Lieutenant Norfleet E. Armstrong
World War I Veteran – 91 Aero Squadron
Died In The Service of His Country
Gold Star Family
Early Years:
October 29, 2020 - Norfleet Edward Armstrong was born July 16, 1896 in the far East Texas Town of Center that serves as the County Seat for Shelby County. No doubt the weather was hot when Sarah Jane “Jennie” Lucky and Joseph Emmett Armstrong, both natives of Tennessee welcomed their fourth child. They were married in Shelby County on September 19, 1888 and two of Norfleet’s older siblings, Emmett and Norine passed in infancy. His other sister Jennie was actually a cousin that his parents took in when she was four and raised her as their own. By 1909 the family would be complete with the addition of Mildred, Joseph, Jr. and Brice. Father Joseph, Sr. provided for the family that lived at 212 Tenaha Street as a traveling salesman and by 1910 he was employed in the clothing industry as a dressmaker. Later in life he would become a successful real estate agent.
School Years:
Norfleet and his siblings attended the schools in Center and in 1914 his attributes from the Junior Class Roll were: Vice President, Jr. Class ’13-’14; Manager Student Booster; Class Poet; Track Team; Basketball; Glee Club; Manager Athletics; Assistant Janitor; Carpenter; Electrician; Flunkie. “Fleet” – A natural born fool, good athlete, very popular among the girls and crazy about electrics. When he was a “babe” if he started to cry, all one had to do was give him an old globe or fuse plug.
He graduated from Center High School with the Class of 1915. According to the June 6, 1915 edition of the Houston Post, Commencement exercises were held in the Methodist Church of Center with Dr. Ramsdell of the University of Texas delivering the graduation address. There were fourteen graduates with Jennie Low Bridges and Norris Bridges the honor students.
The World War:
With the United States declaring war on Germany April 6, 1917, nearly three years after the World War began in Europe, a national army through conscription was needed. The Selective Service Act of 1917 called for three registrations, the first being June 5, 1917 for all men between the ages of 21 and 30. Instead of registering, Norfleet joined the Enlisted Reserve Corps at the University of Texas, Austin where he entered the Flying Cadet program taking preflight (ground school) training. Then during the summer of 1917 he completed a six week primary flying training class given by the British Royal Flying Corps in Toronto, Canada. More flying training followed at Kelly Field, Texas with Class 13 on October 6, 1917.
Over There:
In preparation for embarkation to Europe, Norfleet still a Cadet, was assigned to Foreign Detachment 15, US Air Service and moved to what was call “Aviation Concentration Camp” at Garden City, New York. On November 23, 1917 he departed with his detachment from the Port of New York aboard the SS Baltic that carried 66 officers and 1,977 enlisted men. He listed his mother Sarah of Center, Texas as his next of kin.
Arriving in France some eleven days later via Liverpool, England training continued. On June 4, 1918 Norfleet was honorably discharged to accept a commission as a First Lieutenant. Having been awarded his pilot wings, he reported for duty with the 91 Aero Squadron along with two other pilots on October 11. Just seventeen days later he was fatally injured on the twenty-eighth when he crashed on a return flight and later died at Evacuation Hospital # 16, Commune of Revigny, Meuse Department. Backseat member Private J. B. Irvin was slightly injured. On October 30 he was buried in temporary Grave # 40, Section A, Plot 1, American Cemetery, Commune of Revigny twelve days before the war ended. The Armstrong family was notified by cablegram of their son’s death on Saturday, December 7, 1918.
Shortly after receiving news of Norfleet’s death, the family received a letter from Lieutenant A. W. Swinebroad, Jr. who witnessed the accident. He wrote “Norfleet had been out on a flight and was returning in his machine and started to land but noticed that the landing was going to be a rough one. He attempted to make another circle to land in a better place but the motor in his machine did not work good. He started to turn quickly but the motor in some way caused him not to make the turn and he had about half turned and the machine fell right down with right side up falling about 150 feet causing injuries to Norfleet from which he died about three hours later. He was conscious until about an hour before he died. The accident occurring on the morning of October 28, 1918 at about 11:25 o’clock.”
