By Honor Bound Read online

  9. To foster patriotism and inspire and stimulate our youth to become worthy citizens of our country.

  At the invitation of Mike and Tommy, your narrator recently attended a Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation function in Dallas, Texas, and it was indeed a privilege to be among warriors of this caliber. But theirs is an organization of limited numbers, and that number grows smaller each year. Attending this function were twenty-one recipients. Since this same function a year ago, eight recipients had passed on. At the time of this event, there were but a total of seventy-nine still living. I spent the better part of an afternoon with former Army Specialist Fourth Class Bob Patterson. The action for which Bob received his award took place in December 1967, and he was decorated by President Nixon in October 1969. Shortly thereafter, he attended his first Congressional Medal of Honor Society gathering. “There were 305 of us there—mostly from World War II but also a lot of guys from World War I—guys I thought old back then, but who are my age now. Every year there are fewer of us, and we view that as a good thing.”

  Regarding their numbers and their history, the society has a realistic vision of itself; they see themselves in a depictive manner. Their organization (from their own history) “is certainly one of the most unique. Its small membership includes men of all races, social classes and economic levels. They range in stature from five foot two to six foot seven, in age from twenty-six to ninety-four, and they live in all areas of our country. Among them are scholars and ordinary men, successful entrepreneurs and struggling laborers, ministers and misfits, the very rich to the very poor. No amount of money, power or influence can buy one’s rite of passage to this exclusive circle, and unlike almost any other organization, this group’s members hope that there will be NO MORE INDUCTEES. Beyond this attitude toward recruitment, about all they have in common is a passionate love for the United States of America and the distinct honor of wearing our Nation’s highest award for military valor, The Medal of Honor.”

  “When I attended my first society meeting in the late 1970s,” said Tom, “there were 185 of us present that day, mostly World War II guys. Now there are less than a hundred of us. It’s a sad day when we lose a recipient, although there may come a day when there are none of us left.”

  “Twenty or thirty years from now, there will probably be only five or six,” said Mike of the society’s dwindling numbers. “But the few new guys who have just recently received their award are outstanding men—true warriors. I wish there were more of them, but I’m glad there are not. And the new inductees have a tougher go than we ever did. Unlike in our day, the pressure from the media, Hollywood, and other commercial interests to exploit these new recipients is unbelievable. They get calls every day from someone wanting to pay them to do this or show up at that corporate function wearing their medal. That’s another thing that we here at the society are able to do for the new guys—help them with this sudden and newfound notoriety. God knows they earned it; now we old guys have to help them learn how to wear it.”

  Regarding these new recipients, the global war on terror and its attendant insurgent conflicts have now replaced the Korean War as having the highest percentage of medals presented posthumously. Again, this makes for fewer living recipients.

  One particular aspect of the society that I found especially compelling is that this shrinking band of brothers, who have already given so much, are continuing to look for more and better ways to give back. The theme that I heard repeatedly from these genuine heroes is that the lessons of heroism in combat can be applied to all aspects of life—that being a good citizen and serving one’s community is a heroic and noble enterprise. This extension of their physical courage to our daily lives is reflected in the stated values of their Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation. They are:

  COURAGE. We embrace the indomitable courage demonstrated by the recipients of America’s highest military honor for valor as an ideal that should endure in all ways of life.

  SACRIFICE. We support sacrifice and service above self as principles that all Americans should strive for as citizens of a free and prosperous nation.

  PATRIOTISM. We promote love of country and are committed to support and defend the freedoms we enjoy as Americans.

  CITIZENSHIP. We believe that America’s destiny lies in its youth and are committed to helping them become worthy citizens of our country in the belief that ordinary Americans have the potential to challenge fate and change the course of history.

  INTEGRITY. We believe that the mark of a true hero is to have the moral courage to do what needs to be done because it is the right thing to do.

  COMMITMENT. We steadfastly support the valiant men and women who serve their country in the same spirit of commitment and sacrifice as those who preceded them.

  For additional information and for ways to become involved and to support the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation, go to their Web site: www.cmohfoundation.org.

  BURDENS AND BENEFITS OF CLUB MEMBERSHIP

  “You know, it really is harder to wear the Medal than to earn the Medal,” says Tom. “To begin with, you earn it by doing your job, and I really thought it was no more than that. I still do. But all of a sudden, you become an example to others. People—really fine people—look up to you. You become a representative of the highest award this country can give for a courageous action in combat. Suddenly you’re on this pedestal and you have to realize that there are responsibilities that go with this honor—that you represent this award and all it stands for. And you have to realize that what you say and what you do are going to be closely judged. Most of us feel we wear the Medal for others—teammates and others in the military who have performed bravely or who have died in combat—people whose sacrifice has gone unrecognized or underrecognized. But that does not let you off the hook, because you personally are the guy who wears the Medal. Sometimes it’s tough to wear it, it really is.

