Add Content
First Name
Giles
Middle Name
R.
Last Name
Norrington
Birthdate
Hometown
Springfield, Ohio
Rank
Captain
Service Branch
Navy
Date Captured
Date Repatriated
Pre Capture Image
PreCapture Description
Giles Norrington enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on January 11, 1954, and completed basic training at MCRD San Diego, California, in April 1954. Private First Class Norrington attended infantry training at MCB Camp Pendleton, California, from April to June 1954, followed by service as a Telephone Trouble Shooter with Headquarters & Service Company, 2nd Battalion of the 3rd Marine Regiment at Camp Fuji, Japan, from July 1954 to April 1955. Sergeant Norrington next served as an Infantry Squad Leader with E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment of the 1st Marine Division at Camp Pendleton from April 1955 to May 1956, and then as a Duty Brig Warden with the Base Brig at Camp Pendleton from June 1956 to May 1957. He attended Navy Justice School at Camp Pendleton from May to June 1957, followed by service as a Legal Clerk and Court Reporter at Camp Pendleton from June 1957 to March 1958. Sergeant Norrington then attended Officer Candidate School at MCS Quantico, Virginia, from March to June 1958, and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Marine Corps on June 7, 1958. Lieutenant Norrington next attended the Officers Basic School at Quantico from June 1958 to March 1959, followed by Flight School from March 1959 until he was designated a Naval Aviator in August 1960. Captain Norrington served as an A-4 Skyhawk pilot with VMA-242 at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, from September 1960 to March 1962, and then as a flight instructor with VT-22 at NAAS Kingsville, Texas, from March 1962 to March 1965. During this time he received an interservice transfer to the U.S. Navy on February 19, 1965. Lieutenant Norrington then served as an RA-5C Vigilante pilot with RVAH-1 at NAS Sanford, Florida, and deployed aboard the aircraft carriers USS Independence (CVA-62) from 1966 to 1967, and USS Enterprise (CVN-65) from January 1968 until he was forced to eject over North Vietnam and was taken as a Prisoner of War on May 5, 1968.
Post Release Image
Post Release Description
Commander Norrington was released during Operation Homecoming on March 14, 1973. He was briefly hospitalized to recover from his injuries at NAS Jacksonville, Florida, and then attended A-4 training at NAS Cecil Field, Florida, from July to October 1973. After serving with the Naval Training Equipment Center and at Naval Support Facility Diego Garcia, Commander Norrington served on the staff of the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare in the Pentagon from January 1976 to June 1979, followed by service as Head of the Budget and Legislative Section of the Program and Budget Branch, and as Executive Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Air Warfare from June 1979 to May 1982. His next assignment was as Commanding Officer of NAS Whiting Field, Florida, from May 1982 to October 1983, and then as Director of the Appropriations Committee Liaison Office and as Assistant Director of the combined offices of Budget and Reports, Navy Comptroller and the Fiscal Management Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations in the Pentagon from October 1983 to July 1985. After completing Naval War College, Captain Norrington served as Director of the Total Force Training and Education Division in the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations at the Pentagon from September 1986 until his retirement from the Navy on July 1, 1988.
Honors, Citations, and Commendations
- Legion of Merit (3)
- Bronze Star (2)
- Prisoner of War Medal
Passed away before release
Post Release