The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, PFC Norman Key, 14008225, who died in the service of his country on May 24th, 1945 in Luzon. The cause of death was listed as KIA. At the time of his death Norman was 22 years of age. He was from Jackson, South Carolina.

The decorations earned by PFC Norman Key include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.

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Norman entered the service 18 November 1940.

Burial:
Green Pond Baptist Church Cemetery
Jackson
Aiken County
South Carolina, USA

Silver Star Citation

For gallantry in action against the Japanese forces near Santa Fe, Luzon, Philippine Islands on 23 and 24 May 1945. On 23 May, a returning patrol of which PFC Key was a scout, was fired on from a wooden draw. Spotting the enemy, he slowly walked toward them, firing his automatic rifle from the hip, killing eight as he advanced. The next morning a patrol was being organized and PFC Key volunteered to go as lead scout. The patrol traversed the same areas from which the patrol had been fired on the previous night. Knowing that there were many enemy positions that had not been noted, he waved to the patrol to wait while he advanced to draw enemy fire in order to locate their disposition. A burst of machine gun fire killed PFC Key, but through his gallant actions and unselfish devotion to duty, man casualties were averted. After the encounter, 57 enemy dead were found. PFC Keys intrepid actions are exemplary of the highest traditions of the military service.