Norris Elwyn Gwin was born in June 1925 in Cleveland, Ohio. He was an only child. His father was a veteran of World War 1. During the Great Depression, his father drove his car as a transportation service. His mother was a homemaker. The family moved to Miami, Florida in 1936 after his father obtained a position with the Pan American Company. Gwin attended junior and high school in Miami. Gwin met new friends in Miami, some of whom became lifelong associates. Weather and culture in his new environment suited Gwin. Gwin was 15 years old when Pearl Harbor was attacked. His father was more concerned about the attack than his youthful son was. Gwin's neighbor joined the Marines in 1940 and was killed on Tulagi while drawing fire for his squad. He received the Silver Star and Purple Heart for his actions. That would have an influence on Gwin's decision to become a Marine. Gwin joined the Marines before he was 18 years old. He was inducted in March 1943. Another of Gwin's neighbors was killed in action while flying a strafing run over Makin Island.

Norris Gwin went to Parris Island, South Carolina for boot camp. He soon learned that training was not easy. The day started early and ended late. Physical exertion was extreme. Instructions were heavy. Drill sergeants were not easy on the recruits. They hardened the new troops for the combat ahead. The training was about 14 weeks in duration. Gwin graduated the third week of June [Annotator's Note: June 1943]. He received a 30 day leave to go home. Upon returning, he was assigned to Cherry Point for Marine Corps aviation training. After four weeks of training as a radioman-gunner, he was moved by troop train to San Diego Naval Air Station. Following ten days there, Gwin and his group of about 300 was sent to El Toro Marine Air Base. The base had recently been organized as an air base. At El Toro, Gwin was assigned to VMSB-245 [Annotator's Note: Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 245 (VMSB-245)] which was a scouting and bombing squadron. He shipped out in October 1943 for Hawaii. The ship tacked back and forth to avoid submarines. Arriving in Hawaii, Gwin was then sent to Ewa Marine Air Base where the squadron was given advanced training. The squadron was transferred in early January 1944 to Midway Island.

Norris Gwin was based on Midway Island in early January 1944. His squadron [Annotator's Note: Marine Scout Bombing Squadron 245 (VMSB-245)] flew anti-submarine missions as well as flights supporting American submarines based at Midway. After four months, the unit was ordered back to Hawaii. The squadron, other than the pilots, was provided rigorous survival training similar to that given to Raiders. Moving on to the Gilbert Islands, the squadron carried on raids on the Marshall Islands until the area was secure. Gwin and two thirds of the experienced men in the squadron were redeployed to two other squadrons new to the area. He was transferred to a fighter-bomber squadron VMF-231 [Annotator's Note: Marine Fighter Squadron 231 (VMF-231)] composed of F4U Corsairs [Annotator's Note: Vought F4U Corsair fighter aircraft]. The squadron had originated as an early Marine squadron near Gwin's hometown. Gwin returned to the United States in April 1945 during the Marianas Campaign. Ulithi was captured prior to his return and used as a base. Gwin returned after 18 months since he had sufficient points. He was reassigned to Eagle Mountain Lake, Texas.

Norris Gwin returned to the United States and applied for pilot training. He worked with the ground crews at Eagle Mountain Lake, Texas. He soon became a crew chief on Curtis SB2C Hellcat dive bombers. The Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bombers were the predecessor to the Hellcat. The twin engine F7F Phantom jet night fighter was the next aircraft he supported. It had tremendous speed. Notified that he was eligible for pilot training, Gwin was simultaneously informed that he could be discharged. He opted for the latter and returned to Cherry Point for discharge from the service on 28 November 1945 as a PFC [Annotator's Note: private first class]. He harbors no regrets about not becoming a career Marine. He had performed his duty and was ready to go home and get an education to do other things.

Norris Gwin and the ground crews had to support 88 pilots and gunners for the aircraft missions. In between preparations and return of aircraft, there was time to sack out. Repairs to damaged planes had to be performed after strike missions. There was always time for beer when a supply ship arrived. There were no cities around on the islands. No outside entertainment was available so cards and volleyball were used to absorb the spare time. Gwin participated in martial arts, wrestling, and softball while overseas. When the island ice machine broke, the men loaded the gunner's seat on an SBD [Annotator's Note: Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber] with beer and flew at high altitude for awhile to chill the beer. The SBD landed and the beer was distributed for the men to enjoy. [Annotator's Note: Gwin laughs.]

Norris Gwin used the G.I. Bill for his education. He wanted to get his education and play football. He and a buddy rode motorcycles they had bought after the war. They rode around the country and played football on college practice squads to earn money. He went to the University of Florida in the fall of 1946 but was injured during football practice. After a hospital stay, he transferred to the University of Miami. He graduated in 1949 with a business degree. He met a young lady whose father offered him a job in horseracing. Gwin worked his way up the ladder with promotions and became an official at a track in Michigan. He worked in horseracing for 60 years in various capacities including top jobs in the judiciary. He traveled extensively. It was long hours, but he only had to work nine months out of the year. He retired in 2008 at 85 years of age.

Norris Gwin's most memorable experience during the war was when he substituted for a sick man on guard duty. Snipers were still in the area so it was still dangerous. Air raids by the Japanese were still a concern. Foxholes were not possible to dig with the terrain of the island. Sandbagged protection areas were allocated for each individual. While Gwin was on guard duty, an air raid occurred. The men from his tent fled to their defined bunker. The sandbagged spot took a direct hit and four or five men were killed. Had Gwin not taken the shift for the sick man, he might have been killed by the enemy bomb. The war brought on losses of individuals that Gwin looked up to. He shows emotion only when he thinks of those losses. He saw too much during the war to allow himself to be emotional today. He has some degree of survivor's guilt. The country did what it had to do during the war. Gwin grew up fast during those years. The vast majority of his Marine squadron was too young to vote yet they were in combat. Gwin was 18 when he went to the Pacific in October 1943. He learned not to back off from adversity but to face it. He would do what had to be done again if he had to. People have lost sight of what happened during World War 2. That is especially true since Vietnam. Gwin and other veterans still have reunions to recognize each other and their service. The number of veterans is diminishing with time. People who second guess the decisions made during the war were not there to experience what was really happening. Institutions like The National WWII Museum should be viewed by more people. It is a wonderful memorial and Gwin has made multiple trips there. The "Road to Berlin" exhibit is great. Gwin would tell young people to choose a job based on their personal feelings not the direction given to them by someone else. He did that for 60 years in his chosen profession.