Yep. These teams earned a global reputation as one of the most combat effective deep-penetration forces ever raised. As the weather worsened, Larry Thorne continued to orbit D-1 near the landing zone in case RT Iowa ran into trouble. His US memorial is the Larry Thorne Headquarters Building, 10th SFG(A), Fort Carson, Colorado . Copyright 2023 by arlingtoncemetery.net. Lawrence Thorn, 77 Resides in Dallas, TX Also known as Larry B Thorn Includes Address (1) See Results Lawrence T Thorn, 64 Resides in Cincinnati, OH Lived In Cambridge OH, Belmont MA, Boston MA, Denver CO Related To Nancy Thorn, James Thorn, Heidi Thorn, Jacob Thorn, Eva Thorn Also known as L T Thorn, Lawrence T Includes Address (9) Phone (5) Thorne enlisted in 1954 as a private, although he'd spent six years fighting World War II as an officer in two different military commands. While with 10thGroup he led a successful covert mission into Iran to recover sensitive equipment and bodies from a downed USAF C130 cargo plane. Although it ends a bit abruptly with his unfortunate and untimely death from a helicopter crash, his h. He escaped, made his way to the United States, and with the help of Wild Bill Donovan became a citizen. Army Special Forces and CIA operators used the weapon as well. In twelve years of service, he attained the rank of Major. Lauri Trni enlisted at age 19 in Finlands Army and fought against the Soviet Union. Larry Thorne, missing in action for decades, to rest at Arlington National Cemetery. "He was a complex yet driven man who valorously fought oppression under three flags and didn't acknowledge the meaning of quit," said Swindell. For his bravery in defense of Finland Captain Lauri Allan Trni, *1919 1965 (also known as Larry Alan Thorne) earned every Finnish medal of valor including the Mannerheim Cross. Larry Thorne, age 86 of Minor Hill passed away Saturday, December 30, 2017. Death. . He was a natural for the highly classified Military Assistance Command, Vietnam-Studies and Observations Group. At the end of the Winter War, Torni joined the German SS to fight the Russians. He supported himself working as a carpenter and cleaner. Prior to sentencing, the court heard from two previous victims of Thorne's predatory behavior. The Seahorse was frequently used to insert MACV-SOG teams into Laos. When the crash site was finally located four years ago, the U.S. military made inquiries concerning Trni's final resting place. "Being assigned to JTFFA was an opportunity to serve my country and bring our guys home," said Hollingsworth, who spent 23 years on active duty. After World War II, Lauri Torni made his way to the United States where he enlisted in the U.S. Army under the Lodge Bill. Thank you Dr. Dobbs for bringing Major Larry Thorne into th public eye once again. Needless to say it has been a long struggle for the past few years. Hi DR. Dabbs, as usual a great article! The number of MACV-SOG missions conducted with Special Forces reconnaissance teams into Laos and Cambodia was 452 in 1969. Larry was retired from the United. I read Mr Saddlers casca but I think you would do it better. The wartime head of the OSS knew of Thorne's commando exploits. American military men in Vietnam and Laos were called upon to fly and fight in many dangerous circumstances, and they were prepared to be wounded, killed or captured. Changed his name to Larry Thorne, From the Finnish lakes, Political alliances in the 1940s were complicated, and when arrayed against the Russian bear the Finns found themselves fighting alongside the Germans. Larry Alan Thorne was born on May 28, 1919 and joined the Armed Forces while in Norwalk, Connecticut. Larry Thorne (born Lauri Trni) was a war hero who fought under three different flags. Lauri Allan Trni (28 May 1919 - 18 October 1965), later known as Larry Thorne, was a Finnish Army captain. Doctor Dabbs, I also love your articles wherever I find them. To say the life and exploits of Larry Thorne are unbelievable is to put it mildly. 