Delbridge, Jr.

Norm, as his many, many friends knew him, was born in Michigan. He attended Michigan Tech University for a year before going to the U.S. Military Academy. He entered the Army (and West Point, after some service in Berlin) from that state. His academic achievements, in addition to his degree from the Academy, included earning a master’s at Iowa State University. His service in Germany later led him (after he entered the Military Academy) to be the first plebe (freshman) to have a review in his honor by the Corps of Cadets, where he received a medal for his service in Berlin.

At West Point, he played four years of lacrosse on the Army’s superb and nationally ranked team. He sang in the Protestant chapel choir, chaired his class’s General Committee, and was a model cadet: a cadet captain (and commander of Company I-2) his last year. On graduation in 1953, he joined the Army Corps of Engineers. While an officer, he served in a wide variety of positions across the globe, retiring as a major general and Deputy Chief of Engineers. His Corps service included several overseas assignments, including Turkey, Germany, and Vietnam, and of special note were his commands: company and then battalion command in the uniformed Army, then Pittsburgh District of the Corps, the Support Command of the 3rd Armored Division in Europe, and the Corps’ Europe Division. Also of note were his senior staff positions, including Assistant Chief of Engineers (“the Corps man in the Pentagon”), and then Deputy Chief (#2 position within the Corps), which immediately preceded his retirement from the Army in 1986. He excelled at handling the technical duties of an engineer, and in dealing with a variety of political officials―from senior Congressmen to those serving in the Pentagon Secretariat. Norm was one of the most decorated officers in his year group, twice awarded the Army’s highest service award (Distinguished Service Medal) and a host of other awards.

In 1942, after many enjoyable years in the Boy Scouts, Norm attained its highest rank, an Eagle Scout. He picked up active involvement again, 25 years later, right after returning from Vietnam, when his son Scott planned to sign up for the Boy Scout troop in Reston, Virginia. Just as he and Scott got to the front of the line of applicants, the troop announced that it had just filled to capacity and would accept no more applicants. Norm and the father standing directly behind him (with another disappointed son) had a quick discussion and decided that they would start a new troop. As it turned out the other father worked in the upper levels of the U. S. Forest Service. So the boys in their new troop got Ranger training from Norm and a great education in forestry from Bob Moore. It filled to capacity within the first year, but even though it became crowded, they didn’t turn away a single boy.

In retirement, Norm resided in his beloved country home on Catoctin Creek, near Taylorstown, Virginia, with his wife of 53 years, Margaret McClure Drane.  The family includes two sons, Scott and David, and one grandchild, Chris.

As a retiree, Norm continued to provide valued service, right up until his passing. He remained active in the Society of Military Engineers, the Army Engineer Association, the Association of the U.S. Army, and the Moles. Combining his military and engineering interests, he joined a new, very small company, Hardwire, when it had only five people. That was seven very enjoyable years ago. The company specializes in development and manufacture of specialized armor for Humvees. It has grown and makes a significant contribution to the protection of our forces in the Middle East.

Norm Delbridge leaves a void in each community he touched. His unbounded enthusiasm, voracious appetite for challenging work and commitment to family and professional colleagues alike marks him as an exceptional leader and a deeply respected colleague.

-Chuck McGinnis and Vald Heiberg, 2010