NSW with Honor Flight San Diego

Rear Adm. Keith Davids, commander, Naval Special Warfare Command, greets U.S. Navy Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Michael Thornton during a homecoming ceremony concluding Honor Flight San Diego’s “Tour of Honor,” April 26-28. Thornton is a retired Navy SEAL and was awarded the medal of honor for saving the life of his senior officer and enabling the safe extraction of patrol members during the Vietnam War. More than 800 people attended the welcoming ceremony at San Diego International Airport. A small group of former SEALs and members of Naval Special Warfare’s (NSW) active force volunteered to serve as “guardians” for 90 NSW Vietnam veterans on a three-day trip to Washington, D.C., honoring their service and visiting the memorials built for their sacrifice. The trip included visits to the WW II, Lincoln, Korea, Vietnam, Navy, and Marine Corps Memorials and Arlington National Cemetery, all arranged by the Honor Flight Network. NSW is the nation’s premiere maritime special operations force and is uniquely positioned to extend the fleet’s reach and deliver all-domain options for naval and joint force commanders. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Felicito Rustique)