My name is Bill Norman. I am a Marine Corps veteran and recently retired police officer. I am proud to say that have spent my entire adult life in uniform serving my country and community. In 1988, I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps during my senior year of high school with the only goal of serving in the infantry. The military had always been my interest as a young man and I felt it was the best direction for me. I excelled in bootcamp and graduated Company Honor Man. I was assigned to 2nd Battalion 3rd Marine Division. After several months in the fleet, I was awarded the opportunity to try out for the Battalion STA Platoon (Scout/Sniper). I performed well during the multi-day test and was selected for the team. I spent the next few months training for my new position and honing my skills as a Marine sniper. I was eventually promoted to assistant team leader and our unit was deployed to the Persian Gulf for Operation Desert Shield/ Storm serving under the 1st Marine Division. During our deployment, I was awarded several campaign medals, unit citations and a combat action ribbon. In 1993, I exited the Marine Corps and utilized my G.I. Bill to attend college. It was during this time I met my wife DeAnna. We have been married now for 31 years and have two adult sons, Billy and Mateo. Billy graduated from Boise State and enlisted in the U.S. Army, He is currently serving with 2nd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment. Mateo has just finished his Junior year of college at Boise State and is pursuing a career as a firefighter in Idaho. While in college, I obtained an B.S. Degree with honors and hoped to get a job in public safety. I tested for several fire departments throughout the state with no luck. I began to get frustrated with my lack of results and shifted my sights towards law enforcement. Within several months, I was hired by a police department and enrolled in an academy. I quickly felt I made the right decision and the law enforcement culture was filling the void that I felt by leaving the military. I spent the last thirty years serving with three different police agencies in California. During my career, I have worked patrol, investigations, SWAT, motors, field training officer, department armorer, honor guard, patrol corporal, patrol sergeant, detective sergeant and department administrative sergeant. I have been honored with multiple accommodations and citations to include the Medal of Valor, Life Saving Medal, Distinguished Service and the Blue and Gold Award. My career was full of rewarding moments and challenges. I was able to serve with incredible people that put themselves on the line every day to keep our community safe and up hold the thin blue line. In December 2024, I retired from Morgan Hill Police Department. I was unable to continue my career due to multiple knee injuries that required a total knee replacement. The decision to leave my career was extremely difficult but fortunately I had help. During my last year in law enforcement, I applied for and was selected to participate with Charlie Five. Charlie Five is a non-profit organization that pairs veterans and first responders with horses at no cost so they may find purpose, rehabilitate and reintegrate. I have always had a strong interest in learning to team rope but my family and career took priority. Now in retirement and with Charlie Five’s help, I am on my way to realize that dream. In September of 2025, I had the privilege to attend my first War Horse clinic with other members of Charlie Five. It was an incredible experience and something I will never forget. The War Horse staff, training, horses, facilities and of course the food were amazing. During this first trip to WH, Taylor introduced us to the reined cow horse event. I had seen it before but never participated. My first time down the fence with Moonshine was awesome! After the run, I could feel my heart pounding in my chest and I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. I enjoy roping but chasing and controlling a cow in the arena is a whole different level of enjoyment. I think I’m hooked…. Several weeks after the clinic, I watched the 2025 WH Challenge in Ft. Worth on my computer. I was impressed with the way the team performed and the support given by the audience. It truly amazed me to think these guys started with little to no experience and within a year were able to enter a packed arena and perform! I received a call from Jake in December inviting me to participate in the 2026 WH Challenge. I was blown away at the offer and immediately accepted the challenge. Jake and Taylor paired me up with a local trainer (Brenden Clark) and we have been meeting at his ranch when he has time between shows. I feel I am learning every time I get an opportunity train and I hope to build on the foundation so when October comes, I can perform and show Ft. Worth what War Horses has done for me. This journey is very humbling and right when you think you are making progress you get knocked on your butt! With that said, it is also very addicting and rewarding when you make a good run and begin to see things come together. Horsemanship is the key to success and is the foundation to any good run. It has been my focus and my goal to build on to become a better horseman. I am honored to participate in this year’s WH Challenge. It will allow me to better develop my horsemanship and learn more about the reined cow-horse event while surrounding myself with like-minded veterans and first responders while promoting the awesome work of War Horses for Veterans. Respectfully- Bill Norman