Michael E. Thornton

Michael Edwin Thornton (born March 23, 1949) is a retired United States Navy SEAL and recipient of the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Vietnam War. He was awarded the medal for saving the life of his senior officer, Lieutenant Thomas R. Norris, who also earned the Medal of Honor in an unrelated incident.

Early life Born on March 23, 1949, in Greenville, South Carolina, Thornton graduated from Torrence high school in 1967 and enlisted in the United States Navy later that year in Spartanburg.

Military career Thornton served aboard destroyers as a gunner's mate apprentice until November 1968, when he attended United States Navy SEAL selection and training at Coronado, California. He was among only 18 students who graduated from BUD/S class 49 in March 1969, which started with 129 members. He received direct assignment to SEAL Team ONE, a separate organization from the Underwater Demolition Teams to which new personnel normally were assigned. Following SEAL Basic Indoctrination (SBI) training and platoon training, Thornton deployed to South Vietnam with Charlie Platoon from December 1969 to June 1970. He served numerous combat tours in Southeast Asia which ran from 1969 to December 1972.

Medal of Honor action

On October 31 of that year, Thornton participated in a mission to capture prisoners and gather intelligence from the Cửa Việt Base near the coast of Quảng Trị Province, just south of the Demilitarized Zone. In addition to Thornton, the mission team consisted of SEAL Lieutenant Thomas R. Norris, and three experienced Vietnamese men Thornton had worked with before, members of the LDNN, the South Vietnamese Special Forces. The group was transported by junk until sunset, then paddled a rubber boat to within a mile of shore and swam the remaining distance. Moving inland past numerous North Vietnamese encampments, the group reconnoitered through the night.

The group encountered a two-man North Vietnamese patrol on the beach, which the South Vietnamese attempted to capture. Thornton chased one of the enemy back towards the jungle to prevent him from alerting others. When Thornton shot him, about 50 North Vietnamese soldiers chased after him. Moving from one position to another, Thornton and the others kept the enemy confused about the number of troops they faced. Thornton was wounded in the back by a grenade. He contacted a destroyer and requested naval gunfire support; unknown to Thornton, however, she was struck by North Vietnamese shore batteries and unable to fire. A second destroyer was unable to maneuver into firing position for the same reason. Thornton later became a commissioned officer in June 1982 and retired as a lieutenant in 1992. He currently sits on the board of advisors for Veterans Direct.

Three members of the American Academy of Achievement and legendary Medal of Honor recipients from the Vietnam War Lt. Thomas R. Norris, USN and Rear Admiral James B. Stockdale, USN (both Class of 1976), with Lt. Michael E. Thornton, USN

In 2001, Thornton received the Golden Plate Award of the American Academy of Achievement presented by Awards Council member Lt. Thomas R. Norris, USN.

Publications Written with Thomas R. Norris and Dick Couch