Gordon Peterson Norman was born on April 3, 1919, in Hallettsville, Lavaca County, Texas. He was the son of Floyd Alvin Norman and Lena Kathryn Peterson Porter. He worked as a salesman before enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps on June 10, 1941. He served in the 34th Pursuit Squadron, 24th Pursuit Group, as a Technician 5th Grade during World War II.

After the fall of Bataan in the hands of the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942, T5 Norman was one of the 10,000 to 12,000 Americans who were forced to march over 60 miles under brutal conditions, resulting in 1,000 to 5,000 deaths due to starvation, dehydration, and abuse. Survivors were sent to Camp O'Donnell, where dire conditions, including overcrowding, malnutrition, and disease, caused an additional 1,500 to 2,300 American deaths within weeks. Those who survived faced ongoing hardships, including transfers to other camps and forced labor, where many continued to suffer or die.

T5 Norman was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on May 3, 1942. He is now buried in the Sparkman Hillcrest Memorial Park, Dallas, Dallas County, Texas, USA.

Source of information: www.livescience.com, findagrave