T E X A R K A N A M A G A Z I N E
Ecuadoran Air Force scrambled a fighter intercept on us.” The intercept followed the flight until it reached Peruvian airspace and two hours later, they landed in Peru, where they were picked up in a blacked out Peruvian military vehicle. “The vehicle took us to the Crown Plaza Hotel and dropped us off at a back entrance. We were taken to the top floor level rooms. The entrance was guarded by armed Peruvian military. Early the next morning, we prepared our aircraft for flight. Once the aircraft was ready, a squad of Force Recon, Spanish speaking Marines, boarded the aircraft. As we moved into downwind, we started to take small arms fire. We expedited the landing. We taxied to the end of the runway and turned around for take-off. At this point, we opened the loading ramp and the Force Recon Marines disembarked directly into the jungle. We buttoned up the aircraft and took off at maximum climb.” It is experiences like this that forge bonds between service members that are unlike other relationships. Men and women who put their lives into each other’s hands and trust each other to sacrifice all for one another, understand loyalty and commitment on an entirely different level. “Major Brehm was my Flight Lead during Desert Storm/Desert Shield and Operation Laser Strike. I had just graduated from my Replacement Air Group (RAG) when my squadron (VMGR-252) deployed to Desert Shield. Major Brehm had the dubious privilege of having the youngest and greenest pilot assigned to him. He only had a few weeks to bring a young man up to speed to face the trials of combat we would both face together in January 1991.” Their unique circumstances allowed them to see the best and the worst in each other. “He was not necessarily the nicest guy. In fact, you might say he was a little ‘crusty perfectionist and more than a little dramatic’. Through his crusty discipline, attention to detail and at times dramatic presentations, he crafted a young 24-year-old pilot into a combat ready Marine Aviator.” Sometimes in the crafting of well-prepared soldiers, a little behavior modification is necessary. Norfleet could also count on Major Brehm for a swift redirection when needed. “On day three of Desert Storm while he was briefing our next combat mission, I had the
misfortune of briefly ‘resting my eyes.’ In the blink of an eye and flick of his wrist, the flight helmet next to him landed in my chest with a loud thud, to the snickers of flight crew all-around. Without missing a beat, he belted out ‘Wake-up Nodoz,’ and after that I never heard my given name again.” Norfleet was called “Nodoz” by all for the rest of his service. Regardless of Brehm’s sometimes gruff manner, the relationship between the two men was solid, which was proven when, just three months after Desert Storm/ Shield, Brehm selected Norfleet for the mission in Peru. “We may not have been BFFs, but he trusted me when the rubber met the road,” said Norfleet. On April 19, 1995, everything changed. Captain Norfleet, who was now the Officer Selection Officer (OSO) in Stillwater, Oklahoma, was in Oklahoma City for a prayer breakfast at a nearby convention center. After the breakfast, he stopped by the recruiting station at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building to see his commanding officer. Norfleet was stopped at a stoplight across the street from his destination when he noticed a yellow Ryder moving truck parked in the building’s loading zone. He witnessed who he would later recognize as Timothy McVeigh running from the truck and crossing the street. The scene seemed odd, but not strange enough to raise much concern. Entering the building and making his way up the elevator to the sixth floor, Norfleet stopped and made a quick unanswered phone call. He then walked down the hall to visit an old friend. Suddenly, an enormous explosion ripped through the building and much of the structure collapsed. Glass and debris went flying along with Norfleet, who was thrown back against the West side wall. During the blast, he instinctively covered the left side of his face with his left arm, leaving it and the right side of his face vulnerable. His arm and right eye were riddled with the flying glass, and he began bleeding profusely. Within seconds, as support beams failed, the building crumbled and fell just a couple of feet from the spot Norfleet was lying. He was briefly knocked unconscious, but quickly, after regaining his senses, he knew he could not wait there for help. His skull was fractured, his nose was broken and he was quickly losing blood from his
Randy Norfleet’s Medals and Awards
Navy & Marine Corps Commendation Medal
2 Navy & Marine Corps Achievement Medal —OMPF
National Defense Service Medal
Sea Service Deployment Ribbon
2 Southwest Asia Service Medals with 2 stars
Air Medal—OMPF
2 Kuwait Liberation Medals
2 Kuwait Liberation Medals (K)
Meritorious Unit Commendation
Marine Corps Recruiting Ribbon
2 Humanitarian Service Medals
Navy Artic Service Ribbon
Cold War Medal
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C OMM U N I T Y & C U L T U R E
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