In 1952, Colonel Norman won his first Silver Star and the Purple Heart while serving with the 7th Infantry Division in Korea. As a platoon leader, then-Lieutenant Norman and his unit were directed to overtake an enemy bunker that was providing withering fire onto their position. When initial attempts failed, he secured a malfunctioning flame thrower and, while exposed to enemy fire, made the necessary repairs and single-handedly attacked the bunker, employing the flame thrower to overcome and destroy the emplacement. 

After completing the Army Advanced Infantry Course and Ranger School in 1954, Colonel Norman was assigned to the Airborne School where he became a “Black Hat” for Tower/Jump Week and then served as a Ranger instructor for the Florida phase.

Following this, in 1956, he completed the Special Forces Officer Course at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was assigned to the 77th Special Forces Group where his team volunteered for the development and operation of the first Special Forces HALO detachment.

In 1959, Colonel Norman attended the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, then returned to West Point as a tactical officer, military history instructor, and led the West Point Parachute Club. Completing this assignment in 1963, he attended the Army Language School at Monterey, California, where he studied the North Vietnamese language.

Colonel Norman then moved on to command the 1st SF Group in Okinawa. In 1965, he was assigned to the 5th SFG in Vietnam, where he served as the CO of Detachment B-52, and later as the DCO of the 5th SF Group.

In September 1966, his second Silver Star came during his role as the CO of Detachment B-52 in Vietnam. Colonel Norman learned of a reconnaissance patrol in trouble, receiving heavy ground fire, and requiring immediate extraction. He then boarded a rescue helicopter on its way to extract the team. He directed the pilot to hover down into a hot LZ, where he jumped 15 feet down to the team with the free end of a hoist line, secured the seriously wounded team member, and directed the team to another LZ for rescue. Without question, this action saved the remaining team members and the life of the wounded soldier.

Colonel Norman also won his first LOM while serving as the Deputy Commander of the 5th SF Group, for extraordinary leadership and service to his country. 

Later in his career, Colonel Norman distinguished himself as a member of the Office of the JCS, J-3, Special Assistant for Counterinsurgency, Special Operations Branch, and Chief of the Special Operations Division, with primary responsibility for planning and developing the concept for the Son Tay prison raid into North Vietnam. These raid plans were highly cellularized and known only to a few, key senior personnel. This planning model is still referenced today as part of the development of other classic special operations missions. For this service, Colonel Norman received his second Legion of Merit.

The Colonel was reassigned following his successful tour with the JCS, to the Canal Zone in Panama, from 1973 to 1976. He served as the Commander of the Security Assistance Force for Latin America (SAFLAN), the 3d Battalion of the 7th SFG, and other support units at Fort Gulick, CZ. Later, as a Colonel, he was assigned as the Director of Operations, J-3, at Quarry Heights, CZ. This position was normally a 2-star billet within the United States Army Southern Command. 

From 1976 to 1980, Colonel Norman completed active duty as the Inspector General for the 6th Army at the Presidio of San Francisco. His 3d LOM was awarded at his retirement.

During his career, Colonel Norman also won the CIB (2d award), the Master Parachute Badge, and the Ranger Tab, among others. Post-retirement Army Regulations allowed for the award of the Special Forces Tab.