Norton spent his early life in Norfolk, Virginia, attending Matthew Fontaine Maury High School.

Norton made his fourth combat jump in September, in the Netherlands to take control of the bridges from the Dutch border to Arnhem as part of Operation Market Garden.

From June 1950 to February 1953, Norton served as Military Assistant and Executive Officer to the Secretary of the Army, Frank Pace, Jr.

He then attended the Armed Forces Staff College until he left to become chief of the American Section in September; he held this command until August 1955.

In October 1957, Norton served as the escort to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in his visit to America with Elizabeth II.

[2][4]: 28–29 After attending the National War College in 1959, Norton Commanded the 2d Battle Group of the 1st Cavalry Division at the Korean Demilitarized Zone from August 1959, to September 1960.

Occupying the position until June 1973, Norton assisted in the continued reorganization of the Army, unsuccessfully attempting to preserve the Combat Development Command, which was later reestablished at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

While serving in this position, Norton oversaw the early development of the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter and M1 Abrams tank.

[4]: 2  Although the two considered marriage while dating, they had different military career aspirations causing them to separate after graduation; in that time, Smith married a doctor.

After hearing through a mutual friend that Smith had been widowed 36 years prior, Norton reconnected with her, proposed, and married her in September 1992.

[4]: 3 In his later years, Norton became involved in his community, becoming a board member of the Shenandoah Valley Boy Scout Council and County Mental Health Group.

He became a Senior Warden at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Mount Jackson, Virginia, and served on the board of trustees for the Reserve Officers' Training Corps at James Madison University and the Massanutten Military Academy.