William W. Norton

William Wallace "Bill" Norton, Jr. (September 24, 1925 – October 1, 2010) was an American screenwriter. Later in life, he was convicted of gun running in France when he tried to send arms from the United States to the Irish National Liberation Army in Northern Ireland. After being released from prison, he moved to Nicaragua, where he shot and killed an intruder in his Managua home. He later spent a year living in Cuba but became disillusioned with Communism and was reportedly smuggled from Mexico into the U.S. by his ex-wife.

Norton was born to Andrena "Rena" (née Callahan; March 20, 1902 – October 16, 1989) and William Wallace Norton (February 14, 1900 – July 18, 1973) in Ogden, Utah, where his parents owned a ranch which they lost at the start of the Great Depression. His family moved to Berkeley, California, and then later to El Monte. He attended El Monte High School, where he was class president.

During World War II, Norton enlisted in the United States Army and served in Europe as an infantry officer with 5th Infantry, 71st Infantry Division with Patton's Third Army. He started writing, using his life experience of growing up poor and serving in the military, and some of his plays were produced by local theater companies. He joined the Communist Party in his youth and in 1958 was called to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee, though he did not name anyone.

...
Wikipedia