Charles E. Thornton
American journalist
About Charles E. Thornton
Lived 1935 – 1985 (aged 49–50).
Charles E. Thornton (January 1, 1935 – September 19, 1985) was a medical reporter for the Arizona Republic newspaper. He was the first American journalist killed in Afghanistan after the Soviet invasion of 1979.
Thornton, age 50, and photographer Peter Schlueter were traveling in a truck with mujahideen fighters in September 1985 covering the work of an American medical team in the country. They were ambushed by Soviet troops and helicopters. Schlueter survived.
Thornton was inducted into the Arizona Newspapers Association Hall of Fame in 1996, the same year as murdered Arizona Republic investigative reporter Don Bolles.
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Important facts
People in Charles E. Thornton's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Charles E. Thornton's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Charles E. Thornton?
American journalist
When was Charles E. Thornton born?
Charles E. Thornton was born in 1935.
When did Charles E. Thornton die?
Charles E. Thornton died in 1985.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Charles E. Thornton
· DBpedia: Charles E. Thornton
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Charles E. Thornton. https://biography.guide/charles-e-thornton/
MLA: "Charles E. Thornton." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/charles-e-thornton/.
Chicago: "Charles E. Thornton." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/charles-e-thornton/.
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