Sergeant Byron Wayne Norwood, United States Marine Corps, was killed in action in Fallujah, Iraq, at 12:06pm, Saturday, November 13, 2004. He was 25 years old. Byron was born in Austin, Texas on August 11, 1979 to Bill and Janet Aston Norwood. He had two brothers, Grant and Colin Norwood and two sisters, Grayson Norwood and Kristen Hullum. Byron graduated from Pflugerville High School in 1998 and was active in marching band, jazz band and drama. Upon graduation, he joined the Marine Corps, following in the footsteps of both of his grandfathers who served with the Marine Corps during World War II. Byron was sent to Camp Pendleton, California in the summer of 1998 for basic training. He served in the reserves in Austin in 1999 and 2000, and in late 2000, he served as a recruiter's assistant in Austin. He went on active duty in July 2001, serving with the weapons company of the Third Battalion, First Marine
Regiment. During this time, he was promoted to corporal. His unit completed a sea deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit from June 2002 until December 2002. In January 2003, his unit shipped out by sea for Iraq, where he fought in Operation Iraqi Freedon and returned home in June 2003. On June 19, 2004, after a year at Camp Pendleton, Byron was deployed to Iraq a second time and while there, on July 1, 2004, he was promoted to sergeant.
Sgt. Norwood's parents were invited by President George W. Bush to attend his State of the Union Address on February 2, 2005. The President introduced the Norwoods and read from a letter he had received from Janet Norwood: "When Byron was home the last time, I said that I wanted to protect him like I had since he was born. He just hugged me and said, "You've done your job, mom. Now it's my turn to protect you."
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem." President Ronald Reagan
PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL OF OUR BRAVE MILITARY PERSONNEL.
Regiment. During this time, he was promoted to corporal. His unit completed a sea deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit from June 2002 until December 2002. In January 2003, his unit shipped out by sea for Iraq, where he fought in Operation Iraqi Freedon and returned home in June 2003. On June 19, 2004, after a year at Camp Pendleton, Byron was deployed to Iraq a second time and while there, on July 1, 2004, he was promoted to sergeant.
Sgt. Norwood's parents were invited by President George W. Bush to attend his State of the Union Address on February 2, 2005. The President introduced the Norwoods and read from a letter he had received from Janet Norwood: "When Byron was home the last time, I said that I wanted to protect him like I had since he was born. He just hugged me and said, "You've done your job, mom. Now it's my turn to protect you."
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem." President Ronald Reagan
PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL OF OUR BRAVE MILITARY PERSONNEL.
Sergeant Byron Wayne Norwood, United States Marine Corps, was killed in action in Fallujah, Iraq, at 12:06pm, Saturday, November 13, 2004. He was 25 years old. Byron was born in Austin, Texas on August 11, 1979 to Bill and Janet Aston Norwood. He had two brothers, Grant and Colin Norwood and two sisters, Grayson Norwood and Kristen Hullum. Byron graduated from Pflugerville High School in 1998 and was active in marching band, jazz band and drama. Upon graduation, he joined the Marine Corps, following in the footsteps of both of his grandfathers who served with the Marine Corps during World War II. Byron was sent to Camp Pendleton, California in the summer of 1998 for basic training. He served in the reserves in Austin in 1999 and 2000, and in late 2000, he served as a recruiter's assistant in Austin. He went on active duty in July 2001, serving with the weapons company of the Third Battalion, First Marine
Regiment. During this time, he was promoted to corporal. His unit completed a sea deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit from June 2002 until December 2002. In January 2003, his unit shipped out by sea for Iraq, where he fought in Operation Iraqi Freedon and returned home in June 2003. On June 19, 2004, after a year at Camp Pendleton, Byron was deployed to Iraq a second time and while there, on July 1, 2004, he was promoted to sergeant.
Sgt. Norwood's parents were invited by President George W. Bush to attend his State of the Union Address on February 2, 2005. The President introduced the Norwoods and read from a letter he had received from Janet Norwood: "When Byron was home the last time, I said that I wanted to protect him like I had since he was born. He just hugged me and said, "You've done your job, mom. Now it's my turn to protect you."
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem." President Ronald Reagan
PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL OF OUR BRAVE MILITARY PERSONNEL.
Regiment. During this time, he was promoted to corporal. His unit completed a sea deployment with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit from June 2002 until December 2002. In January 2003, his unit shipped out by sea for Iraq, where he fought in Operation Iraqi Freedon and returned home in June 2003. On June 19, 2004, after a year at Camp Pendleton, Byron was deployed to Iraq a second time and while there, on July 1, 2004, he was promoted to sergeant.
Sgt. Norwood's parents were invited by President George W. Bush to attend his State of the Union Address on February 2, 2005. The President introduced the Norwoods and read from a letter he had received from Janet Norwood: "When Byron was home the last time, I said that I wanted to protect him like I had since he was born. He just hugged me and said, "You've done your job, mom. Now it's my turn to protect you."
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem." President Ronald Reagan
PLEASE PRAY FOR ALL OF OUR BRAVE MILITARY PERSONNEL.
