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.