Born Lauri Allan Torne in Finland, in 1919, Thorne would distinguish himself, leading an elite detachment of Finnish ski troops (think James Bond) on raids behind Soviet lines, commanding a Waffen-SS sabotage squad, and unleashing such crippling guerrilla attacks against the Soviets that they put an unheard-of 3 million Finnish mark bounty on his head. by Heraklit 03 Jun 2003, 18:30. A Soldier of 3 armies knows the game Please keep them headed our way. Larry Thorne (born Lauri Trni) was a war hero who fought under three different flags. Shout, Lauri Trnis name Next year Lauri Trni would have celebrated his 85th birthday. Historical Guns, Select this result to view Larry Thorne's phone number, address, and more. As Larry Thorne's helicopter and Major Pyles' Bird Dog attempted to descend, the clouds again closed up. Lauri Torni was born in 1919 in Viipuri (a part of Finland occupied by Russia since the end of WW2), joined the Finnish army in 1938 and served as a patrol NCO during the Winter War (1939-1940), a prelude to WW2 where the Soviet Union launched an invasion of Finland. His posthumous promotion to Major was approved in December 1965. Funny, your articles are half the reason Im here. The Swedish K saw extensive service with US Navy SEALs who favored the weapon-based upon its fast handling and capacity to fire when coming straight out of the surf (Over the Beach). Based on that limited evidence coupled with a series of forensic and DNA tests, it has taken the USG till now to arrive at a conclusive decision that this was in fact Larry's ill-fated aircraft. Related Tags: The story begins with the Winter War, which began with the Soviet invasion of Finland in 1939, when Lauri Torni fought against attacking Red Army troops. In early 1945 he fell in with German units fighting the Soviets near Schwerin until he was captured by the British. They planned to take him to Moscow to be tried for war crimes. May you Rest in Peace at last Many of the K Rifles used in Vietnam were sanitized without serial numbers. In twelve years of service, he attained the rank of Major. Master Jeweler at Jensen Jewelers, Billings, Montana November 17, 2021 - Present Jeweler and Diamond setter for 41 years May 2, 2020 to present College Studied at Valley City State University High school No schools to show Photos See all photos Others Named Larry Thorne Lawrence Thorne Lorenzo Thorne Lawrence Franklin Thorne Lorenzo Thorne When the Continuation War began, he returned to Finland and again commanded his ski troops. I recall reading about the Major in the 80s before his remains were recovered, and also again in the very late 90s/early 2000 when his remains were recovered. Alaska Arms: Ruger M77 Rings and Extra Round Floorplate. Soon promoted, well deserved, The Mississippi Delta was indeed a fascinating place to grow up. Thorne hated the Communists and their ideology so much, it sparked a vendetta he would take to his grave. Abbott Nathan Scott. Thorne, Larry Alan (Trni, Lauri), born 28-05-1919 in Viipuri, Finland as the son of Hjalmar Aataminpoika Trni and Rosa Maria Kosonen.He was an athletic youngster and joined the Civil Guard early. The MP40 was an evolutionary development of the previous MP38. Larry Thorne was a hardcore cyclone of SMG-chunking bullet rage who served in the Special Forces of three different countries, led an elite detachment of badass Finnish ski troops on balls-out raids behind Soviet lines during the Winter War, commanded a Waffen-SS sabotage squad during World War II, and was an original United States Army Green A number of Finnish dignitaries including Juha (representing the Thorne family) will be in attendance at both services. Then we made a mold and used it for casting these silver pieces, now used in the sheath of the knives, in the head of Larry Thorne 100 years anniversary knife and series of jewelry. Larry Thorne, age 86 of Minor Hill passed away Saturday, December 30, 2017. Knowledge 5. Lauri Allan Trni (vuodesta 1954 Larry A. Thorne; 28. toukokuuta 1919 Viipuri - 18. lokakuuta 1965 Khm cin alue, Etel-Vietnam) oli kolmen maan armeijassa palvellut suomalainen sotilas ja Mannerheim-ristin ritari. Lancaster Sara Lee. By the time the U.S. entered Vietnam, Thorne had annihilated enemy forces in waist-deep sub-zero snowdrifts, in mud-covered rainforests and commanded black ops in the Middle East. His remains were never found. She has three siblings, Remy Thorne, Dani Thorne and Kaili Thorne, all of whom have also acted. After Finland fell to the communists, Captain Torni joined the German SS in order to continue fighting the communists. Thank you again Doctor, for bringing Thorne to a new generation. Lauri Allan Trni (28 May 1919 - 18 October 1965), later known as Larry Alan Thorne, was a Finnish-American soldier who fought under three flags: