Page 16 - Desert Lightning News So. AZ Edition, March 2 2018

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March 2018 Desert Lightning News www.aerotechnews.com/davis-monthanafb
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SISTERS
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MOH
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during his F-105 Wild Weasel missions, and explains his decisions during the mission for which he received the Medal of Honor.”
Just 11 days after this mission, Thorsness was shot down and captured by the North Vietnamese. There was an 11-month span where his family didn’t know if he was dead or alive. His daughter was only 11 years old.
“Every morning I listened to the radio for news about the war,” Dawn said. “I would look at a world globe and trace where we lived over to North Vietnam. It didn’t seem so far on the globe. I wondered why we could not communicate with him. I could see where he was on the map but we were helpless to communicate.”
Back at home, the anti-war movement was gaining momentum, and for many military families, like the Thorsness, it was a difficult time.
“We had a husband and father fighting the war and we supported him, so it was very difficult,” Gaylee said. “We had reason to hate war more than the people protesting, but our country had made a decision to engage so we supported. It was a shock that people hated us for supporting the Vietnam War. It was a horrible time.”
Thorsness spent the next six years in captivity at several POW camps including Hanoi Hilton and Heartbreak Hotel. After his release and return home in 1973, he made the conscious effort to often remind people of how daily freedoms can be taken for granted.
“Leo’s life mantra after coming home from Vietnam was ‘Faith, Family, Friends and Fun,’” his wife said. “He said no one in prison ever said they wished they had spent more time at the office. He often talked about how lucky he was to be born an American – where people are free.”
After 23 years of service and more than 5,000 flying hours, Thorsness retired from defending those freedoms as an Airman and immediately ran for political office. He served as a Washington State Senator from 1988 to 1992 and went on to serve on the board of directors for the Congressional Medal of Honor Foundation.
“Leo was always willing to work hard,” Gaylee said. “He carried great responsibility for his country and he did his job extremely well.”
As a civilian, Thorsness fought for the release of information on 30,000 Soldiers listed as either Prisoners of War or missing in action from conflicts dating back to World War II. Though no longer in the Air Force, he continued to serve as an ambassador for service member recognition.
Thorsness died May 2, 2017, and at the family’s request, was laid to rest amongst his brothers and sisters in arms.
“Leo had no bitterness and did not carry a grudge,” Gaylee said. “His values were right. How he carried out his life was right. He really was one of a kind. He was a great guy. My husband lived his life truthfully, honestly and honorably.”
were raised in a close-knit family of four children by their parents, Rita and Jorge Panchana, who came from Ecuador.
“Having her here at METC has just brought us even closer,” Michelle said.
Strong bond
Since they are close, the sisters seek advice from each other at times.
“I usually tell her everything that goes on,” Michelle said. “If I have any problems, I will go to her and she does the same thing with me, as well.” The two sisters and their younger brother, George, are the first members in their family to join the military. Their younger brother joined the Navy
in early January.
Before each of the sisters joined the military, they discussed the idea
with each other.
Gisella was the first one to explore the option of joining the service after
going to college and earning a degree in graphic design.
“I actually researched all the military branches and chose what I thought was the best for me,” she said. “I just wanted something new in life. I kind of felt stuck in my life and I thought, ‘Why not?’ They have great oppor-
tunities, so I decided to join.”
Michelle said her older sister inspired her to join the military.
“She started talking about joining the military long before I thought
about it,” she said. “We talked about it for quite a time.”
Michelle decided to enlist in the Navy after going to nursing school for two semesters. She said the Navy offers more medical programs and op- portunities for her. Michelle is training to become a pharmacy technician.
The sisters look up to each other.
“I definitely look up to her because she is a character,” said Gisella about her younger sister. “She puts herself out there and that’s what I’ve always wanted to do. She’s not afraid of anything.”
“I’ve learned how strong she can be whenever she is in a tough situation,” Michelle said about her older sister. “Seeing her overcome obstacles in her life, it has made me want to be a stronger person, as well.”
Michelle is set to graduate from the METC pharmacy program in April. She said it will be hard to see her older sister leave and not have her around at METC.
“I’m very sad she is going to leave first because we are just so use to hav- ing each other here,” Michelle said. “It’s going to be a little different now.”
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