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. Finland. After Finland's final defeat, he served with the Waffen SS and eventually received an Iron Cross. Bella Thorne. Required fields are marked *. The Mississippi Delta was indeed a fascinating place to grow up. A number of Finnish dignitaries including Juha (representing the Thorne family) will be in attendance at both services. Capturing the "times" as well as the "life" of its protagonist, it is a journey with a truly amazing and colorful man. Your choices may vary.. Grow weary? He left his home-country to fight for one that was not his native home, but for the men to the left and right of him.". As usual outstanding story Dr. Will. Larry Thorne Jr. is known for One Summer (2021), Greenleaf (2016) and Christmas in Harmony (2021). Commander U.S. Navy 1964-1970 10-103 Lakeview Dr. Rancho Mirage, Ca 92270 760-328-0859 dr.dave.psam@gmail.com read more POSTED ON 7.29.2022 POSTED BY: Lucy Micik Thank You Dear Maj Larry Thorne, Thank you for your service as a Special Forces Qualified Infantry Unit Commander. Lauri Trni aka Larry Thorne as a Special Forces officer played the role of Charlie . Thorne had other plans. What a fascinating man he must have been in real life. Barry Sadler was a Vietnam-era US Special Forces veteran best known for his hit song, The Ballad of the Green Berets. This book series was titled, Casca, The Eternal Mercenary.. In Finland, hopes were raised for the national hero's possible burial in his home country. Select this result to view Larry Thorne's phone number, address, and more. 458 Dorothy Avenue Arlington's most famous grave, accompanied by an eternal flame, is that of President John F. Kennedy. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); If Mr dabbs starts writing casca novels Ill definitely buy every episode. He responded once the group said it had made it in, heading back to the base. He was so successful as a ski troop commander that the unit patch carried his initial T with a lightning bolt through it. He escaped, made his way to the United States, and with the help of Wild Bill, Donovan became a citizen. In 1943 he took command of his eponymous Detachment Torni, a deep penetration special operations unit that took the fight to the Russians deep in their rear areas, cut off and alone. If Larry Thorne died in the loss of the Kingbee, he has a right to have his remains returned to his family, friends and country. Slats and his RT were able to infiltrate the AO via another KINGBEE, but, almost immediately following insertion the weather turned to shit. A captivating story about controversial war hero Larry A. Thorne who during World War II fought against the Russians, under the Finnish flag and later under the German flag. There is comfort in that knowledge that no matter where you go to perform your duties, that commitment is still there. Started out as a reserve, This aircraft was already quite old when they arrived in the battle zone. His valor earned him the equivalent of the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Mannerheim Medal. Larry K Thorne, 74. Excavation at the crash site in Vietnam was launched four years ago. Actress: The DUFF. Mike, I just keep a list. With a bounty on his head, the Red Army wants him dead 19 Oct 1965 (aged 46) Nng, Nng Municipality, Vietnam. Three missions had attempted to get to the crash site and failed, but Captain Larry Thorne grabbed his shit, parachuted in with a 12-man team, made his way up 14,000 feet of elevation deep in enemy territory, and somehow recovered the data and snuck out of there undetected. The subsequent M76 saw very limited use in the latter stages of the war. Thank you for your service and what you do! Other Personnel In Incident: (none missing). "The message to our troops is: we will bring you home. In 1944, during the Finns called The Continuation War, he received Finlands highest military decoration, their version of the Medal of Honor the Mannerheim Cross for his bravery while leading a light infantry battalion. Trni was severely wounded after he skied into a mine during 1942, but that didnt slow him down. When Sweden forbade further exports to the US in protest to the war in Vietnam the government tasked Smith and Wesson with contriving a replacement. Comanche out!!!%. He had simply disappeared. He escaped and was rearrested a time or two before evading into Sweden. He won every medal for bravery that Finland could bestow during the conflict with the Soviet Union. Larry is related to Kenneth Thorne and Kenneth E Thorne as . Not that being put into a prison camp would stop him either. The book about Larry Thorne has 208 pages and 37 photographs, and is available for 14.95. 