jhungary
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This is my war story section, in this section I will post war stories I have heard or I personally experience during my service. I will try to post one story per week, You guys can post any of your war stories or tales that of your own experience, so you guys for now, enjoy
Story 1. Soldier of 3 Armies
When people talk about Finland and WW2 together, what people mostly remember is the Winter War (1940-1941) or Continuation War (1941-1944) when Finns fought a valiant war with the Soviet Union. Perhaps the most famous soldier in Finland during that time is Simo Häyhä, the white ghost (or White death) is well know in Finland and Aboard, including Pakistan.
What I am going to tell you today is not Simo, still a person extremely well known in Finland, called a War Hero by the Finnish President Mauno Koivisto who served alongside this Finnish Hero - Lauri Törni (Aka Larry Alan Thorne in the US)
A man have 3 allegiance, a man whose almost all of his adult life is fighting in a war. And a soldier career that spend 3 Armies (Finnish Army, Waffen SS, and later, the United States Army) and into 6 different countries, Finland - where he was born, Soviet Union - where he fought the Soviet as a Finish Soldier, Germany - Where he serve in the Waffen SS and continue the fight to Russian, Sweden - Where he met his fiance, United States - Where he served under US Army, Iran - Where he achieve notable fame and finally Vietnam - Where he died.
A man that have 3 allegiance, Törni (Known as Throne in the US) was born in Viipuri, Viipuri Province, Finland. Born to a Ship Captain and a Housewife, the young Throne is very athletic and he sign up for service in 1938, after finishing school
Lieutenant Lauri Thoni (Middle), Finnish Army
Winter War 1939-1940
When Soviet Union invaded Finland in 1939, the winter war broke out and the Finns was backed in the corner by the Soviet and at Rautu, an district where Throne is from, his unit was defeated and the war ends with Soviet Union occupied large amount of finnish land in the east.
Inter-war period 1940-1941
Beaten but not defeated, Finnish force was neutral on the onset of WW2, but was secretly align to Nazi Germany to counter the threat from Soviet Union. Recognized by his superior, Throne was reassign to Officer Training toward the end of the war and commissioned a Second Lieutenant.
Sometime after the winter war, Throne, as with many officer in Finnish Army, went to Germany for training with Waffen SS, that also started his first association with the Waffen SS group, gaining the rank Untersturmführer
Continuation War (1941-1944)
When the war officially start on 25 June 1941 when the Soviet Air Force lunch an offensive in response to the German war declaration on Soviet Union, Finland enter a state of Hostilities with Soviet Union. Although independent against German war, most believe the German were also involved in the Continuation War, which dubbed the Great Patriotic War in Soviet Union.
Throne, this time as a second lieutenant, lead its own troop and engage the Russian on 2 front, on his homeland Viipuri (Now as Vyborg) and Karelia. As the war progress, he earn most of his fame by leading troop and engage the soviet behind enemy lines. Hence he has been credited to be the first fins who establish special warfare in Finland.
He have been promoted to Captain and head his own detachment (Detachment Torni) and he was later teamed up future Finnish President Mauro Koivisto and his unit was so fierce, the soviet did place a bounty on his head of 3 million Finnish Marc.
Waffen SS Untersturmführer Larui Thoni
World War 2
Upon cessation of hostility between Soviet Union and Finland, still can't get over the fact that his birthplace is now Soviet Union territories and the recent demobilisation making him out of job, he took the chance and join the fight against Soviet Union, on a controversial move, he volunteer for waffen SS service
The motive of joining the waffen SS was originally to prepare the eventual Soviet Invasion on Finland that had never materialized, but by the time the training is over, the intend was there an since he cannot secure any transport up north by the dying hour of Germany, he joined the fight with SS against soviet near schwerin, Germany. Eventually captured by British Force.
Post WW2
Escape from the POW camp in Germany, he has headed by to Finland a fugitive for his service with Waffen SS, he was sentenced for 6 years, escape twice, and finally pardoned by then Finnish President for his service during Winter/Continuation War.
In 1949, Throne travel to Sweden and eventually made it to Stockholm and establish a career as a sailor/deck-hand. In his stay in Sweden, he met and felt in love with a Swedish-Finn and were engaged. Hooping to make a name and a career out of him before marriage, he boarded a ship and sail to Venezula, there, he was hired on a ship bound for the United States. When the ship was in the Gulf of Mexico, he jumped overboard and apply asylum as a political refugee in the United States.
Live in the United States
While ashore near mobile, Alabama, he catch a ride to New York City and live in the Little Finland (Or Finntown) neighbourhood in NYC, worked as a carpenter and cleaner in the NYC until he was granted a residence permit.
