Leo K. Thorsness

Leo Keith Thorsness (February 14, 1932 – May 2, 2017) was an American colonel in the United States Air Force and politician. He was born in Walnut Grove, Minnesota. 

Thorsness 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 with future United States Senator John McCain. After his military service, Thorsness served one term in the Washington State Senate from 1988 through 1992 after beating the current State Senator Eugene V. Lux. He was a Republican.

In 1974, Thorsness ran for the United States senate in South Dakota, but lost the general election to George McGovern. 

Thorsness died on May 2, 2017 in St. Augustine, Florida from leukemia at the age of 85.

References

Other websites

Graphic depiction of 63–8301  Note: on the date of the MoH mission, tail codes were not yet in use in the USAF
American Valor – Leo K. Thorsness
Air Force bio, Leo K. Thorsness 
Thorsness Bio 
POW Network bio that includes his legislative efforts on behalf of MIA's
Interview at the Pritzker Military Museum & Library

Category:1932 births
Category:2017 deaths
Category:American military personnel of the Vietnam War
Category:Cancer deaths in Florida
Category:American colonels
Category:Deaths from leukemia
Category:Medal of Honor recipients
Category:American political writers
Category:Politicians from South Dakota
Category:Politicians from Washington (state)
Category:Writers from Washington (state)
Category:Writers from South Dakota
Category:Republican Party (United States) politicians
Category:Military people from Minnesota