We are all capable of more than we think (NQM017)
“No matter how dire the circumstances, no matter how many enemy forces are advancing, no matter how many rounds they are firing at you, and no matter how big the problems that you face in life are, never quit on yourself, and never quit on each other.” - Jocko Willink
The actions of Lt Michael E Thornton and Lt Thomas R Norris in 1972 that led to two Medal of Honor citations represent the clearest example of the never quit mindset. The type of example that will reframe your perspective and motivate you to dig deeper in facing off against your own challenges or in the pursuit of your own goals. The actions of both men just months apart in 1972 was well documented by Dick Couch in “By Honor Bound”. I highly recommend this book, not just for its excellent recounting of the two stories, but of the eloquent manner the author frames just how far these men were able to push their bodies and mind to accomplish their missions.
Tommy Norris’ received his Medal of Honor for his action in the rescue of BAT 21 in April 1972. The story of Lt Col Hambleton, his 11 day behind enemy lines ordeal in Quang Tri Province, and the 13 American Airmen that were killed in the rescue attempt were immortalized by the book and movie of the same name, but the clearest account of the actual rescue mission undertaken by Tommy Norris and his South Vietnamese SEAL teammate is best described in By Honor Bound. Infiltrating a mile and half into enemy territory disguised as North Vietnamese fishermen, they were able to rescue two of the downed American aviators that took part in the BAT 21 rescue mission.
Just a few months later, in October 1972, Tommy Norris was once again tasked with a critical intelligence gathering mission, this time around Qua Viet Navel Base in Quan Tri Province, and handpicked Mike Thornton and three South Vietnamese SEALs to accompany him. The team was inserted much farther North than anticipated, and the mission turned from bad to worse when they were compromised by a North Vietnamese patrol. Before long, the 5 man team was facing several hundred NVA soldiers.
During the intense four hour long fire fight that ensued, Tom Norris took an AK-47 round to the left side of his forehead. The bullet entered his skull at the orbital socket of his left eye, tore out a section of his skull exposing his brain and cut a shallow furl along the brain itself.
Ultimately, Mike Thornton made the call to egress out into the ocean and swim back to the junks that deployed them several hours earlier. Carrying two severely wounded teammates, Mike Thornton swam for three hours into the open ocean to safety after suffering severe wounds himself. One of those teammates was Tom Norris, who was miraculously still alive after suffering the horrific gunshot wound to the head.
From the Academy of Achievement: “Thornton carried Norris into the surf and began to swim with him. One of the Vietnamese was shot in the buttocks and couldn't swim, so Thornton grabbed him as well and pushed both of them out to sea. Bullets landed in the sea all around them. The Newport News left, thinking that the Americans and South Vietnamese had been killed. Thornton bandaged Norris' wound as well as he could and swam for about three hours. One of the South Vietnamese was finally picked up by the junk. He reported that the two Americans were dead, which was relayed to the Newport News. Thornton fired Norris' AK-47 to draw the attention of the junk. They were picked up and then transported to the Newport News. Thornton carried Norris to the operating room, where the doctor told Thornton, "There's no way he's going to make it.”
Michael Thornton received the Medal of Honor from President Nixon in 1973. Tom Norris survived his head wound and made a successful recovery, and despite losing his left eye and needing years of reconstructive surgeries, he served another 20 years as team leader in the FBI’s hostage rescue element. He received his Medal of Honor for his actions during the BAT 21 rescue mission from President Ford in 1976.
Thomas R Norris Medal of Honor Citation:
Lt. Norris completed an unprecedented ground rescue of 2 downed pilots deep within heavily controlled enemy territory in Quang Tri Province. Lt. Norris, on the night of 10 April, led a 5-man patrol through 2,000 meters of heavily controlled enemy territory, located 1 of the downed pilots at daybreak, and returned to the Forward Operating Base (FOB). On 11 April, after a devastating mortar and rocket attack on the small FOB, Lt. Norris led a 3-man team on 2 unsuccessful rescue attempts for the second pilot. On the afternoon of the 12th, a forward air controller located the pilot and notified Lt. Norris. Dressed in fishermen disguises and using a sampan, Lt. Norris and 1 Vietnamese traveled throughout that night and found the injured pilot at dawn. Covering the pilot with bamboo and vegetation, they began the return journey, successfully evading a North Vietnamese patrol. Approaching the FOB, they came under heavy machinegun fire. Lt. Norris called in an air strike which provided suppression fire and a smoke screen, allowing the rescue party to reach the FOB. By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, undaunted courage, and selfless dedication in the face of extreme danger, Lt. Norris enhanced the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.Michael E Thornton Medal of Honor Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while participating in a daring operation against enemy forces. PO Thornton, as Assistant U.S. Navy Advisor, along with a U.S. Navy lieutenant serving as Senior Advisor, accompanied a 3-man Vietnamese Navy SEAL patrol on an intelligence gathering and prisoner capture operation against an enemy-occupied naval river base. Launched from a Vietnamese Navy junk in a rubber boat, the patrol reached land and was continuing on foot toward its objective when it suddenly came under heavy fire from a numerically superior force. The patrol called in naval gunfire support and then engaged the enemy in a fierce firefight, accounting for many enemy casualties before moving back to the waterline to prevent encirclement. Upon learning that the Senior Advisor had been hit by enemy fire and was was believed to be dead, PO Thornton returned through a hail of fire to the lieutenant's last position; quickly disposed of 2 enemy soldiers about to overrun the position, and succeeded in removing the seriously wounded and unconscious Senior Naval Advisor to the water's edge. He then inflated the lieutenant's lifejacket and towed him seaward for approximately 2 hours until picked up by support craft. By his extraordinary courage and perseverance, PO Thornton was directly responsible for saving the life of his superior officer and enabling the safe extraction of all patrol members, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.
