his actions by President Richard Nixon during a ceremony at the White House on October 15, 1973. He snuck Norris out of the hospital in the middle of the night so Norris could attend the ceremony. Norris was later awarded the Medal of Honor by President Gerald R. Ford in a White House ceremony on March 6, 1976. Thornton thus became the first Medal of Honor recipient recognized for saving the life of another Medal of Honor recipient. Norris lost an eye and part of his skull. He spent three years recovering from his injuries in the hospital and over a six-year period underwent many major surgeries. As a result of the head injury, he was medically retired from the navy in May 1975. FBI In 1979, Norris joined the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and requested a waiver for his disabilities. FBI director William Webster responded, "If you can pass the same test as anybody else applying for this organization, I will waive your disabilities." In September 1979, Norris passed the test and subsequently was an FBI Special Agent for 20 years. He was an original member of the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team as an assault team leader. He is a member of the Society of Former Special Agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Medal of Honor citation Citation: Honors and recognitions The Naval Special Warfare Group Two in Little Creek, Virginia is located in the Lt. Thomas R. Norris Building. Norris' Medal of Honor actions have been re-told in numerous books and in the feature film Bat*21, which was the call sign for an EB-66C from the 42nd Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron (42 TEWS), 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, at Korat, Thailand. The aircraft was shot down while flying pathfinder escort for a cell of three B-52 bombing near the Demilitarized Zone. Norris received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award in 2011. He is one of eleven Eagle Scouts who received the Medal of Honor. In 1976, he received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement. Military awards Norris' military decorations and awards include the following: Bibliography Written with Mike Thornton and Dick Couch. See also List of Medal of Honor recipients for the Vietnam War MACV-SOG List of Eagle Scouts References External links Lt. Thomas R. Norris, USN Biography and Interview on American Academy of Achievement 1944 births Living people Federal Bureau of Investigation agents