UNDATED (KELO AM) One of South Dakota's greatest, one of America's greatest, has died.
Congressional Medal of Honor Winner, Colonel Leo Thorsness, has died at the age of 85 in St. Augustine, Florida.
Thorsness was born in Minnesota, but spent many years in South Dakota, where he notably dabbled in politics. He lost to both George McGovern and Tom Daschle in separate races back in the 1970s. but those setbacks were nothing to a man like Thorsness.
He was a prisoner of war for six years after being shot down over Vietnam. He was a cell mate of John McCain at the infamous Hanoi Hilton.
Thorsness met his wife while attending South Dakota State University. The family eventually left South Dakota, but we can still claim him.
American Hero - Colonel Leo Thorsness - resting in peace at the age of 85.
Read of his incredible exploits, that won America's highest military honor, at the Congressional Medal of Honor Society website:
http://www.cmohs.org/recipient-detail/3433/thorsness-leo-k.php
KELO.COM also thanks the Society for use of the photo of Thorsness.