Tribute and Thank You:
An unnamed friend published the following tribute in the December 11, 1918 edition for the Champion Newspaper, Center, Texas. “Saturday afternoon (December 7, 1918) all Center was mourning for another name added to her list of hero dead – for the news had come over the wires that Norfleet Armstrong whom we have all known and loved from his baby days to splendid young manhood had died in his country’s service and was sleeping somewhere in France. We remember how bravely and eagerly he answered the nation 's call to service. For eighteen months he served his country there, and on October 26th, (was 28th) returning from a perilous mission, his plane crashed to earth and he was found to be mortally injured. All that loving comrades and surgeons could do was unavailing and at 3 o'clock that day his soul passed from earth to heaven. In reviewing his life we find it bright with good deeds and glowing with cheerful service to his fellow man - well worthy of emulation. He was a good son, a loyal friend. a brave man. an earnest student, the influence of his clean life, his ability and honor have left its impress upon his schoolmates, his companions in Sunday school and all those whose pleasure it was to know him.
Summing it all up I know of no fitter epitaph for this brave young warrior than this ‘He kept the faith, he loved his country, served her dying with a heart that sang’. With his parents and loved ones, we grieve for the young life they so fondly cherished and commend them to the care of our loving God who has promised that “In the Resurrection he will live again”………….Contributed by a friend.
In the same issue his parents Sarah and Joseph gave their thanks “To the multiplied hundreds of friends who have come into our home with words and acts of comfort and consolation and to the several scores of friends who have written us from nearly all parts of the state, besides many telegrams and telephone messages, we beg to acknowledge our sincerest thanks and our hearts are filled with deep gratitude even in this the darkest hour that has fallen across our pathway. These generous acts do not fully heal the broken, bleeding hearts, but they help to bridge the chasm over which we are now passing. May our Father bless every one of you and all others is our prayer...Mr. and Mr. J. E. Armstrong
Decisions:
Following the Great War, now known as World War I, America faced a problem it had never encountered before; thousands of her citizens both male and female were buried on foreign soil. In October 1919, families were given the choice of leaving their loved ones buried in an American Cemetery in Europe with their comrades or bring them home for reburial. The Armstrong family chose to bring their son back home to Shelby County, Texas. With this decision in hand the Graves Registration Service of the Army Quartermaster Corps began the process that was not an immediate one given the huge number of 46,000 remains. It also did not help that the French took until late 1920 to finally lift their band on the return of bodies. The cost to recover the dead would reach $30 million or $400 million in today’s dollars.
Homecoming:
On May 18, 1921 the remains of Norfleet Armstrong were disinterred and prepared for shipment to the United States, reaching Antwerp, Belgium on June 6. Thirteen days later with 5,656 other fallen American soldiers the USS Wheaton departed. Among the deceased were seven others from Shelby County, Texas; Freddie Choate, Tom Franks, Bert Gordon, Ira Hoffman, Stephen Oates, Kirt Ramey and George Yeats. Arriving at the Port of Hoboken on Saturday, July 2, 1921 the USS Wheaton was docked at Pier 4. Sunday, July 10, a Memorial Service by the American Legion for 7,161 men (brought home by transports Wheaton and Somme) who made the supreme sacrifice during the World War was held at Pier 4 at 3:00 p.m. General John “Black Jack” Pershing who served as Commander of the American Expeditionary Forces on the Western Front was in attendance and eulogized the bravery, self-sacrifice and intense patriotism of American Troops. There were Jewish, Protestant and Roman Catholic services with music by a military band from Fort Hamilton, New York.
With a military escort his casket began the journey to the pineywoods of East Texas on July 22 arriving in Center four days later to a waiting crowd of hundreds that included sorrowing relatives, friends, fellow veterans and citizens. The remains of Stephen Oates and Ira F. Hoffman were also aboard the train. Members of the Norman G. Crocker American Legion Post escorted the remains from the station to the funeral locations with all caskets draped with an American Flag. Norfleet Armstrong was taken to the home of his parents on Tenaha Street where they remained until 3 o’clock in the afternoon. Funeral services were conducted at the First Methodist Church by Rev. L. F. Brothers. Several beautiful tributes were given in praise for the young man. Following the service, the casket was taken to the cemetery (Fairview) accompanied by a military escort where another brief service was held. Here a salute of three volleys was fired as the casket was lowered into its final resting place. Home at last. Taps played. Day is done, God is nigh.
Fairview Cemetery, Center, Shelby County, Texas
It was my honor to write this short biography from available documents found. I know it doesn’t start to do Norfleet or his family justice. Lest we forget…Larry E. Hume, Chief Master Sergeant, US Air Force, Retired.