  “We get asked to do a lot of things—more things than most of us really have time for. And sometimes we’re asked to attend an event and made to feel—and this is unintentional—like we’re being put on exhibit. It can be uncomfortable, at least for me. Or we’re asked to speak about the action for which we received the Medal. I personally don’t like to talk about the operation for which I was recognized, because I don’t think it was anything special. It was a mission—the job for which I was trained for. I’d like to think I did a good job, but it was a job that any SEAL could have done.” Tom pauses, looking for the right words. “I’m really just an average guy. But I was recognized for an action that I performed, and I have to live with that. On the positive side, being a recipient opens a lot of doors for you. One such door was that it permitted me to become a federal agent. And it allows you to have access to things and people that I never would have otherwise. Yet, I’m not any different from the guys I served with who didn’t get the Medal.

  “For me, an important benefit of being a recipient is that I get to meet and talk to a lot of schoolkids—grade school and high school kids. The same with veterans groups. I’d like to think that some of my experiences will help or inspire them to be a better student or a better citizen or to serve their country in some way. Sometimes years later, I get a letter from a parent saying, hey, my son or daughter listened to you and as a result, this is what they’ve done or this is how they succeeded. And I can tell you, there’s no better feeling than to know you’ve made a difference in a young life.”

  For Mike, the Medal seems to have rested on his shoulders a little easier, but then Mike has much broader shoulders than Tommy. “I never thought much of medals and I don’t think many of us did. We did our job, and when we fought, we fought for each other—the guys in your unit or on your team. What I was able to do for Tommy was the same as Tommy or any other SEAL would have done for me. Past that, I was blessed to serve with some great people, both in the teams as an enlisted sailor and as an officer after that. And I had some great mentors who helped me and guided me. I’d like to
say they kept me out of trouble, but I’ve always been pretty good at getting into trouble. They kept me out of deeper trouble. It seems I’ve always had great people around me, looking out for me.

  “But Tommy’s right when he says it’s easier to earn the Medal than to wear it. I’m still Mike Thornton and I’m a rowdy guy. I like to have fun, and I’ve been called on the carpet a few times for it. At Bob Kerrey’s retirement ceremony from the U.S. Senate, the speaker was Admiral Elmo Zumwalt. Steve Frisk and Barry Enoch and some other SEALs who served with Bob in Vietnam were there as well. The admiral pointed to me and said, ‘And then there’s Mike Thornton, the only recipient who was called to admiral’s mast [nonjudicial review] five times and still received an honorable discharge from the Navy.’ Well, Admiral Zumwalt should know; he was one of those admirals.

  “To me, the Navy was about the fellowship and the love we feel for each other. That was very important to me. It still is. As for the Medal, we wear it for those who served with us who are no longer with us, or whose sacrifice and service went unnoticed. We wear it for all Americans who served with honor. And at times, it can be a burden, but that’s the nature of receiving this distinguished award. None of us like being held up as an example for others. I sure don’t, but it comes with the Medal. You not only have to live up to it, you have to grow into it.

  “But with the Medal, you know you’re in the company of greatness. I remember General Doolittle saying to me, ‘Mike, welcome to the greatest organization and fraternity in the world,’ and he was right. I met men like Jack Lucas, who joined the Marine Corps at the age of thirteen under his brother’s name and became a recipient on Iwo Jima. There are generals and corporals, college graduates with Ph.D.s and high school dropouts, rich and poor. I’m truly honored to be in such company. I want to be worthy of their company. And I want to make my children, my stepson, and my grandchildren proud of me.”

  EPILOGUE

  When I began this project with Tommy and Mike, I thought I knew these two guys reasonably well. I can certainly say that I know a lot more about them now—about their service to their nation and to their Navy, their exploits in combat, and their lives as they live them today. Yet I’m not sure I can say that I really know these men—what motivates them, what makes them tick. American heroes, for sure. They don’t regard themselves as anything out of the ordinary, but, with respect to what they often say, they truly are heroes. One question that has been with me throughout this venture is: just how are they different from the rest of us?

  Regarding their operational lives, back in the day as combat Navy SEALs, I’ve always known they were two very special men. I’d read the citations and we’d talked on occasion over the years about the two events that led to their awards. And their actions have been detailed in articles and in other books. Yet as I spent more time with Mike and Tommy, and we worked our way into the details of their operational SEAL tours, two things became apparent. The first is that what I’d previously known about the specific actions for which they were decorated did not do justice to their actual deeds. Clearly, both had performed “above and beyond” and at “great personal risk” on those occasions for which they received our nation’s highest award. Not only were they incredibly heroic during those events, but they were almost superhuman—even by Navy SEAL metrics. My personal knowledge and combat experience only served as a prism for me to fully appreciate just how bravely they had conducted themselves. And while these two stand-alone actions were simply incredible, they were part of a pattern; they were consistent with how these two Navy SEALs approached extreme danger and their duty—how they saw that duty and how they responded.