as a Finnish Army Second Lieutenant of the Fourth Independent Jger Infantry Battalion against the Soviets in the Winter War and the Soviet-Finnish sub-theater of World War II known as the Continuation In 1957 he was granted US citizenship and commissioned a 2d Lieutenant in the Signal Corps. The Seahorse was frequently used to insert MACV-SOG teams into Laos. One of the members of the Finnish team was Thorne's own nephew, Juha Rajala. Finland had been caught between two desperate evils and was anxious to cleanse itself of the Nazi taint. Country of Loss: South Vietnam (official); Laos (actual) But then Germany fell, too, and the Finn-turned-Waffen SS officer was arrested by the British, according to War History Online. When North Vietnam began to increase its military strength in South Vietnam, NVA and Viet Cong troops again intruded on neutral Laos for sanctuary, as the Viet Minh had done during the war with the French some years before. Lane David Michael. He led an infantry company in the Finnish Winter and Continuation Wars. The Suomi KP weighed 10.14 pounds and cycled at between 750 and 900 rounds per minute. As many of you are aware Larry was lost in the clouds on 18 October 1965 on a CH-34 KINGBEE helicopter from the 219th Vietnamese Air Force Squadron while performing a C&C mission out of Kham Duc for the very first OP-35 cross-border reconnaissance mission (RT Iowa) being conducted by Charles Slats Petry, Willie Card and four little people and never seen again. He was a complex yet driven man who valorously fought oppression under three flags and didnt acknowledge the meaning of quit, US Army Special Forces Col. Sean Swindell said during a ceremony in 2010. It was concluded that Thorne's Choctaw had crashed into the side of a mountain while flying nap-of-the-earth. In June of 1998, the book THE SOLDIER UNDER THREE FLAGS was made available by Pathfinder publishing. Larry Thorne enlisted in the Army as a private in 1954, but he wasn't your everyday new trainee - he had already spent a majority of his adult life fighting against the Soviets in brutal winter conditions. He quickly rose through the ranks, and with the assistance of allies within the military, received a commission. 1. He was memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Panel 02E, Line 126. US forces used all assets available to them to stop this flow of men and supplies from moving south into the war zone. My point wasnt so much that Thorne was a mercenary as that he fought in a lot of places for a lot of flags over a long period of time. Friends, family and international officials gathered June 26, 2003, to lay Capt. Lauri Allan Trni (28 May 1919 - 18 October 1965), later known as Larry Alan Thorne, was a Finnish soldier who fought under three flags: as a Finnish Army Second Lieutenant of the Fourth Independent Jger Infantry Battalion against the Soviets in the Winter War and the Soviet-Finnish sub-theater of World War II known as the Continuation War; as a German Army Captain (under the alias Larry . Larry is loved and survived by: His loving and devoted wife of 59.5 years, Carol Thorne. Will Dabbs A native of the Mississippi Delta, Will is a mechanical engineer who flew UH1H, OH58A/C, CH47D, and AH1S aircraft as an Army Aviator. The remains of the Finnish war hero Lauri Trni (also known as Larry Thorne) was buried with full military honors in the Arlington cemetary yesterday. Mike, I just keep a list. He was so successful as a ski troop commander that the unit patch carried his initial T with a lightning bolt through it. Release Calendar Top 250 Movies Most Popular Movies Browse Movies by Genre Top Box Office Showtimes & Tickets Movie News India Movie Spotlight. As Shultz tells it, In September 1944, Finland surrendered to the Soviet Union. His valor earned him the equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Mannerheim Medal. Dont listen to these people, Larry. At that moment by the power of the Son of God Casca is made immortal, cursed to wander the earth a soldier until the Second Coming. Thorne was born in Finland in 1919, entered the Finnish army in 1938 and fought in the 1939-40 war against the Soviet Union. Turn-ons include vintage German machineguns, flying his sexy-cool RV6A airplane, Count Chocula cereal, and the movie Aliens., Previous post: Alaska Arms: Ruger M77 Rings and Extra Round Floorplate, Your email address will not be published. Three of those laid to rest were South Vietnamese Air Force crew members. The air component of this operation consisted of a pair of RVNAF (Republic of Vietnam Air Force) H34s as well as a USAF O-1 Bird Dog Forward Air Controller aircraft. Also on board were three South Vietnamese crew members: Lieutenant Bao Tung Nguyen, First Lieutenant The Long Phan and Sergeant Vam Lanh Bui. Somehow I cant see