Page 22 - Senior Link Magazine Fall 2025 - Online Magazine

by Galen Bearden

wide variety of underwater sounds
and vibrations to understand what
objects are nearby. Being a Sonar
Technician allowed him to hear
many interesting sounds, including
unique recordings of whales talking
to each other!

Next, Norm attended submarine
school in Groton, CT and sonar
school in San Diego, CA. He spent a
total of 23 years in the Navy, most of
it in submarines. He sailed all over
the world including all seven seas,
with visits to many exotic ports of
call. Norm enjoyed his duties as a
Sonar Technician and stated that “I

orman (Norm) Bearden the beginning of Norm’s history of never knew what kind of day I was
was born in Santa Fe, NM community service that continues to going to have—sometimes boring,
Non September 6, 1965. His this day. sometimes exciting.” His Navy
father, Kent, worked for an auto career spanned the closing chapters
parts store and his mother, Helen, Despite (or maybe because of) of the Cold War, Desert Storm, and
was a stay-at-home mom. Norm has growing up in the dry and dusty 9/11. Norm helped commission three
one sister, LaQueta, who lives with Texas Panhandle, Norm loved the fast attack submarines and made
her husband Ronnie in Plainview. water and would enjoy swimming numerous deployments from both
Kent’s job initially required the every chance he got. He stated that the east and west coasts, including
family to move around to locations “being in the water gave him a sense two tours of duty in Hawaii. He was
in New Mexico and Arkansas. The of freedom.” That interest inspired also selected for staff duty at Navy
family eventually settled in Plain- him to enlist in the United States Personnel Command located at Mil-
view which Norm considers his Navy after graduating from PHS in lington, TN.
home. 1984, sparking a military career that
spanned decades. Submarines are secretive in nature,
Growing up, he had a variety of in- and therefore many parts of his
terests that included model airplanes Following enlistment, Norm was experiences must be obfuscated by
which led to a keen interest in avia- sent to the Navy’s basic training necessity. Communication to the
tion, a passion that he has explored program located in Great Lakes, IL. outside world was carefully mon-
throughout his life. Norm’s love for He initially was assigned to electron- itored, including to his family. He
music also played an important role ic school but was later convinced to could never let them know directly
in his life as he was involved with sign up for submarine service as a when he was returning home but
the band and choir in school. His Sonar Technician. This role functions would use clever words regarding
active participation in the Plainview as the critical ears of the subma- his “fishing trip.” Norm served on a
High School Key Club was just rine, listening and recognizing a total of four submarines, all of them

22 Lubbock Senior Link