John Norton graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Class of August 1917.
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John Norton graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Class of August 1917.
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The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to Captain (Infantry) John Henry Norton, United States Army, for extraordinary heroism in action while serving with 47th Infantry Regiment, 4th Division, American Expeditionary Forces, at Sergy, France, July 29 – 30, 1918. When the company on the left of his own had fallen back, leaving a gap through which the enemy was approaching for a counterattack, Captain Norton, with the remnants of two squads, formed an automatic rifle post and successfully covered the withdrawal of the remainder of his command to a stronger line of resistance. Though his small group was almost annihilated by hostile fire, he held this position until the arrival of reinforcements, inflicting heavy losses on the enemy.