Leo K. Thorsness
| Leo Keith Thorsness | |
|---|---|
Medal of Honor recipient Colonel Leo K. Thorsness
|
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| Member of the Washington Senate from the 11th district |
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In office 1988–1992 |
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| Preceded by |
Avery Garrett (died in office) Eugene V. Lux (appointed) |
| Succeeded by | Margarita Prentice |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
February 14, 1932 Walnut Grove, Minnesota |
| Political party | Republican |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch |
 United States Air Force
|
| Years of service | 1951–1973 |
| Rank |
 Colonel
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| Unit | 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing |
| Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
| Awards |
Medal of Honor Silver Star (2) Distinguished Flying Cross (6) Purple Heart (2) Air Medal (16) |
Leo Keith Thorsness (born February 14, 1932) is a retired colonel in the United States Air Force who received the Medal of Honor for his actions in the Vietnam War. He was awarded the medal for an air engagement on April 19, 1967. He was shot down two weeks later and spent six years in captivity in North Vietnam as a prisoner of war. After his military service, Thorsness served one term in the Washington State Senate.
Thorsness was born in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, where he earned the Eagle Scout award from the Boy Scouts of America. He is one of only nine known Eagle Scouts who also received the Medal of Honor. The others are Aquilla J. Dyess and Mitchell Paige of the U.S. Marine Corps, Robert Edward Femoyer and Jay Zeamer, Jr. of the U.S. Army Air Forces, Arlo L. Olson, Benjamin L. Salomon of the United States Army, and Eugene B. Fluckey and Thomas R. Norris of the United States Navy. In 2010, Thorsness received the Distinguished Eagle Scout Award.
He attended South Dakota State College in 1950, where he met his future wife, Gaylee Anderson, also a freshman. They married in 1953 and had a daughter, Dawn.
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Wikipedia