Navy Federal Credit Union

Awards Received

  • Navy and Marine Corps Medal

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Chief Quartermaster

    Division:

    U.S.S. Grayback (SSG-574)

    Action Date:

    August 26, 1963

    All Hands (June 1964)

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy and Marine Corps Medal to Chief Quartermaster Arthur L. Norton, United States Navy, for heroism on 26 August 1963 while serving on board U.S.S. GRAYBACK (SSG-574) at sea. When a fire occurred in the after battery crew’s berthing compartment, filling the space with smoke within one or two minutes, Chief Norton, as Chief of the Boat, alerted personnel in his portion of the compartment and supervised their exit. Remaining in the compartment, he reported the casualty by telephone and continued to direct the abandonment of the space until it was no longer tenable and he was forced to leave. Moments later, he re-entered the smoke-filled compartment, discovered two men who had become overcome by smoke, called for assistance to drag one of the men to safety, and personally carried the other victim out of the compartment.