He signed up for US Army Service in 1954, using a more anglo-saxon name "Larry Throne" Getting back to his old trade, it took not really long for Throne to find his calling into the newly established US Army Special Force, also known as the Green Beret. Now with the best army in the world, his skill he obtained during Winter War and Continuation War is now put to use, serving as an Instructor as with the SF School, he taught Skiing, Survival and Mountaineering (All three skills won him battle during the Winter/Continuation War) He also attend Airborne School and OCS and commissioned as a 1LT in 1957, possibly recgonize his rank in Finnish Army. He lead a Search and Rescue Mission in Iran in the 1960s
First Lieutenant Larry A Throne (US Army)
Vietnam War
Throne was deployed to Republic of Vietnam during 1963 as part of SFG A-Team (Green Beret) supporting South Vietnam Government Troop. His first tour was serve near Tinh Bien Province and was complete with 2 Purple Heart and a Bronze stars. He Serve his Second Tour as an Officer in MACV-SOG (Studies and Observartion Group), on a clandestine mission near Dang Na, his CH-35 Helicopter crashed in the mountainous Phước Sơn District. He was killed in action, aged 45
His grave is now at Arlington National Cemetry, Section 60, tomb 8136.
His Armed Service Timeline as follow :
The Finnish Army
2 class medal of freedom, 26 July 1940 (Finnish)
1 class medal of freedom, 24 August 1940 (Finnish)
3rd class Cross of Liberty, 9 October 1941 (Finnish)
4th class Cross of Liberty, 23 May 1942 (Finnish)
2 class Iron Cross, 11 December 1943 (Germany)
Mannerheim Cross, 9 July 1944 (Finnish)
1st Div. memorial cross (Finnish)
Defence Forces bronze medal (Finnish)
Legion of Merit (USA)
Distinguished Flying Cross (USA)
Bronze Star (USA)
Purple Heart (twice) (USA)
Air Medal (USA)
Army Commendation Medal (USA)
Good Conduct Medal (USA)
Vietnam Campaign Medal (USA)
Vietnam Service Medal (USA)
National Defense Service Medal (USA)
Story 1. Soldier of 3 Armies
When people talk about Finland and WW2 together, what people mostly remember is the Winter War (1940-1941) or Continuation War (1941-1944) when Finns fought a valiant war with the Soviet Union. Perhaps the most famous soldier in Finland during that time is Simo Häyhä, the white ghost (or White death) is well know in Finland and Aboard, including Pakistan.
What I am going to tell you today is not Simo, still a person extremely well known in Finland, called a War Hero by the Finnish President Mauno Koivisto who served alongside this Finnish Hero - Lauri Törni (Aka Larry Alan Thorne in the US)
A man have 3 allegiance, a man whose almost all of his adult life is fighting in a war. And a soldier career that spend 3 Armies (Finnish Army, Waffen SS, and later, the United States Army) and into 6 different countries, Finland - where he was born, Soviet Union - where he fought the Soviet as a Finish Soldier, Germany - Where he serve in the Waffen SS and continue the fight to Russian, Sweden - Where he met his fiance, United States - Where he served under US Army, Iran - Where he achieve notable fame and finally Vietnam - Where he died.
A man that have 3 allegiance, Törni (Known as Throne in the US) was born in Viipuri, Viipuri Province, Finland. Born to a Ship Captain and a Housewife, the young Throne is very athletic and he sign up for service in 1938, after finishing school
Lieutenant Lauri Thoni (Middle), Finnish Army
Winter War 1939-1940
When Soviet Union invaded Finland in 1939, the winter war broke out and the Finns was backed in the corner by the Soviet and at Rautu, an district where Throne is from, his unit was defeated and the war ends with Soviet Union occupied large amount of finnish land in the east.
Inter-war period 1940-1941
Beaten but not defeated, Finnish force was neutral on the onset of WW2, but was secretly align to Nazi Germany to counter the threat from Soviet Union. Recognized by his superior, Throne was reassign to Officer Training toward the end of the war and commissioned a Second Lieutenant.
Sometime after the winter war, Throne, as with many officer in Finnish Army, went to Germany for training with Waffen SS, that also started his first association with the Waffen SS group, gaining the rank Untersturmführer
Continuation War (1941-1944)
When the war officially start on 25 June 1941 when the Soviet Air Force lunch an offensive in response to the German war declaration on Soviet Union, Finland enter a state of Hostilities with Soviet Union. Although independent against German war, most believe the German were also involved in the Continuation War, which dubbed the Great Patriotic War in Soviet Union.