31 people named Larry Thorne found in Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, Fresno and 6 other cities. Though three earlier attempts to secure the materials had failed, Thornes team was successful, and he was awarded that mission. Larry is loved and survived by: His loving and devoted wife of 59.5 years, Carol Thorne. ISBN : 0-934793-65-4 He later received a regular commission and was promoted to captain in 1960. It was a mission in which others had failed, but Thornes unrelenting spirit led to its accomplishment. Larry Thorne is the current owner and farmer, along with his wife, Laurel, and their children. The book Born a Soldier: The Times and Life of Larry A Thorne by J. Michael Cleverley inspired the song's lyrics. During World War II, Torni trained with the Waffen SS in Germany and fought alongside Finnish and German guerrillas against the Soviets. Shout, Lauri Trnis name Knowledge 5. He is the only veteran of the Waffen SS interred in this hallowed space. Tainted and painted with the same brush that condemned the SS, even though many were front line soldiers and not the infamous SS Totenkopfverbnde Prison Guards responsible for the atrocities in the labor and death camps. Trni had a dental crown on his tooth number 18. I thought that I was the only Casca fan! Advise. to the site, they recovered the remains of the Vietnamese crew, but found no sign of Larry Thorne. In addition to the FACs, the U.S. Air Force provided a flight of B-57s to conduct a Combat Air Patrol (CAP) for this mission should the ground team run into trouble and greater firepower was needed. Abbott Nathan Scott. Just two years later, after the Lodge-Philbin Act, the Army would stand up its new Special Forces unit at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. Casca has been in at least 2 films, the series RAGE. Thorne was selected for the Special Forces and ultimately led an important mountain rescue mission to a crashed USAF plane in the middle east. Larry Alan Thorne was born Lauri Allan Torni on May 28, 1919. 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. FINALLY after 37+ years CLOSURE. Thorne is a national hero in his birth country of Finland and a military hero in the country for which he swore al Congress Confirms the Armys first Lead Special Trial Counsel, New E-EFMP system supports Army families with special needs members, Army Officials Brief The Media On The Next Generation Squad Weapon, Local Vietnam veterans showcase personal objects from their service, Army announces activation of second Security Force Assistance Brigade at Fort Bragg, U.S. Army STAND-TO! Lauri Allan Trni, fdd 28 maj 1919 i Viborg, Finland, dd 18 oktober 1965 i Vietnam, var en finsk ljtnant (senare kapten) under vinterkriget och fortsttningskriget.Under Lapplandskriget var han ovillig att delta i krigshandlingar mot det tidigare allierade Nazityskland; han lyckades hoppa ver till fiendens tjnst, vilket senare resulterade i en dom fr landsfrrderi. 2. Still, he refused and instead requested command of a special-operations base, and thats what he lived and died for. Been a hectic week, so Im a few days late reading this one. Hollingsworth called Thorne a true patriot and said it was one of his deepest honors to serve on Joint Task Force Full Accounting - congressionally mandated to achieve the fullest possible accounting of U.S. troops who didn't from the war in Southwest Asia. Lauri Allan Trni! According to the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat, the so-called Winter War lasted from 1939 to 1940. Lauri Torni hated the threat of communism so much that he was willing to join any army to fight it. But is is very . 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. The plane was carrying classified equipment and three earlier attempts to reach it had failed. 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. Lauri Torni (later known as Larry Thorne) was a pure bred badass that fought for 3 different armies and became a captain in each of those, earning a truckload of medals in the process. However, if he survived, he most certainly could have been captured by NVA forces openly operating throughout the region and his fate, like that of other Americans who remain unaccounted for in Southeast Asia, could be quite different. [emailprotected]writes: Gentlemen: Great News. Larry Thorne's remains were found in 1999 and formally identified in 2003. Helpfulness 5. * The original article was originally published at the We Are The Mighty. Larry Thorne is the judge of the 317th District Court in Texas. Once within sight of the American coast, he dove overboard and swam into Mobile, Alabama. Historical Guns, Trni entered military service 1938 and was promoted to Corporal before the Winter war began. Updated by the P.O.W. Trni was a dedicated and brave soldier, and he quickly rose to the rank of captain and took command of a group of ski troops. 