Commonly called John. Only child of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Norby. Born in Derby, Colorado, moved to Fairmount where he went to Fairmount School and graduated Golden High School in 1939, where he took a prominent part in school activities. Enlisted in the Navy in October 1940 and stationed at Pearl Harbor in March 1941. Rated as a bombardier and served aboard USS Yorktown, and went down with the ship at the Battle of Midway. Awarded Purple Heart.