By Honor Bound

While being awarded with the Medal of Honor—a prestigious award in the military that recognizes acts of extreme heroism--on April 18, 1972, Navy SEAL Lieutenant Tom Norris risked his life to save American airmen who were shot down behind enemy lines in North Vietnam. Just six months later, Norris was sent on a dangerous special reconnaissance mission that would take his team deep into enemy territory. On this particular mission, Norris and his squad encountered a vastly superior force. In the running gun battle that ensued, Lieutenant Norris was severely wounded; a bullet entered his left eye and exited through the left side of his head. Even though under heavy fire himself, Petty Officer Mike Thornton fought his way back onto a North Vietnamese beach to rescue or at least recover the body of his injured officer. This was the first time Tom and Mike had been on a combat mission together.