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Alabama-Florida Council
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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT THIS ISSUE:
  • Meet a Real American Hero at Troy U Commencement
Meet a Real American Hero at Troy U Commencement
Friday, July 25, 2014, 9:30 a.m.
Trojan Arena
Troy University
5000 Veterans Stadium Dr.
Troy, AL 36082
Troy University Chancellor Jack Hawkins, Jr. invites all Scouts to Summer Commencement Exercises at Trojan Arena to hear a speech by Col. Leo Thorsness (USAF ret.).

Described as a "real American hero" by Chancellor Hawkins,  Thorsness, a retired Air Force colonel and combat pilot from Minnesota, was awarded the CMH, the nation's highest military award for valor, for his actions on April 19, 1967 in the skies near Hanoi, Vietnam, flying his F105F into two dogfights with MiG-17s - the last with no ammunition -- after destroying enemy surface-to-air missile sites. That engagement turned from a search-and-destroy mission to a rescue mission when one of the other planes was shot down (as well as rescue aircraft). Low on fuel, Thorsness opted to allow another aircraft to refuel while he attempted to land at Udorn, near the Mekong River. Thorsness landed his aircraft on a glide with empty tanks. The episode was recreated by The History Channel as part of Episode 12 of its "Dogfights" series and first telecast on Jan. 19, 2007.

He was shot down 11 days later on his 93rd mission by a MiG-21 while flying as a back-up aircraft and survived six years in a North Vietnamese prisoner-of-war camp. He and wife, Gaylee, now reside in Madison, Ala., and he is president of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society. After his retirement from the Air Force, Col. Thorsness worked for the Litton Corporation, and was a Washington State Senator from 1988 to 1992. His autobiography, "Surviving Hell: A POW's Journey" was published in 2008.

Scouts are asked to assemble in the main entrance of Trojan Arena by 9:30 a.m. on Friday, July 25th.

Please respond to the Council Service Center (334.793.7882) with a number of Scouts and leaders attending. Scouts should wear class A uniforms.  Designated seating will be provided to the contingent.
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Contact Information
Jerry Freyberg
Alabama-Florida Council Boy Scouts of America
334.793.7882
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David McArthur
The Journey E-newsletter Editor
[email protected]