LARRY ALAN THORNE MAJ USA
© 1996
I'm a student in the University of Helsinki, Finland, and I have served a eleven month period in the Finnish Army during 1992-1993. As an officer (in reserve) I'm interested in our country's army history.
A brave man called Lauri Torni participated on our Winter War and the Continuous War 1939-1945. After that he and his comrades in arms had to emigrate Finland. Otherwise them would have been arrested by our officials because they had resisted the governments peace treaty with the Soviets.
After that he and several of his friends became soldiers and later on instructors in the U.S.Army. They teached for example how to fight and stay alive in the harsh winter conditions like we have here in Scandinavia. Lauri Torni changed his name to Larry Thorne and if I'm not completely mistaken, he died in Vietnam 1965, and his name is in the National Vietnam Veterans Memorial. His rank was major and his branch of service was some kind of special force, perhaps the green barets. His helicopter vanished during a flight in the combat area and his body was never found. I request a rose for him because he was the most famous former Finnish officer who died in Vietnam.
Yours, Janne Karttunen
Official
Information
Veterans' Details
THORNE,
LARRY ALAN
MAJ - Army - Reserve
47 year old Single, Caucasian, Male
Born on 05/28/19
From NORWALK, CONNECTICUT
Length of service 12 years.
His tour of duty began on 10/18/65
Casualty was on 10/19/66
in SOUTH VIETNAM
Hostile, died while missing
HELICOPTER - NONCREW
AIR LOSS, CRASH ON LAND
Body was not recovered
Religion - PROTESTANT
Panel 02E-Line 126
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