Lauri Torni: The dude who really hated communists
Lauri Torni: The dude who really hated communists
Lauri Torni: The dude who really hated communists. 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.
He fought in the Finish Winter War against the invading Soviet troops, often leading raids behind enemy lines.
When Finland and the USSR made peace, he joined the German SS and resumed fighting the Soviets as part of a special forces outfit.
When Finland rejoined the war, he went back home and kept on fighting, once again in a special forces outfit. At the end of the war, he was imprisoned for having fought with the Germans. He escaped 3 times and finally made it out of Europe and to the US… Where he obviously joined the army ! He went on to become an instructor in West Germany, took part in a spec-op in Iran and did two tours of duty in Vietnam as a Green Beret, taking part in various secret missions in places where US soldiers were not supposed to be.
He died in a helicopter crash in 1965. His body was discovered in 1999 and he now rests in Arlington. As for his medal cabinet, judge for yourself:
Finnish decorations: 2nd class medal of freedom; 1st class medal of freedom; 3rd class Cross of Liberty; 4th class Cross of Liberty; Mannerheim Cross; 1st Div. Memorial Cross; Border Jaeger Troops cross; Defence Forces bronze medal.
German decoration: 2nd Class Iron Cross.
Anerican decorations: Legion of Merit; Distinguished Flying Cross; Bronze Star Purple Heart (twice); Air Medal Army Commendation Medal; Good Conduct Medal; Vietnam Campaign Medal; Vietnam Service Medal; National Defense Service Medal; Combat Infantry Badge Parachute Badge (Master).
