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Fred Norris shall be remembered as an American hero, despite the fact that there is not any medal to his identify, no web page in a historical past ebook hailing his actions.
A second on the battlefields of Vietnam turned a younger Black man with a speech incapacity from Evansville into one, whether or not he appreciated it or not. When he leapt into motion and saved a person’s life, Norris stated he was searching for his comrade. One other man who was scared, identical to him.
For greater than 47 years, his tales went with out recognition, solely to be shared on the barbershop, telephone calls that went far past a fast “hey” and in friendships tethered by the horrors of warfare. Norris shared his expertise with IndyStar earlier this yr.
Fred Norris raced into hazard to avoid wasting a downed pilot in Vietnam. Why wasn’t he honored?
Norris died Aug. 24. He was 76. And though he was by no means acknowledged by the powers that be, those that have heard his tales proceed to admire him and his bulletproof integrity.
“He was our hero,” stated Phil Kinds, a longtime buddy who served with Norris in Vietnam.
A rescue
In late 1965, whereas bullets from the Viet Cong hurled towards his weak physique, Norris watched a helicopter crash onto the panorama, downed by those self same enemy bullets. There was an injured pilot inside.
Norris didn’t retreat. Fairly, he began to dash to the downed pilot. 4 of his comrades adopted swimsuit, and collectively they carried their fellow Marine to security.
Norris led the rescue.
“He was the primary one which jumped up,” Kinds stated. “It’s a must to suppose to your self, ‘would I’ve completed that?’”
Regardless of his brave efforts that day, Norris by no means acquired any official recognition nor did he attempt to enchantment to be honored with one in his lifetime. Norris insisted he did not want one, he informed IndyStar within the spring.
Then Norris stated he needed folks to “look again and say, ‘Hey, he was there when it counted. I do know I can depend on him.'”
Pastor Louis Norris, his brother, informed IndyStar lately that what Fred did was heroic, and God watched it occur.
“Though he did not get acknowledged by man, God seen it,” Louis stated. “And when God acknowledges and sees issues, he rewards you.”
‘Got here out on the great finish’
Kinds and Norris met at boot camp earlier than reaching the extreme days of gunfire in Vietnam. They have been 17-year-old children in a warfare, they usually by no means forgot what they noticed and did.
Kinds and Norris met at boot camp earlier than reaching the extreme days of gunfire in Vietnam. They have been 17-year-old children in a warfare, they usually by no means forgot what they noticed and did.
They got here residence and went on with their lives. They ultimately reconnected after a reunion of their battalion.
After that, they by no means stopped speaking. Norris was greater than his buddy, Kinds stated. He was his brother.
“The one folks we may speak to in regards to the warfare was us,” Kinds stated.
They confided in one another and shared tales of their time abroad, Kinds stated. There have been typically tears and plenty of laughs. Norris beloved telling joke, he stated.
Derrick McAtee heard lots of these tales when Norris sat down for a haircut. McAtee turned his go-to barber in 2014. They rapidly turned nearer as Norris opened up and described what he had completed.
“He deserved all the pieces that he did not get,” McAtee stated.
When Norris’ well being was impacted, that belief grew. Norris’ ft have been ruined by Agent Orange in Vietnam, leading to partial amputation. McAtee would come to Norris’ residence to chop his hair as a result of he could not make it down the steps.
As a father determine, McAtee stated Norris additionally gave sage recommendation from a life well-lived.
Norris confronted extra demons than many may ever endure: a sophisticated, abusive relationship along with his father, overcoming a stutter, surviving a bloody warfare and failing well being. Norris spent a lot of his life transferring from battlefield to battlefield.
“He had been via numerous stuff however he all the time got here out on the great finish,” McAtee stated.
Within the years after the warfare, Norris turned a husband to Paula and a father of two youngsters, Alfreda and Frederick, Jr. His brother was conscientious and beloved his household, Louis stated.
They spent hours on the telephone collectively. Norris would undergo a rotation of individuals, however Louis all the time had the early morning slot as early as 5 a.m., when his brother would wake him up. He’ll miss these calls.
“He would inform you jokes and attempt to make you snicker,” Louis stated. “He would say some issues that will make you cry, too.”
Always remember
So the story goes, Norris was a person who by no means received his due. Those that knew him say he left his mark regardless. And he shall be remembered as greater than a hero.
He didn’t retreat. He pushed forward. He was a real man. All issues his comrades, family and friends will not neglect, Kinds stated.
“He’s leaving a giant entire in his household, a giant vacant spot and it will probably’t be crammed,” Kinds stated.
There’s a small however mighty group of veterans who know what sort of man Fred was. And so they’ll bear in mind him alongside along with his household even when nobody else does, Kinds stated.
“Folks are likely to neglect what’s not proper right here in entrance of them,” Kinds stated.
That loyalty is ingrained within the brotherhood they shared and would not finish with loss of life.
Within the second letter from Paul to Timothy within the Bible, Paul speaks of the lengthy path riddled with hardships one takes to safe everlasting life. That path will not be not like his brother’s life, Louis stated.
“To his younger minister buddy, Timothy, (Paul) stated, I’ve fought battle,” Louis stated. “I completed my course. I’ve saved the religion.”
IndyStar photojournalist Mykal McEldowney contributed to this report.
Rachel Fradette is a common project reporter at IndyStar. Contact her at rfradette@indystar.com or comply with her on Twitter at @Rachel_Fradette.
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