Throne, this time as a second lieutenant, lead its own troop and engage the Russian on 2 front, on his homeland Viipuri (Now as Vyborg) and Karelia. As the war progress, he earn most of his fame by leading troop and engage the soviet behind enemy lines. Hence he has been credited to be the first fins who establish special warfare in Finland.
He have been promoted to Captain and head his own detachment (Detachment Torni) and he was later teamed up future Finnish President Mauro Koivisto and his unit was so fierce, the soviet did place a bounty on his head of 3 million Finnish Marc.
Waffen SS Untersturmführer Larui Thoni
World War 2
Upon cessation of hostility between Soviet Union and Finland, still can't get over the fact that his birthplace is now Soviet Union territories and the recent demobilisation making him out of job, he took the chance and join the fight against Soviet Union, on a controversial move, he volunteer for waffen SS service
The motive of joining the waffen SS was originally to prepare the eventual Soviet Invasion on Finland that had never materialized, but by the time the training is over, the intend was there an since he cannot secure any transport up north by the dying hour of Germany, he joined the fight with SS against soviet near schwerin, Germany. Eventually captured by British Force.
Post WW2
Escape from the POW camp in Germany, he has headed by to Finland a fugitive for his service with Waffen SS, he was sentenced for 6 years, escape twice, and finally pardoned by then Finnish President for his service during Winter/Continuation War.
In 1949, Throne travel to Sweden and eventually made it to Stockholm and establish a career as a sailor/deck-hand. In his stay in Sweden, he met and felt in love with a Swedish-Finn and were engaged. Hooping to make a name and a career out of him before marriage, he boarded a ship and sail to Venezula, there, he was hired on a ship bound for the United States. When the ship was in the Gulf of Mexico, he jumped overboard and apply asylum as a political refugee in the United States.
Live in the United States
While ashore near mobile, Alabama, he catch a ride to New York City and live in the Little Finland (Or Finntown) neighbourhood in NYC, worked as a carpenter and cleaner in the NYC until he was granted a residence permit.
He signed up for US Army Service in 1954, using a more anglo-saxon name "Larry Throne" Getting back to his old trade, it took not really long for Throne to find his calling into the newly established US Army Special Force, also known as the Green Beret. Now with the best army in the world, his skill he obtained during Winter War and Continuation War is now put to use, serving as an Instructor as with the SF School, he taught Skiing, Survival and Mountaineering (All three skills won him battle during the Winter/Continuation War) He also attend Airborne School and OCS and commissioned as a 1LT in 1957, possibly recgonize his rank in Finnish Army. He lead a Search and Rescue Mission in Iran in the 1960s
First Lieutenant Larry A Throne (US Army)
Vietnam War
Throne was deployed to Republic of Vietnam during 1963 as part of SFG A-Team (Green Beret) supporting South Vietnam Government Troop. His first tour was serve near Tinh Bien Province and was complete with 2 Purple Heart and a Bronze stars. He Serve his Second Tour as an Officer in MACV-SOG (Studies and Observartion Group), on a clandestine mission near Dang Na, his CH-35 Helicopter crashed in the mountainous Phước Sơn District. He was killed in action, aged 45
His grave is now at Arlington National Cemetry, Section 60, tomb 8136.
His Armed Service Timeline as follow :
The Finnish Army
- 3 September 1938, military (reserve)
- 1 March 1939, reserve corporal
- 9 May 1940, reserve second lieutenant
- 5 March 1942, reserve lieutenant
- 27 August 1944, reserve captain
- 6 October 1950, removed from officers list
- 18 May 1941, Untersturmführer (Nordost)
- 15 April 1945, Hauptsturmführer (Sonderkommando Nord)
- 28 January 1954, enlisted
- 20 December 1954, Private First Class
- 28 April 1955, Corporal
- 17 November 1955, Sergeant
- 9 January 1957, Lieutenant (res.)
- 30 November 1960, Captain (res.)
- 16 December 1965, Major (res., posthumously)
2 class medal of freedom, 26 July 1940 (Finnish)
1 class medal of freedom, 24 August 1940 (Finnish)
3rd class Cross of Liberty, 9 October 1941 (Finnish)
4th class Cross of Liberty, 23 May 1942 (Finnish)
2 class Iron Cross, 11 December 1943 (Germany)
Mannerheim Cross, 9 July 1944 (Finnish)
1st Div. memorial cross (Finnish)
Defence Forces bronze medal (Finnish)
Legion of Merit (USA)
Distinguished Flying Cross (USA)
Bronze Star (USA)
Purple Heart (twice) (USA)
Air Medal (USA)
Army Commendation Medal (USA)
Good Conduct Medal (USA)
Vietnam Campaign Medal (USA)
Vietnam Service Medal (USA)
National Defense Service Medal (USA)
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