YOUNGEST SOLDIER TO EVER ENLIST IN THE U.S. ARMY - Norwood Fowler, Korea, 65th Infantry Regiment

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[VoicesofHistory]

Please consider donating to help us bring more stories to this channel. Thank you!! LEST THEY BE FORGOTTEN

[RasAbramJJ]

Youngest soldier and first Black Sargent Major, yet we hear nothing of him. I applaud and admire your humility

[raylewis]

He’s the real deal. At 12, he wasn’t being taken care of. What a tale of survival. Why isn’t there a movie?

[kaptainkaos]

Sounds like my story as well. I left home at 15 and lived on the streets. When I turned 17 I came back home and got my parents to sign the paperwork to join the US Navy. Boot camp? Awesome! 3 meals a day and I was safe at nite. I could sleep for the first time in years without being scared. I was very malnourished when I joined so I ate everything I could. I packed on 20 pounds of weight. No more fighting a possum for a day old donut in the trash. Over 40 years later I have a family, ending up a great career and thankful I lived thru those days.

[jday]

My dad volunteered for Korea.
25th infantry regiment
3rd Division
Only after I had served in the Army did he tell me how he got his Bronze star w/ Valor.
25 below zero
Million screaming Chinese coming in waves.
11 men in his company were captured. He and a 2nd Lt. went out later that night to rescue them.
How they were hiding from the enemy only a few feet away. They could hear them whispering in Chinese.
I asked Dad why he volunteered to go on that rescue and he told me, they would have done it for him.
Brave men for sure….
R.I.P. Dad…

[throwball]

This is my story, I was 14 when my parents divorced after 20 years of marriage, I rebelled as a teenager and got into a lot of trouble my parents sent me to many different schools but I couldn’t learn because I had ADS back when it was a unknown diagnosis finally they sent me to a vocational school which of course I didn’t finish, one day my father had me meet him at the old post office in downtown Denver I went and realized it was a recruiting office my father handed me a fake birth certificate saying I was 18 and I took my asvab test and scored so low that the army was my only choice I took the test on a Wednesday sworn in on Thursday and left for basic training on Friday I remember how much I hated the service I was a shy kid and at 14 I was very self conscious I had barely started my puberty and here I was with full grown men I was extorted by a street wise black guy from DC and was terrified of him another soldier from El Paso punched me out while I slept and it was the hardest thing I ever dealt with that n my young life, back in 79 the drill Sargents were all Vietnam vets with tempers to go with it I had a 1st Sargent punch me In the stomach as a young boy I was shooting the M-16 throwing live grenades and goi g threw the gas chamber my parents thought the army would fix my problem as a delinquent but it just made it worse I spent the rest of my life going from jail to jail drug and alcohol abuse my parents have long been dead but I still hold this resentment to them to this day for trying to sweep there problem under the rug and the problem they were trying to forget was a troubled young boy that just couldn’t find his way in life

[CABINDAD]

You may be one of the bravest people I’ve heard. I’m proud of you. Thank you for your service 🇺🇸

[mikedc]

13yr old veteran...crazy story. Needs to be a movie or book

[rjbubba]

I love his story my Dad was in Korea as well. This should be a movie I hope you can make that happen.

[cutter]

When these men salute the camera, is when I feel them the most ! Thank you Vetrans

[CC-ingp]

Great story. Wish I had discussed Vietnam with my grandfather, but your interviews have given me a glimpse of his experience. Thank you

[cindydintn]

Reverend Fowler, thank you for your service, sir. I am so proud you are an American. I wish I could shake your hand. May the Lord continue to bless you always. Cindy

[eddiesimms]

This was a MAN after MY OWN HEART!!
As a little boy growing up in the Yesler Terrence Housing Projects during the early 60's, I wanted to run away to join the Army so I could wear the uniform and fight for MY COUNTRY. My Dad came to FT Lewis in 1957 straight out of basic
training, he came into Seattle on a weekend pass and met my Mother and they married and I was the result of that union and I was NAMED after HIM. Unfortunately the relationship didn't have a bright future and ended on a very BAD note. My Dad was transferred to FT Benning GA and NEVER returned. However, he left a very POSITIVE impression on me to have a DESIRE to SERVE MY COUNTRY in It's called the United States Army!! When I became of legal age I enlisted in the delayed entry program. In 1977 upon my completion of High School I took my very FIRST plane flight to Ft Jackson South Carolina and as they say, everything else is history. On a rather a POSITIVE note, I was able to reunite with my Dad 😀. He retired as an E-7 after 20yrs of service which included a 12 month combat tour in Veitnam with the 9th Infantry Division, Go "Old Reliables." I too would serve with the 9th Division at FT Lewis Wa. As for my Dad, he passed away in November of
1983. RIP.

[oldreliable]

I 've been in 4 army units in the 80's from alaska to europe!! god bless u!! mr.fowler!!!!

[joshuaDstarks]

13 in combat.
That’s insane.
What a guy!

[jonimarie]

Thank you for your service, Sir. Much respect and so glad your story is being told.

[williamcouncil]

Simply lost for words, yet I salute your bravery, humanity & dedication to life & the African American survival. Thank you!!!

[inwoodboy]

This man spelled out the realities of life and combat. The story he tells make we appreciate the results a man can achieve by understanding how to succeed in the face of all the obstacles he faced. A great man and an American.

[garylanza]

Thank you for your service sir. RIP. YOU ARE A TRUE HERO.

[carlstritzinger]

A man to be admired and respected, may he rest in peace.