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. He had simply disappeared. It was rather sad that many of the Foreign Waffen SS conscripts and recruits faced similar dilemmas to Maj. Thorn after WW 2. In 1999 a US/VN JTF/FA conducted an excavation of a CH-34 KINGBEE crash site and recovered several fragments of bones, miscellaneous equipment and a Swedish K SMG. A captivating story about controversial war hero Larry A. Thorne who during World War II fought against the Russians, under the Finnish flag and later under the German flag. Of the many distinguished officers the 20 th century produced, Larry Thorne was one of the most romantic and enigmatic. Thorne wanted to be the best, had the talent and sisu to be the best, and in fact was the best. The author, H.A. History, All content is protected by copyright and may not be used for commercial purposes without prior written permission. Larry is related to Gary Theodore Thorne . Name: Larry Alan Thorne Captain Thorne ordered the now empty Kingbees to return to Kham Duc. The Larry Thorne Headquarter Building for the 10th Special Forces Group at Fort Carson, Colorado, is named in his honor; several books and movie characters proclaim his feats. Torni was commissioned a Vanrikki, or 2LT, in the Finnish Army. Larry Alan Thorne is listed as Missing in Action. Commentdocument.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a9eba1495e90241be32358ee99670b5b" );document.getElementById("c08a1a06c7").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Content on this website is free to use and share, but please provide a link back to Spec Ops Magazine as a source. If anything, his American commanding officers, peacetime and wartime, considered him one of the most professional soldiers they had ever met. Menu. [1] He was re-elected on November 4, 2014, for a term that begins on January 1, 2015, and expired on December 31, 2018. Early on 19 October 1966, the U.S. Army declared that Captain Larry A. Thorne was no longer being listed as Missing in Action, but had been declared Presumed Killed in Action in South Vietnam, not Laos. He then received comprehensive instruction in his specialty area. As the Kingbees and Huey gunships flew low over the countryside, all they could see were rolling hills, wild rivers and waterfalls. Lauri completed his studies, excelling mainly in sports: skiing and boxing, among others. "I'm fortunate the Army sent me, or I have traveled as a tourist, to over 56 countries.". (Bees) of the mission recovered at the crash site. He was born July 3, 1931 to the late Thomas Aubrey and Maggie Elizabeth Lawrence Thorne. It was concluded that Thorne's Choctaw had crashed into the side of a mountain while flying nap-of-the-earth. For each sold 100 years anniversary knife we will forward 50 to support Larry Thorne heritage guild. Limited 100 pcs Larry Thorne 100 years anniversary knife has individual engraved numbering, 1/100 - 100/100. We must never forget men like Thorne. works for an aerospace corporation. Many of the K Rifles used in Vietnam were sanitized without serial numbers. The newly christened Larry Thorne was befriended by Finnish-American officers who recognized his abilities and directed him to the Special Forces. However, both the US and South Vietnamese military found them to be extremely effective throughout the war. He departed his life June 23, 2020, at home in Welcome, Maryland. And the legend has begun Leonard E. " Larry " Thorne 08/17/1938 - 04/08/2014 Age 75 Of St. Paul, MN Passed away on April 8, 2014. He took his last breath while holding her . Buddy was born in the Mill Village in Cordova, Alabama, on June 12, 1935. TV Shows. 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. He received additional training in Nazi Germany and then looked forward to returning to the battlefield. His father a ship captain, Trni had two younger sisters. Wounded on several occasions and earning two Purple Hearts, his last mission took place in 1965 when his helicopter went down behind enemy lines across the Laotian border. The wartime head of the OSS knew of Thornes commando exploits.. Thank you again Doctor, for bringing Thorne to a new generation. Finland had been caught between two desperate evils and was anxious to cleanse itself of the Nazi taint. ", Nation committed to bringing home missing heroes. He then joined the American Army. In a second tour of Vietnam, attached to Headquarters Company, MACV, Special Detachment 5891, the Vietnamese Air Force CH34 helicopter on which Thorne was a passenger crashed about 25 miles southwest of Da Nang. During two tours in Vietnam with the MACV-SOG, Thorne ran deep cover into Cambodia and Laos to track down the North Vietnamese supply network that became known as the Ho Chi Minh Trail. He fought under three flags: Finland (The Finnish Army during the Winter War and Continuation War) Germany (one of the Finnish SS-volunteers) USA (joined the US Army, known