Norris served in Korea, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Germany
MADISON – Colonel (ret.) Glen Norris fulfilled global and homeland assignments while serving in the U.S. Army.
After completing ROTC in college, he was commissioned as an Infantry Lieutenant. Norris completed basic training at Fort Jackson, S.C. and next attended Basic and Advanced Electronics training at Fort Monmouth, N.J. When he completed Signal School, Norris was assigned to Post Signal Microwave at Camp Howze, Korea.
Norris completed the Infantry Basic Course and attended Initial and Advanced Rotary Wing Training at Fort Rucker. His follow-on assignment was Fort Lewis, Wash. for three years. Returning to Fort Rucker, he finished the Advanced Aviation Captains Course.
“That training was followed by the Maintenance Officer and Test Pilot Course at Fort Eustis, Va. We then moved to Hawaii’s Wheeler Airfield for four years,” Norris said. “Our next assignment was our first time at Redstone Arsenal, here in the Tennessee Valley. After a brief two years, we were assigned to Fort Bragg, N.C. with Army Special Operations Command.”
“After two years, we were off to Fort Leavenworth, Kan. for Command and General Staff College. Upon graduation, we traveled to Fort Hood, Texas for the next two years with the 1st Cavalry Division,” Norris said. “I departed Fort Hood for another year in Korea, without my family.”
Returning from Korea, “we were off to Fort Bragg once again where I commanded 1st Battalion, 159th Aviation Regiment. During that 30-month command tour, I spent seven months deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina on a peacekeeping mission,” he said.
“We went to Germany, assigned to the 29th Support Command in Kaiserslautern. After two years, we returned to Alabama. I spent my final enlisted year of service at Fort Gordon, Ga.,” he said.
“I attended Air War College with a follow-on assignment as Commandant of the Warrant Officer Training Center. That three-year command was followed by my final assignment as Inspector General, Space and Missile Defense Command, on Redstone Arsenal,” Norris said.
At retirement, Norris’ rank was Colonel, O-6 in the Aviation Branch.
“I am truly blessed to have had the opportunity to serve in the U.S. Army,” Norris said.
His honors include a Legion of Merit, three Meritorious Service Medals, one Defense Commendation Medal, six Army Commendation Medals, five Army Achievement Medals, Senior Aviator Badge and Airborne Badge.
Initially, the Norris family moved to Madison in 1990 and lived in Mill Creek Crossing. They returned to this area in 2007.
Norris attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro to earn a bachelor’s degree in industrial technology electronics. He graduated with a master’s degree in strategic studies from U.S. Air War College at Maxwell Air Base.
His wife Elizabeth, originally from Davidson, N.C., is a homemaker. Their son, Glenwood Norris III, retired from the U.S. Army and resides in Fayetteville, N.C. Glen and Elizabeth have three grandchildren.
Glen Norris is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. and Madison American Legion, Post 229. He helps Boy Scout Troop 7201 in Madison. “I love playing golf and traveling, when not engaged with the Scouts, legion post or fraternity,” he said.
