Rank: Major
Unit: Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment
MOS: 1204 – Armored Reconnaissance Unit Commander
Awards: Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal with Valor Device and 14 with Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal
Badges: Army Aviator Badge
Unit awards: Presidential Unit Citation, Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with Palm device
Note: O-1G, Tail # 51-4570, Observer
Enlisted by: Regular
Commission Source: United States Military Academy Class of 1961
Date of birth: 24-Oct-1937
Hometown: Van Nuys, California
Marital status: Never Married
Campaign: Vietnam Conflict
Entered service: 7-Jun-1961
Start of tour: 16-Mar-1968
Incident date: 24-Sep-1968
Date of casualty: 24-Sep-1968
Age at death: 30
Cause of death: Non-Hostile – Died While Missing. Aircraft Crash — Passenger (MC). Aircraft loss, crash not at sea.
Norman Northrop Cunningham died from injuries received while observer on a military aircraft on a reconnaissance mission when the aircraft crashed for unknown reasons.
Location of fatality: Bien Hoa, South Vietnam
Place of interment: Oakwood Memorial Park, Chatsworth, California, USA
View this soldier‘s Find a Grave page (opens in a new window)
AIR MEDAL
WITH VALOR DEVICE
MAJOR NORMAN NORTHROP CUNNINGHAM, ARMOR
17 JULY 1968
AIR CAVALRY TROOP
11TH ARMORED CAVALRY REGIMENT
Major Cunningham distinguished himself by heroism while participating in aerial flight on 17 July 1968 while serving with the Air Cavalry Troop, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, in the Republic of Vietnam. On this date while flying an aerial reconnaissance mission, Major Cunningham, through highly professional use of aerial reconnaissance tactics, compelled an unknown-size enemy force to fire upon his aircraft, thereby revealing their concealed positions. Totally disregarding his own personal safety in the face of the heavy concentration of enemy small arms and automatic weapons fire, he then continued his reconnaissance of the immediate area, pinpointing the enemy positions. He then accurately directed artillery fire into the enemy concentration, forcing the hostile force to abandon their concealed positions and withdraw from the area. Major Cunningham’s outstanding flying ability and unwavering devotion to duty while under hostile fire were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army.
Headquarters, II Field Force Vietnam General Orders No. 867 (7 August 1968)