Jocko Podcast Ep 89: The Critical Importance of Taking Care of Your People. And They Will Take Care of You. Medal of Honor Recipient Mike Thornton
Jocko did an outstanding job interviewing Mike Thornton in Episode 89 of his podcast. Definitely a must listen. A few excerpts below:
The unbelievable head wound: ““I was reaching back to get the LAW ready to fire, and I could hear the ships shooting in the distance, but that is the last thing I remember.” At that point in the fight, Tom Norris took an AK-47 round to the left side of his forehead. The bullet entered his skull at the orbital socket of his left eye, tore out a section of his skull exposing his brain and cut a shallow furl along the brain itself. Dang saw his officer go down and the extent of his head wound. His lieutenant had been shot dead. Knowing there was nothing he could do, he made for the others who had just taken a position on the next dune to the north. As he was running he caught a round in the radio he was still carrying on his back, knocking him down. The round destroyed the radio and buried shrapnel into Dang’s back.”
Never leaving anyone behind: “Where is Tommy, Mike asked Dang when he reached him. Tommy is dead, Dang replied. “I told Quan and the other to wait here saying I’d go back for Tommy. They tried to tell me it was no use, that he was dead. I believed them. I to thought he was dead but it was not going to leave him behind. We never leave anyone behind, so no way I was going to be the first to do that. If I had been wounded or dead he would have come back for me, that’s who we are. Dang said he was dead and there was no reason not to believe him. And if, by what chance, he was still alive. I could not have lived with myself not knowing what the NVA would have done to him if he was still alive. That whole area south of the bunker was littered with bodies, and they would be looking for revenge.””
Carrying two wounded men while swimming in the open ocean: “I took my life jacket of me, and put it over his head. I put in a little bit of air and started breast-stroking out to sea. That is when I saw Quan not going anywhere, and Dang get out in front of me. So I swam over to grab Quan and put Quan in front of me. Quan had been shot in the back of the femur and his buttocks were almost completely gone, so he couldn’t swim. I had shrapnel in my back and leg, but I took Quan and Tommy and started breast-stroking until we got out of the range of their small arms weapons. I then took Quan’s life jacket and tied it to my waist, towing him while swimming with Tommy on my back.”
If you take care of your people, your people will take care of you: “Every time Tommy woke up he’d say: “Mike, did you get everyone? I can only count four of us, where is the other guy?” I’d reply “yes, I got everyone, they are accounted for.” He would drift off again and woke up again and repeat his question, “Mike, do you have everyone?” Here you have a guy that is clearly close to death, and every time he regains consciousness, his number one concern is his guys. That is the sign of true and great leadership. And we come back to this every time, if you take care of your people your people will take care of you.”
Still thinking about his men: “When he arrived, we took him directly into the OR. At the time, general military battlefield protocol held that the patient needed to be conscious going into surgery. And I was surprised someone with as serious as a head wound as this would be conscious and conversant. As I was conducting my initial investigation, he was conscious but just barely. I could tell he had been through a lot. Then he seemed to come more alert, and asked: “Sir, can you tell me about my men? I know we got them all off the beach, but can you tell me if they are OK?””
Supporting your teammates until the end: “When I went back to get the medal, they wouldn’t let Tommy out of the hospital so I kidnapped him. Tommy was still recovery from the head wound a year later, he went through surgeries for 6 years, and they wouldn’t let him out of the hospital for my ceremony. I got him out of the hospital and hosted him in my hotel room for 4 days. We showed up to the white house for the ceremony and were taken to the oval office for the medal. I will never forget Pres Nixon saying, Mike what can I do for you. And I said, well Mr. President, you can take this medal and break it in half and give the other half to this young man, pointing to Tom Norris, standing behind me. Because he saved my life too.”
We are capable of more than we think: “Thank you for showing us we are all capable of more than we thought. No matter how dire the circumstances, no matter how many enemy forces are advancing, no matter how many rounds they are firing at you, no matter how many grenades they are throwing at you, no matter how big the problems that you face in life, never quit on yourself, and never quit on each other.”
