Michael E. Thornton

Michael Edwin Thornton is a retired United States Navy SEAL and Medal of Honor recipient whose career reflects extraordinary courage and service.

After graduating from high school in Spartanburg, he enlisted in the Navy in 1967 and entered basic training in San Diego, California. He was soon selected for Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training in Coronado, California, where he earned his place among the Navy’s elite warriors. Assigned to SEAL Team ONE, Thornton served multiple tours of duty in Vietnam and Thailand between 1968 and 1973, where he distinguished himself for his leadership and bravery.

Thornton’s most heroic action came on October 31, 1972, during a reconnaissance and intelligence-gathering mission in Vietnam. When his team came under overwhelming enemy fire, he risked his life to save his superior officer, Lieutenant Thomas R. Norris, carrying him across two miles of rough seas while evading hostile forces. For this valor, Thornton received the Medal of Honor in 1973, becoming one of the few men to receive the award for saving the life of another Medal of Honor recipient. This act solidified his place among America’s most revered military figures.

Following Vietnam, Thornton continued to serve with distinction. From 1974 to 1977, he was an instructor at the SEAL training command in Coronado, and in 1978 he spent two years with the British Special Boat Service as part of an exchange program. Upon his return, he became a founding member of SEAL Team SIX, where he helped develop new tactics and technology that would shape modern special operations. Commissioned as an officer in 1982, Thornton went on to serve as Officer-in-Charge of the Navy’s Second Class Dive School, First Lieutenant and Diving Officer aboard USS Edenton, and Bravo Company Commander during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He retired in 1992 as the last active-duty Medal of Honor recipient in the Navy.

In his post-military life, Thornton has remained dedicated to service. He founded the Michael E. Thornton Foundation (METFUND), a nonprofit organization providing immediate financial assistance to military members, veterans, and their families facing hardships. He is the president and founder.

Beyond philanthropy, he continues to be involved in veteran advocacy and serves on advisory boards supporting service members. In October 2024, he joined fellow Medal of Honor recipients in a public endorsement of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. Through his decorated military career, lasting contributions to the SEAL community, and ongoing support for America’s veterans, Thornton’s life stands as a testament to courage, sacrifice, and leadership.