A Memorial to Jason L. Norton
Sgt. Jason L. Norton, 32, was killed in action Jan. 22, 2006, in Taji, Iraq, when his armored Humvee was struck by an IED. He was a patrol and dog-unit NCO assigned to 3rd Security Forces Squadron at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. Sgt. Norton, a patrol and K-9 officer, had been stationed in Alaska in 2002-2004. Sgt. Norton was a native of Miami, Okla., and left a wife and two children.
This is the second of several memorials that I will be placing on the Blog. I’ve personally always had trouble writing about our Handlers and Dogs who have died because I feel it can be very intrusive on the families and we certainly want to show them respect. Fortunately for me, Dennis Herrick, the editor of DOGMAN, with whom I have have shared some of my articles, did me the courtesy of sharing a gracious and respectful set of memorials with me. They will be posted on the Blog one at a time. With each posting, I hope you will remember the team, the handler’s family and friends who still mourn and the military family left to mourn a loss of their own.
With deep respect,
Dixie
I just saw this now and I am deeply saddened by this news. I realize our servicemen are always at risk and are dying when we back home do not even realize it. It is, to me, a very upsetting event even though I am not family to these fallen heroes -human and K9. God bless and God speed.
I just wanted to say TSgt Norton’s legacy is not forgotten. By happenstance I came across this article because of the recent controversy with the NFL. I was telling my father of a story regarding my time at Incirlik AFB, TUR. I was a part of an operations squadron for A-10s and as the newest NCO I was responsible for out Morale Program–flying flags and other personal items over the AOR. Upon taking over the program from the previous unit I found a request that they forgot to fly: a flag for the family of TSgt Norton. I didn’t know the story, but I’ve always took pride in my work so I reached out to the 39th SFS to find out more and when I heard the story…I provided them a flag free of charge and personally designed a certificate for the family. Made sure it was also flown on a successful combat mission. I hope the family received the flag via MWD Norton and his handler Cody, both of whom I also had the privilage of meeting and doing some bite work with. God bless them all.