Kevin & Brandi Norman in 2003

“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never, ever the same.” — Anonymous

In this day and age and especially in a business where we are fortunate to meet so many people, friends come and they go. We may not talk for months and in some cases even a few years, but good friends pick up right where they left off; as if no time has ever passed … as if older age has never come.

It really doesn’t seem that long ago. Dressed in uniform with worries that now seem so trivial, summers were spent at Cleve Borman Field in the heart of the Napa Valley. On a hill overlooking the quaint town of Yountville, sits the Veterans Home of California and at the heart of “The Home”, lies a baseball field that has been ingrained into the lives of men, young and old for generations. Somewhat appropriate that this field is where I met Kevin and so many other summer friends.

I only mention this backdrop because when I think of Kevin Norman, I can only think of him here. Standing at third base, usually a smile on his face as we both nodded in agreement that the next pitch needed to be a bit inside because the batter was being a bit too cocky. There were so many times that he would look over after I took the inside fastball sign from our catcher Mickey Lippett and say…”got your back”, much to the chagrin of our coach Steve Meyer.

Funny thing is…Kevin and I were really only friends because of baseball. We went to different high schools, were different years in school and lived in different towns. Didn’t matter. Even though I hadn’t talked with Kevin in about 4 years or so, he was still a friend on the day he died…for that matter he is still a friend.

Kevin, his wife Brandi (also a pilot in the Army), his family and friends are why so many of us treasure our military. They risk their lives in places like Afghanistan and Iraq and for Kevin and thousands of others serving our country, they provide support and security in areas we sometimes rarely hear about….or have almost forgotten. When we went to Korea a few years back for stories, I met some of these brave men and women and I also had numerous Koreans and soldiers tell me about Kevin and his friend Dave…and their heroic acts.

Funny how life works because last night I was out with some old friends, who like Kevin I hadn’t seen in a while. Through one of them I met someone new who knew all about Kevin. You know how the conversation goes when you meet someone who knows someone in or around your hometown and you’ve never met them before? They always ask….hey, do you know (insert name here). In this case one name led to another and Kevin came up. I grabbed my iPhone and searched his name. Hard to believe that it has been 6 years since I learned about his fate. I was long away from the wine country and couldn’t attend any of the services at the time, but I remember talking on the phone with some of our friends and a member or two of his family. I remember calling our affiliate KTVU in the Bay Area, letting the family tell them about his selfless and heroic act. KTVU went to Sonoma and told the story of Kevin’s bravery in 2003 and would return to tell of his honor this year.

As I pulled up the first article on the internet, I was expecting to see a dateline from 2003, the year that Kevin died. Instead I found this story. An honor for a man I knew in stirrups and a jersey, but showed ultimate courage in a quiet different uniform. A kid who once played for veterans, now honored as one of our best veterans. This story comes from the U.S. Army Forces Command and several other reports.

It is a story about two soldiers and their bravery that resulted in the ultimate sacrifice.  Kevin was honored in his hometown of Sonoma on Memorial Day this year and on March 27th, just two months prior….he was posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, along with friend and fellow soldier Dave Snow.

According to the Army, Aug. 12, 2003 was a perfect day for flying.  Chief Warrant Officer Dave Snow, a maintenance officer, needed an aviator to complete a maintenance test flight. Captain Kevin Norman, always ready to fly, volunteered to handle the flight.  From reports and flight recordings, the C-12 had engine problems and was flying at a low altitude,
heading towards a crowded restaurant and some other homes. Snow and Norman diverted the plane to an open field to avoid crashing into the restaurant and homes, saving at least 30 other lives.

Several Korean villagers wrote letters expressing their gratitude for the Soldiers’ selfless act.
“My family, including many children, would have burned to our deaths if not for the last efforts of the
pilot,” said Nam Ki Soon, a villager who witnessed the plane heading towards his house.

Because of Norman and Snow’s recordings, which were recovered at the accident site, maintenance procedures of the C-12 were changed. Also on the one-year anniversary of the crash, a statue was erected at the site of the accident in Korea and as one of their commanding officers said at this years ceremony.“Both were known to have a great sense of humor. They loved their Families, but especially their wives. They both loved flying as well as teaching and mentoring Soldiers under their  command.”

They may not be here in person, but we can still learn from them in spirit. I never met Dave and hadn’t seen Kevin in some time…but I feel honored to know their story and hope one day to see them again.