  The second issue is one of perception, and this is a topic on which a great many other SEALs and I have had numerous conversations. Bravery and courage under fire are often described as overcoming fear to complete the mission. So, are Tommy and Mike brave, or are they just two guys who were born without the fear gene? Both feel and have said on many occasions that any Navy SEAL put in that situation would have reacted in the same way—done the same thing. As a former Navy SEAL, I find that flattering. But when they say any SEAL would have done what they did, I have to pause. Certainly we all would like to think that had we been in their shoes we would have acted as courageously as they did. When it counted, Mike and Tommy came through—not once but many times. The rest of us will never know for sure—and never want to be put to such a test. So, are these two heroes brave men who faced down danger and physical risk to do what they did? Were they given the gift of valor? Or were they simply born fearless? That’s one I’ve yet to answer to my own satisfaction.

  * * *

  My wife, Julia, always reads behind my writing and offers valuable perspective. After finishing the text, she offered: “There’s no question that Mike and Tommy are very different men and that both are courageous. But I’d sure like to know more about their personal lives and their relationships.” My answer to her is: so would I. I know more about these two guys than has gone into these pages, yet both are very closed when it comes to their personal lives. Both are semipublic figures and both are willing to share their past experiences and their current beliefs and value sets. Both are capable of inspiring others. When they are asked to address an audience of veterans or a group of wounded warriors, they can be compassionate and compelling. Tommy is a forceful presence in his modest, shy, straightforward manner. And Mike—well, Mike can be bigger than life and can more than fill up a room. Yet each in his own way connects with those around him, and each exudes sincerity and confidence. I’ve heard them speak many times, and each time, I’m moved. On the surface Mike is outgoing, gregarious, eloquent, and physically imposing. Tommy is quiet and understated. Yet both are powerful.

  Mike has been married three times and has three ex-wives to show for it. Tommy has never married, although he has, by his admission, a wonderful woman whom he admires and with whom he shares his life. Mike lives large and believes that money is to be spent. Tom drives old pickup trucks and buys secondhand. Yet both are generous to a fault when it comes to the needs of others. If I were to pick up the phone and call either one and say I’m in trouble, they would be on the next plane. And not just for me but for others as well. Both are givers—to friends and to veteran-support organizations. But both are protective of their inner selves.

  Sybil Stockdale, a truly heroic woman herself, is no stranger to heroes or Medal of Honor recipients. Yet she and her late husband, Vice Admiral Jim Stockdale, had a very special place in their hearts for Tom Norris and Mike Thornton. I once asked her about Tommy and Mike. “I’ve never known a more humble, polite, and nicer person than Tommy Norris,” she said. “He’s so easy to be around. There can be more than a little bluster about when we attend a Medal of Honor function. But there is little of that with Tommy. Mike can be a little rough and rowdy, but he can also be very considerate. One morning I came out for the paper and found him sleeping on my front porch swing. He’s always welcome, but I had no idea what he was doing there or that he was even in town. ‘I got in late last night,’ he said. ‘I didn’t want to wake you or the admiral, so I slept out here.’”

  “Tom Norris is a legend among Navy SEALs,” says Gary Bonelli. Gary is the only SEAL to rise from seaman recruit through the ranks to rear admiral and served as the 9th Force Commander of Naval Special Warfare. Now retired, he chairs the board of the Navy SEAL Foundation. “Tommy epitomizes our SEAL ethos as fierce and relentless warrior, yet always humble and willing to help a teammate.” Mike Thornton is perhaps best captured in a comment from Tom Boyhan, Mike’s first platoon officer. Taking a quote from The Emerald Mile by Kevin Fedarko, he says of Mike, “His personality is large enough to generate its own weather.”

  * * *

  Today both Mike and Tommy are very busy. Both are involved in the work of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society and Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation and their fund-raising events. Both actively support the Navy SEAL Foundation (www.Navysealfoundation.
org) and make appearances for both. Mike serves on the board of the Naval Special Warfare Family Foundation (www.nswff.org). And they both find time to spend with wounded veterans of our recent conflicts.

  Mike is active in charity work in and around the Houston area. He is active on the speakers circuit and can be found at www.mike-thornton.com. If an organization is looking for a powerful keynote address, Mike Thornton is your man. Tom is a rancher in northern Idaho. When not traveling in support of one worthy cause or another, he can be found fixing a tractor, putting up hay, or helping a mare with her foal. So in many ways they are like the rest of us—just two old guys looking to fill their days with meaningful work. Yet back in the day, when courage above and beyond was called for, they were not like the rest of us—they were so very much more. Today, just as that last day in October 1972 when they went into combat together, they remain two very different men. Yet in a great many ways, they are brothers of a rare and unique breed that sets them apart from all of us. They both know the Gift of Valor.

  —Dick Couch

  Ketchum, Idaho

  INDEX

  The index that appeared in the print version of this title does not match the pages in your e-book. Please use the search function on your e-reading device to search for terms of interest. For your reference, the terms that appear in the print index are listed below.

  A-1 Skywarriors (Sandys)

  A-4 Skyhawks (Garfish)

  Abrams, Creighton:

  airman rescues and

  Easter Offensive and

  Afghanistan

  Ali, Muhammad

  Allen, Dick

  Ambrose, Stephen

  Anderson, Andrew E.:

  airman rescues and

  and attacks on outpost

  Easter Offensive and

  injuries of

  Andrew J. Higgins, USNS

  Ashton, Al

  Bahrain