Leo Thorsness and Justin Constantine
The Congressional Medal of Honor Society is a special and select organization filled with American heroes. And over the last decade, I have had the distinguished honor of meeting a number of them. But without a doubt, I have not held more reverence and admiration for those who breathe that rarified air than I have for Colonel Leo Thorsness. His death this week has been reported far and wide, and I hope many of us take the time to learn more about him.
Leo and I became friends a few years after I was injured. I had learned of his incredible story through a mutual friend, and eagerly read his book, Surviving HELL: A POW’s Journey. It was one of those page-turners where one chapter flew into the next. How he survived the overwhelming torture for six years from his Vietnamese captors is fascinating enough, but his incredible spirit and attitude once he returned to American soil was a shining example for every one of us. His philosophy that “I’ve learned if the doorknob is on the inside, it’s a good day,” sums it up perfectly.
“I’ve learned if the doorknob is on the inside, it’s a good day.”
Although I certainly was immediately impressed with Leo as one of the most highly decorated American airmen of the Vietnam War, his warm and caring personality is what connected me to him. He could make fun of me in one second, and then earnestly ask me how my recovery was coming along in the next. He cared about his fellow human beings, and I am lucky for the little bit of time I spent around him.
A couple of years ago I gave a TEDx Talk entitled “You Are Stronger Than You Think You Are.” I told a little of my story, but then also included my thoughts about two very strong people who had overcome incredible adversity in life and gone on to be motivating forces for those around them. Leo was one of those two people, and you can see those comments here if you fast-forward to the 9:20 section of the speech.
The bottom line is, I am a better person for just being around a true hero like Leo. When he came into a room, everybody wanted to talk with him. In fact, everybody just wanted to be around him. His sparkling eyes, his perpetual smile and his sense of humor radiated off of him. He was down to earth, did not forget where he came from, and cared about America until his last days. We can all learn a lot from Colonel Leo Thorsness, and I will never forget him.