Awards and Decorations
Thornton received a commission in 1982 as a Limited Duty Officer and retired as a Lieutenant. During his career he was awarded
| Special Warfare insignia |
| Naval Parachutist insignia |
| Surface Warfare Officer insignia |
| Diving Officer insignia |
| Medal of Honor | Silver Star | ||
| Bronze Star with "V" device and two gold stars | Purple Heart | Meritorious Service Medal | Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with "V" device and gold star |
| Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal | Combat Action Ribbon with gold star | Navy Presidential Unit Citation with two bronze stars | Navy Unit Commendation with two bronze stars |
| Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation with bronze star | Navy Good Conduct Medal with bronze star | Navy Expeditionary Medal | National Defense Service Medal with two bronze stars |
| Vietnam Service Medal with one silver and two bronze service stars | Southwest Asia Service Medal with one bronze service star | Humanitarian Service Medal | Sea Service Deployment Ribbon |
| Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Silver Star | Vietnam Armed Forces Honor Medal | Vietnam Staff Service Medal | Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation with Palm |
| Vietnam Civil Actions Unit Citation with Palm | Vietnam Campaign Medal | Navy Expert Rifleman Medal | Navy Expert Pistol Medal |
Read more about this topic: Michael E. Thornton
Famous quotes containing the word decorations:
“Let the realist not mind appearances. Let him delegate to others the costly courtesies and decorations of social life. The virtues are economists, but some of the vices are also. Thus, next to humility, I have noticed that pride is a pretty good husband. A good pride is, as I reckon it, worth from five hundred to fifteen hundred a year.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)