Goodfellow to honor Medal of Honor recipients

  • Published
  • By Robert D. Martinez
  • 17th Training Wing Public Affairs
GOODFELLOW AFB, Texas --     Goodfellow Air Force Base will honor two of only five living Air Force Medal of Honor recipients May 7 by dedicating two Visiting Officer Quarters buildings on base to Col. Leo Thorsness and to Col. George "Bud" Day.

     Leo K. Thorsness is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel who was awarded the Medal of Honor on Oct. 15, 1973, for his heroism in 1967.  Two weeks after the events that earned him the Medal of Honor, he was shot down and spent six years as a prisoner of war in North Vietnam.  After his military service, Thorsness served one term as a State Senator in the Washington State Senate.

    Col. Thorsness attended Primary Flight training at Goodfellow in 1953 with Class 54-E, learning to fly the L-21 Super Cub and T-6 Texan.  He earned his wings and commission in 1954 after training.

    George Everette "Bud" Day is a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and command pilot. He was awarded the Medal of Honor on March 4, 1976, for personal bravery while a captive in North Vietnam.  He is often cited as being the most decorated U.S. service member since General Douglas MacArthur, having received some 70 decorations, a majority for actions in combat.

    Col. Day went on Air Force active duty in 1951 and entered pilot training with Class 51C at Hondo Air Base.  Col. Day was assigned to Goodfellow in 1951 as the operations officer for the flying training wing, and eventually moved on to fly fighter-bomber jets for two tours during the Korean War.

    There are many events planned for May 6 and 7.  Some events have limited capacity and some are by invitation only.  The events open to the base populace:

Thursday, May 6
1:30 p.m. Forum at the Chaparral Theatre, Building 812

Friday, May 7
10 a.m. Visiting Officer Quarters Dedication, Building 701
11 a.m. Reception at the base Events Center
6:30 p.m. Dinner, hosted by Angelo State University at ASU, seating capacity limited

For those authorized to stay on Goodfellow, please call 325-654-3332 to make lodging reservations. Use the lodging link for more information: http://dodlodging.net/VT_goodfellow.htm. If you are not authorized to stay on base, please contact a San Angelo local area hotel or motel to coordinate lodging requirements.