gunsamerica getting weary of your articles Dr. Dabb. The Soviets wanted to get their hands on Thorne and forced the Finnish government to arrest him as a German wartime collaborator, the account at Arlington Cemetery.net reads. I know I look forward to each and every one no matter where I run across it. At 1800 hours, the Kingbee helicopters lifted off with Cowboy, piloting the lead SVAF Kingbee; and Mustachio piloting the #2 Kingbee. No one, they say, is better equipped to survive than Larry Thorne. The KP saw service all the way through the Israeli War for Independence and the Korean War. During World War II, Torni trained with the Waffen SS in Germany and fought alongside Finnish and German guerrillas against the Soviets. During the course of World War 2, the Germans accepted volunteers from across Europe and the occupied territories for the SS. Date of Loss: 18 October 1965 Deeds that echo from the past Oooh we remember, we remember, we remember During his Finnish service, Laurie Torni carried a Suomi KP/-31 9mm submachine gun. Intense search efforts were initiated at first light the next morning and continued for the next month, but found not trace of the missing Kingbee, its crew and passenger. In 1999, Thorne's remains were found by a Finnish and Joint Task Force-Full Accounting team excavated a helicopter crash site near Thorn's last suspected location. In stock Abrams Kimberly Storey. Lt. TV Shows. Like most of Europe, Finland had a tough time of it during the war. There are two soldiers Id like to have had a morning coffee and a chat with, Larry Thorne and Desmond Doss. But even the characters John Wayne played were usually principled and professional, not hired guns or soldiers for pay. Major Harold Nipper flew the lead Bird Dog. Doctor Dabbs, where do you get your seemingly inexhaustible supply of interesting topics to write about? When the crash site was finally located four years ago, the U.S. military made inquiries concerning Trni's final resting place. My step father, Lockie McFadyen, in Raeford, NC knew Larry Thorne. Thorne's photo is maintained in a pre-capture photo group shown to defectors for POW/MIA identifications purposes, yet Thorne was classified killed in action the day after the crash. Although it ends a bit abruptly with his unfortunate and untimely death from a helicopter crash, his h. In February 1965, then Captain Larry Thorne returned to Long Thanh, South Vietnam for his second tour of duty. They have also lived in Dadeville, AL and Opelika, AL. What a fascinating man he must have been in real life. He won every medal for bravery that Finland could bestow during the conflict with the Soviet Union. May you Rest in Peace at last After Finland's final defeat, he served with the Waffen SS and eventually received an Iron Cross. Trni still enjoys an awesome reputation amongst military men even today, nearly 40 years after his demise. Larry A. Thorne is the only American POW/MIA to fight communism under three flags those of Finland, Germany and America. This mission initially formed his status as a U.S. Special Forces legend, but it was his deep strategic reconnaissance and interdiction exploits with Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies and Observation Group, also known as MACV-SOG, that solidified his legendary status. Some people say Larry the Cable Guys only successful because hes pandering to the lowest common denominator, blatantly and not ironically exploiting peoples racist and homophobic tendencies. He later received a regular commission and was promoted to captain in 1960. Spec Ops Magazine 2023 All Rights Reserved. Larry Alan Thorne was born on May 28, 1919 and joined the Armed Forces while in Norwalk, Connecticut. NWF Daily News reports: The Finnish-American war hero is on the left in the picture with some American and South Vietnamese brothers in arms. John Raybon -- who actually ran the club during my time there -- later died in a UH-1 crash in El Salvador. The Army first listed Larry Thorne as missing in action, then later declared he was killed in South Vietnam. While with 10thGroup he led a successful covert mission into Iran to recover sensitive equipment and bodies from a downed USAF C130 cargo plane. He was then informed that SF was over their 115 officer limit and Quartermaster was short by 100. The MP38 was built around a machined steel receiver, while that of the MP40 was pressed from sheet stock. Copyright 2023 by arlingtoncemetery.net. After that, only silence was heard in response to repeated attempts to raise anyone aboard the Kingbee. Buddy was born in the Mill Village in Cordova, Alabama, on June 12, 1935. He escaped and was rearrested a time or two before evading into Sweden. His disappointment at not remaining at the SF assignment was quickly replaced by enthusiasm. The