL 5, 1943. INDUCTED AND CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY ON APRIL 6, 1943. REPORTED TO THE RECEPTION CENTER, FORT SILL, AT LAWTON, OKLAHOMA ON APRIL 12, 1943. SERVED AS A SERGEANT IN THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER. TAKEN AS A PRISONER OF WAR DURING THE ARDENNES-ALSACE (BATTLE OF THE BULGE) CAMPAIGN. DIED OF NON-BATTLE CAUSES ON APRIL 12, 1945 IN A GERMAN PRISONER OF WAR CAMP. AWARDED THE PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH BRONZE SERVICE STAR, AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL.