- During his career he earned the Medal of Honor, the Silver Star, the Distinguished Flying Cross with five Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart with one Oak Leaf Cluster.
- He completed 23 years in the Air Force and retired in 1973 as a colonel. From 1979-85 he was Director of Civic Affairs for Litton Industries in Beverly Hills, CA. He was a Washington state senator from 1988-92. He served as Technical Advisor on American Valor (2003), a role he previously played on the production of The Hanoi Hilton (1987).
- Maj. Leo Thorsness and his backseater, Capt. Harold Johnson, were attached to the 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 355th Tactical Fighter Wing out of Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand. On April 30, 1967, while flying a Republic F-105F Thunderchief tail #62-4447 on his 93rd mission, just seven shy of Maj. Thorsness' going home, they were shot down over North Vietnam. They were captured and held as Prisoners of War. They were repatriated and returned to U.S. control on March 4, 1973.
- Received his Bachelors degree from the University of Omaha, and his Masters degree in Systems Management from the University of Southern California.
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