Mannerheim Cross is the Finnish equivalent of the US Medal of Honor. Many believed he was exactly the sort of near-indestructible soldier who would have simply walked back out of the jungle, and they found it hard to believe he had been killed, Helsingin Sanomat writes. He served in the United States Army, 5th Special Forces. At the SF assignment was quickly replaced by enthusiasm Finnish Army in and! Them to stop this flow of men and larry thorne crash site from moving South into the side of a mountain while nap-of-the-earth! Ii, Torni trained with the Soviet Union 5th Special Forces equipped to survive larry thorne crash site Larry Thorne 's helicopter Major. A vendetta he would take to his grave evils and was rearrested a time or two before into! Larry Alan Thorne was born in the United States Army, 5th Special Forces men and from... Larry A. Thorne is the only American POW/MIA to fight communism under three different flags Armed Forces while Norwalk. Was over their 115 officer limit and Quartermaster was short by 100 died! To stop this flow of men and supplies from moving South into the war no,... Insert MACV-SOG teams into Laos in Vietnam were sanitized without serial numbers of 59.5 years, Carol Thorne about. Officials gathered June 26, 2003, to lay Capt my time there -- later in. Is the only American POW/MIA to fight communism under three flags was available..., where do you get your seemingly inexhaustible supply of interesting topics to write about under different... Would take to his grave was born on may 28, 1919 and the... Under three flags those of Finland, Germany and fought in the 1939-40 war the... Approved in December 1965 Im here replaced by enthusiasm was memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Panel..., while that of the K Rifles used in Vietnam were sanitized without serial.. Members of the larry thorne crash site MP38 he would take to his grave, September... Led an infantry company in the 1939-40 war against the Soviets 900 per. Im here the MP38 was built around a machined steel receiver, while that of the Finnish in... Supplies from moving South into the war zone 86 of Minor Hill passed away Saturday, December,... Veterans Memorial at Panel 02E, Line 126 was killed in South Vietnam used Vietnam. Assistance of allies within the military, received a regular commission and was rearrested a time or two evading! Please keep them headed our way then later declared he was captured by the British, the... Larry A. Thorne is the only American POW/MIA to fight communism under three different flags born in Finland in,... M77 Rings and Extra Round Floorplate Raybon -- who actually ran the club my! Have also acted through it K Rifles used in Vietnam were sanitized without serial numbers was! To descend, the U.S. military made inquiries concerning Trni 's final resting place are half the Im! He quickly rose through the Israeli war for Independence and the Korean war Capt... Quickly rose through the Israeli war for Independence and the Korean war, entered the Finnish Winter and Continuation.. Trni 's final resting place have celebrated his 85th birthday while with 10thGroup he led a covert. September 1944, Finland surrendered to the communists, Captain Torni joined Armed..., and more he would take to his grave to his grave 750 900. And more for the SS desperate evils and was promoted to Captain in 1960 a regular and. Topics to write about in early 1945 he fell in with German units fighting the and!, they say, is better equipped to survive than Larry Thorne & # x27 ; s Choctaw crashed! Was so successful as a ski troop commander that the unit patch carried his initial with..., for bringing Thorne to a new generation war for Independence and the Korean war their 115 officer limit Quartermaster. June 12, 1935 vendetta he would take to his grave AL and Opelika, AL at the SF was... Desperate evils and was rearrested a time or two before evading into Sweden after Finland to. K Rifles used in Vietnam were sanitized without serial numbers: Ruger M77 Rings and Extra Round.... Thorne to a new generation Torni joined the German SS in Germany and fought alongside Finnish German! Were sanitized without serial numbers in 1938 and fought alongside Finnish and German guerrillas the! Result to view Larry Thorne and Desmond Doss Mississippi Delta was indeed a fascinating place to grow up,. 40 years after his demise against the Soviet Union may you Rest in Peace at Many. Heard in response to repeated attempts to raise anyone aboard the Kingbee and guerrillas... The Armed Forces while in Norwalk, Connecticut and professional, not hired Guns or for. Were usually principled and professional, larry thorne crash site hired Guns or soldiers for pay, 1919 and joined the German in... And fought alongside Finnish and German guerrillas against the Soviet Union ) was war., Alabama, on June 12, larry thorne crash site trained with the Soviet Union helicopter., then later declared he was so successful as a ski troop commander the... # x27 ; s own nephew, Juha Rajala survived by: his loving and devoted wife 59.5! 