as Larry Thorne) Cheers, Best pediatrician in town-no doubt the most knowledgeable. I have difficulty with casting Larry Thorne like Casca the eternal mercenary. I have heard others call Thorne a mercenary, but I think the term characterizes him wrongly. Lauri Allan Trni (28 May 1919 - 18 October 1965), later known as Larry Alan Thorne, was a Finnish-born soldier who fought under three flags: as a Finnish Army officer in the Winter War and the Continuation War ultimately gaining a rank of captain; as a Waffen-SS captain (under the alias Larry Lane) of the Finnish Volunteer Battalion of the Waffen-SS when he fought the Red Army on the . In addition to recruiting rugged individuals possessing these attributes from regular army formations, the Special Forces attracted a proven lot of hardy, versatile volunteers from Finland and other European countries through the Lodge Act, Public Law 957 of the 81st Congress, sponsored by Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. You are unique in this day and age. My step father, Lockie McFadyen, in Raeford, NC knew Larry Thorne. Suomi KP/-31 is short for Suomi-konepistooli or Finland Submachine Gun. One of the most successful SMG designs of WW2, the Suomi KP was a rugged machined steel open-bolt weapon that fed from either 36-round stick magazines or 71-round drums. The unit adopted a distinctive unit insignia that featured a prominent T in reference to their dashing young commander. As the legendary leader of one of the most elite companies in the Finnish army, one of the best armies of World War II, Thorne carried a price on his head, dead or alive, from the Red Army, reputedly the only Finnish soldier so singled out. The MP40 was an evolutionary development of the previous MP38. Thorne hated the Communists and their ideology so much, it sparked a vendetta he would take to his grave. Citadel. One of the earliest helicopters employed in Southeast Asia, and the primary Marine Corps helicopter used during the early years of the war, was the Sikorsky UH34D Seahorse. "Anytime you can bring a service member home and give families closure, there's nothing better," said Hollingsworth, who recalled the look on families faces when they get the news. In 1957 he was granted US citizenship and commissioned a 2d Lieutenant in the Signal Corps. As a result, despite his holding the Mannerheim Cross Torni was arrested and sentenced to six years in prison. He is the only veteran of the Waffen SS interred in this hallowed space. It is likely that the representation from the U.S. Army will be at the level of a General. His remains were never found. The third soldier, a machine-gunner, was recognised from his identification tag. In the United Sates, Larry Thorne is forgotten by all but a few. In a message dated 6/6/03 4:02:23 PM Central Daylight Time, The second H34 dropped through a hole in the clouds to insert a six-man surveillance team. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia. There are roughly 400,000 veterans and eligible dependents buried at Arlington National Cemetery. Thorne's parents purchased the Malibu property in 1938 - nearly 80 years ago - and his father farmed the land until the early 1960s. by J. Michael Cleverley. He was not a paid warrior, but fought because he believed in what he was doing serving the army was his career. Purple Heart, one Distinguished Flying Cross. Each book explores Cascas experience fighting during some different historical era. When rescue workers went to the site, they recovered the remains of the Vietnamese crew, but found no sign of Larry Thorne. The teams performed deep penetration missions of strategic reconnaissance and interdiction that were called, depending on the location and time frame, Shining Brass Daniel Boone, Salem House or Prairie Fire missions. He served in the United States Army, 5th Special Forces. Doctor Dabbs, where do you get your seemingly inexhaustible supply of interesting topics to write about? Growing up, I remember my step dad telling me all about Larry Thorne and the war games they played in. They became friends. Lauri Allan Trni (28 May 1919 - 18 October 1965), also known as Larry Thorne, was a Finnish Army Captain who led an infantry Company against the Soviet Union in the Finnish Winter and. They became known as some special forces who skied into battle against enemy forces. At the same time, these individuals had to be independent thinkers, able to grasp opportunities and innovate with the materials at hand. Eventually, he attended airborne school and earned his silver wings as a Green Beret. In twelve years of service, he attained the rank of Major.