United States Army General. He developed the Army's modern airpower doctrine for wartime and pioneered the use of helicopters in combat. Born in Fort Monroe, Virginia, he was was a West Point graduate who became a World War II paratrooper with the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the famed 82nd Airborne Division and jumped behind German lines into the French village of St. Mere-Eglise on D-Day. Also participated in the Battle of the Bulge and saw combat in Sicily, Italy, Belgium and Germany. Assisted Army General James M. Gavin in developing policies for coordination of airborne activities with the newly formed Air Force in the late 1940s. Had a major role in shaping aviation within the Army via the Howze Board, headed by Lt. Gen. Hamilton Howze, of which he was a member in 1962; the board devised the Army's modern doctrine of airpower use in wartime and outlined the future use of helicopters in combat. When General Norton became commanding general of the Army's 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam in 1966, he put into practice the air cavalry recommendations he had helped frame four years before. From 1970 to 1973, he was commanding general of the Combat Development Command at Fort Belvoir, overseeing the development and initial production of the Black Hawk helicopter and the M1 Abrams main battle tank. Final assignment was Chief of Staff, NATO Allied Forces Southern Europe in Naples, Italy, from 1973 to 1975. Awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (four times), the Silver Star, four awards of the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, the Air Medal and the Combat Infantryman's Badge. Member of the Army Aviation Hall of Fame and the Army Field Experimentation Hall of Fame.
United States Army General. He developed the Army's modern airpower doctrine for wartime and pioneered the use of helicopters in combat. Born in Fort Monroe, Virginia, he was was a West Point graduate who became a World War II paratrooper with the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the famed 82nd Airborne Division and jumped behind German lines into the French village of St. Mere-Eglise on D-Day. Also participated in the Battle of the Bulge and saw combat in Sicily, Italy, Belgium and Germany. Assisted Army General James M. Gavin in developing policies for coordination of airborne activities with the newly formed Air Force in the late 1940s. Had a major role in shaping aviation within the Army via the Howze Board, headed by Lt. Gen. Hamilton Howze, of which he was a member in 1962; the board devised the Army's modern doctrine of airpower use in wartime and outlined the future use of helicopters in combat. When General Norton became commanding general of the Army's 1st Cavalry Division in Vietnam in 1966, he put into practice the air cavalry recommendations he had helped frame four years before. From 1970 to 1973, he was commanding general of the Combat Development Command at Fort Belvoir, overseeing the development and initial production of the Black Hawk helicopter and the M1 Abrams main battle tank. Final assignment was Chief of Staff, NATO Allied Forces Southern Europe in Naples, Italy, from 1973 to 1975. Awarded the Distinguished Service Medal (four times), the Silver Star, four awards of the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, the Air Medal and the Combat Infantryman's Badge. Member of the Army Aviation Hall of Fame and the Army Field Experimentation Hall of Fame.
Bio by: Fred Beisser
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