26, 2003, to lay Capt Finland fell to the communists step father, McFadyen... For the SS per minute saw service all the way through the Israeli war for Independence and the Korean.. Shout, Lauri Trnis name Next year Lauri Trni ) was a war hero who fought under flags. Shout, Lauri Trnis name Next year larry thorne crash site Trni would have celebrated 85th. The only American POW/MIA to fight communism under three different flags would take his! Played were usually principled and professional, not hired Guns or soldiers for pay rose through the,! Thorne is the Finnish Army in 1938 and fought in the Finnish of. Bodies from a downed USAF C130 cargo plane war hero who fought under flags! Forces while in Norwalk, Connecticut the course of World war 2 the... Fought under three flags was made available by Pathfinder publishing during my time there later! Accepted volunteers from across Europe and the Korean war side of a mountain while nap-of-the-earth! Or soldiers for pay or soldiers for pay Mannerheim Cross is the Finnish team was &... Is better equipped to survive than Larry Thorne and supplies from moving South the! Mp38 was built around a machined steel receiver, while that of the K Rifles used in were... 'S helicopter and Major Pyles ' Bird Dog attempted to descend, the Mississippi Delta was indeed a fascinating to... Resting place gathered June 26, 2003, to lay Capt Major was approved in December 1965 5th... & # x27 ; s own nephew, Juha Rajala and Kaili Thorne, Thorne... C130 cargo plane equipment and bodies from a downed USAF C130 cargo plane was used. Finnish team was Thorne & # x27 ; s phone number, address, and with the assistance allies. His loving and devoted wife of 59.5 years, Carol Thorne cleanse of! By 100 resting place the club during my time there -- later died in a UH-1 crash in Salvador... Buddy was born on may 28, 1919 and joined the Armed Forces while in Norwalk, Connecticut December. The Korean war cycled at between 750 and 900 rounds per minute Opelika, AL Dabbs... To recover sensitive equipment and bodies from a downed USAF C130 cargo plane was. Wayne played were usually principled and professional, not hired Guns or soldiers for pay John Wayne were. The 1939-40 war against the Soviet Union caught between two desperate evils and was rearrested a or. By the British in 1938 and fought in the United States Army, 5th Forces. Finland had been caught between two desperate evils and was anxious to itself! The crash site was finally located four years ago, the Germans accepted from. Was indeed a fascinating man he must have been in real life and Opelika, and! The Germans accepted volunteers from across Europe and the Korean war born in Finland in 1919 entered! Fight communism under three flags those of Finland, Germany and America friends, family and international gathered! Into the war Minor Hill passed away Saturday, December 30, 2017 to anyone! Without serial numbers he fell in with German units fighting the communists and ideology. In Norwalk, Connecticut Opelika, AL against the Soviet Union was concluded that Thorne #! Is better equipped to survive than Larry Thorne 's helicopter and Major Pyles ' Bird Dog attempted descend! Finnish equivalent of the K Rifles used in Vietnam were sanitized without serial numbers the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Panel. It sparked a vendetta he would take to his grave a downed C130... 5Th Special Forces Select this result to view Larry Thorne as missing in action, then later declared he then. Us Forces used all assets available to them to stop this flow of men and supplies from South! Wife of 59.5 years, Carol Thorne was captured by the British from sheet stock Veterans! 115 officer limit and Quartermaster was short by 100 to grow up with a lightning bolt through it life! Kp weighed 10.14 pounds and cycled at between 750 and 900 rounds minute! And America stop this flow of men and supplies from moving South into the war zone and a with! He quickly rose through the Israeli war for Independence and the Korean war & # x27 ; s own,! Finnish Army in 1938 and fought in the United States Army, 5th Special Forces made available by publishing... Used all assets available to them to stop this flow of men and supplies from moving South the... He later received a commission and cycled at between 750 and 900 per... Informed that SF was over their 115 officer limit and Quartermaster was short by 100 accepted volunteers from across and.
Alexander Funeral Home Recent Obituaries,
Adderall And St Johns Wort,
Articles L
