Robert Norlan Daughtrey (1933 - 2005)

Lieutenant Colonel Norlan Daughtrey was a Prisoner of War for 2751 days during the Vietnam War.

Biography

Lieutenant Colonel Norlan Daughtrey served in the United States Air Force in the Vietnam War
Service started: 1963
Unit(s): 12th Tactical Fighter Squadron
Service ended: 1975

Birth

Lt. Col. Robert Norlan Daughtrey, known as Norlan, was born on 5 October 1933 in Eagle Pass, Maverick, Texas, United States to Elisha Robuck Daughtrey (1907-1998) and Lura Evelyn Hodge (1913-1999). ^[1]They apparently divorced as Evelyn married William Marion Self (1918-2015) on 28 March 1975 in Reno, Washoe, Nevada.

Sibling

1. Lynn Walter Daughtrey born 14 March 1941 in Del Rio, Val Verde, Texas, United States. He died on 23 December 1949 in Lubbock, Lubbock, Texas, United States.

Education

His high school years were spent at New Mexico Military Institute located near Roswell, New Mexico.

Then he attended Texas A & M through his sophomore year, but left to earn a commission in the United States Air Force. After his incarceration in North Vietnam and some recovery time, he was assigned to the University of New Mexico to obtain a degree before retiring.

Marriages and Family

He married twice.

1. Sandra Dorothy York born c. 1935 (estimate).Married c. 1958.
2. Vickie Jay Nash was born on 26 September 1942 in Oregon, United States. She died on 6 October 2005 in Albuquerque, Bernalillo, New Mexico, United States. This was the second marriage for both persons. ^[2]

Children of the Daughtrey-York Marriage

1. James Robert Daughtrey was born on 1 September 1959 in Harris County, Texas, United States.
2. Sharon Lynn Daughtrey twin of Christopher Norlan Daughtrey, known as Amber, was born on 29 December 1960 in Harris County, Texas, United States. She married Darel Wade Gerlt on 24 March 1982 in Knob Noster, Johnson, Missouri.
3. Christopher Norlan Daughtrey twin of Sharon Lynn Daughtrey, was born on 29 December 1960 in Harris County, Texas, United States. He died on 26 June 1963 in Albuquerque, Bernalillo, New Mexico, United States.
4. Wade A.Daughtrey was born on 15 October 1962.

Military

He joined the Aviation Cadet Program of the United States Air Force on 26 March 1954 and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant and awarded his pilot wings on 30 June 1955. He then flew fighters until July 1958 when he left active duty and joined the Texas Air National Guard. He transferred to the New Mexico Air National Guard in May 1959. Norlan returned to active duty in the United States Air Force on 20 November 1963.

He was assigned to the 563rd Tactical Fighter Squadron at McConnell Air Force Base in Kansas until June 1965. He had obtained the rank of Captain. He began flying combat missions with the 12th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 18th Tactical Fighter Wing at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa in July 1965. He was shot down in his F-105 and forced to eject on his 16th combat mission on 2 August 1965.

Prisoner of War from 2 August 1965 to 12 February 1973. ^[3]

He was flown out on C-141 Tail number 60177 from Gia Lam Airport, Hanoi, North Vietnam at 12:30 hours and arrived at Clark Air Base, Philippines at 1625 hours.

His arms were both badly broken in the ejection and then the North Vietnamese used the injuries in their torture sessions. By the time he returned to the United States he was permanently disabled and unable to continue flying.

Military Honors

His Silver Star Citation:

For the Period 31 July 1966 to 9 September 1966: This officer distinguished himself by gallantry and intrepidity in action in connection with military operations against an opposing armed force during the above period while a Prisoner of War in North Vietnam. Ignoring international agreements on treatment of prisoners of war, the enemy resorted to mental and physical cruelties to obtain information, confessions, and propaganda materials. This individual resisted their demands by calling upon his deepest inner strengths in a manner which reflected his devotion to duty and great credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.

1. Silver Star Medal.
2. Legion of Merit.
3. Distinguished Flying Cross.
4. Bronze Star Medal with V Device and 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster.
5. Purple Heart with 1 Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster.
6. Air Medal.
7. Air Force Commendation Medal.

The Full Ribbon set is available here.

Retirement

He retired from the United States Air Force on 7 May 1975.

Death and Burial

Lt. Col. Norlan died on 20 July 2005 in Albuquerque, Bernalillo, New Mexico, United States at the age of 71. He was buried with special honors. The New Mexico Air National Guard flew their Missing Man formation over his funeral site during the ceremony. He was buried at Santa Fe National Cemetery, Santa Fe, New Mexico. A photo of the headstone is available. Find A Grave: Memorial #17532891

Sources

• Texas Birth Index.
• 1940 United States Federal Census on 12 April in Del Rio, Val Verde, Texas. ^[4]
• Veteran Tributes, [1]
• POW Network.
• NAM POW List if prisoners.
• Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) Death File. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
• Combat Area Casualties Returned Alive File, 5/1/1962-3/22/1979 [Archival Database]; Records on Military Personnel Who Died, Were Missing in Action or Prisoners of War as a Result of the Vietnam Conflict, 1/20/1967-12/1998; Records of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, Record Group 330; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD. Pilot, 39 years old, fixed wing, not at sea.
• Texas Birth Index for son James Robert Daughtrey with date, county and names of parents.
• “Deceased Alumni 1951-1955”, NMMI Alumni > Home > Deceased Alumni > 1951 > Lt Col Robert N. Daughtrey, USAF (Ret) 1951 HS.
• “1984 – Lt Col Robert N. Daughtrey, USAF (Ret) 1951 HS”, NMMI Alumni / Home / Hall of Fame / Hall of Fame – Eminence in a Chosen Field of Endeavor / 1984 – Lt Col Robert N. Daughtrey, USAF (Ret) 1951 HS.
• U.S. Veterans Gravesites.
• Find A Grave Index.
• U.S. Obituary Collection.

Footnotes

1. ↑ TX Birth Rec
2. ↑ FAG Find A Grave: Memorial #17532892
3. ↑ NAM POW list
4. ↑ 1940: Daughtrey, Robuck 33, 5 years college, born TX, electrical engineer with utilities, head; Evelyn 26, wife; Norlan 6, son.

Acknowledgements