Three generations of Norris men have a combined 58 years of experience protecting American shores.
By CATHERINE E. SHOICHET
Published August 2, 2004
It takes only two phrases to sum up three generations of the Norris family.
One of them is the U.S. Coast Guard's motto: Semper Paratus. Always prepared.
Harry L. Norris Sr. came up with the other one: "Be careful where you put your foot. Your grandaddy might have been there."
Norris, 76, of St. Petersburg, was the first person in his family to join the Coast Guard when he enlisted in 1948. He retired from his position as an ensign in 1966.
Nine years later, his son, Kenneth L. Norris, joined up. And in 1994, his grandson, Kenneth L. Norris Jr., followed in his footsteps.
In a retirement ceremony at the Coast Guard's Air Station Clearwater on July 23, Chief Warrant Officer Kenneth L. Norris Sr., 50, received a medal for meritorious service for his nearly 30 years in the Coast Guard as a C-130 flight engineer.
Combined, the family has 58 years of experience protecting America's shores. They've served all over the country, from Florida to Maine to California to Alaska.
For a year and a half, Kenneth L. Norris Sr. and Kenneth L. Norris Jr. served together in Barbers Point in Hawaii. But for most of their military careers, they followed each other from afar.
In the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Coast Guard changed, and so did they.
The Coast Guard became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security last February, and antiterrorism efforts became a major part of its daily dealings.
"My mentality and a lot of other people's changed. We needed to protect the sovereign shores of the contiguous 48," said Kenneth L. Norris Sr., a 1972 graduate of Dixie Hollins High School.
"It was tough. It was very stressful," he said. "But would I do it again? Hell, yeah. I'm very proud to have been part of that."
All three say they're also proud of the family legacy they've created.
Joining the Coast Guard after he graduated from high school in 1994 was "just the right thing to do," said Aviation Maintenance Technician 1st Class Kenneth L. Norris Jr., 28, an HC-130 Hercules flight engineer based in Clearwater.
"It's quite an honor for a father to just kind of make some footsteps and see if they'll be followed," said Norris Sr.
"When my son called me and told me he was going into the Coast Guard, I think I hung up on him and said, "Call me when you're serious.' He called me right back."
