R ETAI LOBSE RVE R.COM AUGUST 2015
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LEO K. THORSNESS, MAJOR US AIR FORCE
On April 19, 1967, Thorsness was fl ying his F-105 "Wild Weasel" on a mission deep in
North Vietnam. He and his wingman destroyed several surface-to-air missile (SAM) sites,
when his wingman was hit by intense antiaircraft fi re. The pilot and his backseater were
forced to eject from their damaged plane. While circling above them, Thorsness saw an
enemy MiG-17 fi ghter setting up a gunnery pass on the downed airmen's parachutes.
Although the Weasel was not designed for dogfi ghts, Thorsness attacked the MiG and
destroyed it with bursts from his gatling gun. He continued fi ghting off other MiGs to
protect the downed Americans, fl ying through a barrage of North Vietnamese SAMs to
engage four more MiGs, hitting one and driving the remaining enemy planes away.
Dangerously low on fuel, Thorsness was able to return to base that day, but just two
weeks later he was shot down over North Vietnam and became a prisoner of war in the
"Hanoi Hilton." He endured years of torture.
When the war ended, Thorsness was fi nally released and sent back to America. And on
October 15, 1973 President Richard Nixon presented him with the Medal of Honor saying
"We've been waiting for you for six years. Welcome home." Sharing his commitment
to "Do what's right – help others," Thorsness began speaking on his personal mantra in
2002 and inspiring others through his story of selfl ess sacrifi ce.
Thorsness' story exemplifi es the courage and humility of the Medal of Honor Recipients.
They are true heroes.
TODAY THERE ARE 79 LIVING RECIPIENTS OF THE
MEDAL OF HONOR
Congressional Medal of Honor Society
www.cmohs.org
Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation
www.cmohfoundation.org
GW New York MOHF Co-op Program
www.gwnewyork.com/moh
