Terry Norman is a strong man. Yet he must hate this time of year: Every year he weathers the anniversary of May 4, 1970 in silence. It must take strength to bear all this guilt, to stay silent on the events that killed four, wounded nine.
Like many reading this piece, May 4th, 1970, and the agony it created are never far from my mind. While it is bittersweet to learn Sergeant Pryor, the man in front with a pistol was possibly telling the truth when he says he did not fire his weapon, it does nothing to take away from the innocents lost on that day. Innocence that was replaced with evil and anger. It was also an event that activated a lifetime of activism, advocacy, and daily reminds us to “Question Authority.” (Note: Pryor clearly lied under oath on the witness stand when asked about the order to load live ammunition. Only newer evidence affords him any benefit of doubt in regards to firing his weapon).
You can’t credit Terry Norman for all that occurred on May 4, 1970 at Kent State. General Canterbury who for some unexplained reason had the National Guard load their weapons with live bullets instead of rubber ones deserves blame. General Canterbury, unfamiliar with the Kent State campus, who marched his soldiers into a field fenced in one side and surrounded by peaceful, unarmed students on three sides: General Canterbury who had no intent to end this protest peacefully as it certainly would have done had he not agitated it: General Canterbury whose only purpose was to create death and destroy lives as evidenced by his order to load live ammunition deserves plenty of blame.
Governor Rhodes of Ohio, involved in a tight re-election campaign, who promised law and order, who saw May 4, 1970, Kent State as an opportunity to selfishly promote himself deserves blame.
Unlike Canterbury and Rhodes, Terry Norman remains alive, and is the central figure in what occurred May 4, 1970. Someone falsely informed the local Sheriff “The Weathermen” were on campus, heightening tensions, raising the specter of violence. Terry Norman was an informant. He met with an FBI Special Agent on May 3, 1970. On May 4 Terry Norman was at the Kent State commons wearing a gas mask, armed with a gun and live bullets, totally prepared for what? Clearly his actions were premeditated.
After the Guard turned and fired as if in formation, a graduate student chased Terry Norman toward the National Guard. It was captured on film: “he’s got a gun and he’s shooting at people.” Sylvester Del Corso, the Ohio National Guard’s top general, released a public statement claiming that Norman had admitted firing four shots at the demonstrators in self-defense. FBI reports indicated the gun had five bullets in the chamber. They both can’t be correct.
This is the point the Terry Norman conspiracy started. A Kent State police detective, Tom Kelly took possession of Norman's pistol, and his investigation ruled out its having been fired. He also was directing Norman's work as an informant, and later helped him get a job as a “police officer.” The National Guard changed their story. The National Guard days later, released an official statement which claimed the gun had not been fired.
The day of the shooting, in addition to Del Corso’s statement, two members of the press were informed by the Guard the gun had been fired. One member of the press claims to have heard Terry Norman confess to firing in self-defense. He feared the mob would beat him as he had been throwing stones back at students.
Reporters Joe Butano and Fred DeBrine of Cleveland television station WKYC said they observed Detective Kelley open Norman’s confiscated gun and exclaim, “My God, it’s been fired four times!” Two National Guardsmen said that they overheard Terry Norman say he “may have shot someone.”
Did Terry Norman shoot someone? Harold Reid, William Barrett and several others chased Norman. Norman was seen by Reid bending over a fallen student with a gun in his hand. Reid believed Norman had shot the student.
The question is: When did Terry Norman fire his gun? Was it possible the Guard turned and fired into the crowd in response to Terry Norman’s gun being fired.
The National Guard was on the practice football field, fenced in one side, and facing unarmed students on three sides. Students threw rocks at the helmeted guardsman whom General Canterbury described as being in fear for their life. General Canterbury stated afterward he believed soldiers in fear for their life had a right to fire their weapons. All it would take for National Guardsman to believe they were being fired at was one shot.
At least one National Guardsman, Sergeant Dennis Breckinridge claims to have heard a shot. Breckinridge turned, and specifically noticed Terry Norman in the crowd.
As the Guard left the practice field several frequently turned around as if they were looking for someone, for something, and then they turned in unison and fired into the crowd. We know the results.
Terry Norman met with National Guard Soldiers at the practice field. He doesn’t recall the conversation. Did he prearrange with the National Guard to fire a shot and instigate the shooting which took the lives of four unarmed college students? We do know he was in the area where the National Guard aimed their bullets. We know he had a gun. We know he fired at least one shot. What we don't know is whether a disgraced former FBI informant, a convicted fraudster, has the strength to tell the truth. C’mon Terry, show real strength: Tell us the truth. At this point it cannot be proven you killed anyone, you’re not going to jail, perhaps the truth will set you free. What did you do at Blanket Hill?
The National Guardsman on duty that day at Kent State, many of whom have lived their lives feeling guilty, deserve to know.