Michael Thornton Interview (page: 8 / 9) Medal of Honor	Print Interview

When were you actually awarded the Medal of Honor?

Get the Flash Player to see this video. Michael Thornton: I was actually awarded the Medal on October the 15th, 1973, and Tommy was still going through operations in Bethesda, Maryland, at the time. And they weren't going to let him out because he was getting ready for another operation, and they were looking all over the place for Tommy and he was staying with me at the hotel in a room, and everybody in the world is trying -- and then we had to try to get him the clearance to get into the White House. Well it was really funny. We got him clearance to get in the White House -- for everybody to go to the White House. It's kind of like when I came here -- everybody was cleared to go in the White House but me. I was not cleared to go in the White House. It was really funny because the same thing happened -- I didn't have my credentials or something when we went over to the -- and I said, "Well, give the medal to Tommy." But I'll never forget that day. My mom and dad was there. My brother was there. Tommy was there. And the President asked me, he said, "Mike, you know, what does this mean to you?" It was President Nixon, and we were in the East Room. And I said, "Sir, if you could take something and cut this in half, I'd like to give the other half of this medal to the gentleman who is standing behind me," and that was Tommy.

[ Key to Success ] Integrity

And after that I went back to California and I was still in SEAL Team ONE. Then I went to BUD/S -- basic underwater demolitions training. I was an instructor there. Tommy used to come out and visit my family in California, and he would come to the training unit. What an inspiration to these young kids! They've heard the stories about this guy, and they'd see this guy with all these injuries out there running and doing these things, and he's got half his head gone! They've done a lot in the way of repair and the surgeries since then, but you could really notice it back then.

At what point did you feel confident that Tom was going to have a full, rich life again?

Michael Thornton: I knew that as soon as I saw him the next time. Tommy is such a motivated person, I felt if he hadn't died in the first week he was going to make it. Everyone I spoke to after I got back, even the doctor, said he didn't feel that Tommy would ever make it. I called Clark Air Force Base after Tommy went there, and they told me how long the first surgery took and of course nothing looked good at that period of time. They called to bring his family over to the Philippines. When they do something like that, that's usually the last straw, but he's sitting here now.

What difference did the Medal of Honor make in your life? Did it change the way you thought about life?

Michael Thornton: It wasn't the medal. It was being in Vietnam itself. The close situations changed my whole way of thinking about my life. It showed me that things can disappear like the snap of your fingers. As a young guy you thought you were invincible and nothing could ever hurt you, and stuff like that, and living life to the fullest. But making goals, reachable goals. I speak about goals that I reach but not to worry too much about what's ahead, but just take care of what you can control today, and what you can take care of today, and then moving from today to tomorrow. When you wake up and everybody says, "How do you feel, Mike?" I say, "I'm alive." As long as I'm alive I can deal with anything that's out there.

That sounds a lot like what Tom was saying about his perspective.

Michael Thornton: Yeah. This guy right here gave me a lot of fortitude and courage because what of I saw him go through. Just the rehabilitation. It's unbelievable what Tommy went through, and people just don't understand it until you stand back and watch what he had to deal with in his life.

He had other injuries which I'm not going to talk about but he knows what I'm talking about. There's always difficulties and he always overcame them and never asked for anything. I used to get so angry. He'd be sick and he wouldn't call me and then when I'd find out I'd be so mad I couldn't see straight.

Do you find yourself talking to young people about bravery?

Michael Thornton: Well, as I was telling the young people I spoke with the other day --

Get the Flash Player to see this video. This medal does not belong to me. This medal belongs to every man and woman who has ever served their country. And Tommy feels it. We were doing what we were trained to do. We were doing our job. Why we were chosen to receive this great honor, I don't know. And you know, I don't question it, but what I do -- what I do and I let everybody in the world or the public know, is that this Medal of Honor belongs to every man and woman who gives us the freedom today to be able to hold our flag and hold our heads up high and say we have the greatest country in the world. And that goes with the men and women in the past, and the men and women of today, and the men and women of the future. As long as Mike Thornton lives, that medal will always stand for all them. Not for me. Not for what I've done, but for what I was trained to do and what they have been trained to do to give us our freedom today.

[ Key to Success ] Integrity

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