Major Larry Alan Thorne / Lauri Allan Törni
Finnish Army, Waffen-SS, U.S. Army Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV-SOG)
Passenger H-34 Kingbee 148790 Missing In Action (MIA) October 18, 1965

Background
Lauri Allan Törni was born May 28, 1919 to parents Jalmari Törni and Rosa Maria (née Kosonen) Törni in Viipuri, Finland. He had two younger sisters Salme Kyllikki Rajala born in 1920 and Kaija Iris Mikkola born 1922. He attended business school and joined the Suojeluskunta meaning "White Guard" (Civil Guard). On September 3, 1938 enlisted in the Finnish Army with the rank of Private in the reserves and was assigned to the Jaeger Battalion 4 and was stationed in at Kiviniemi. On March 1, 1939 promoted to the rank of Corporal.

Winter War
On November 30, 1939 at the start of the Winter War when the Red Army invaded Finland, his enlistment was extended and his unit engaged in combat against the Red Army at Rautu (Sosnovo). During the battles at Lake Ladoga, Törni took part in the destruction of the encircled Soviets in Lemetti. Based on his performance in combat, he selected for officer training and commissioned as a Vänrikki (2nd Lieutenant in the reserves towards the end of the Winter War.

Waffen-SS Training
In June 1941 traveled to Vienna for several weeks of training with the German Waffen SS using the alias "Larry Laine" and as an officer was recognized with the rank of SS-Untersturmführer (Junior Storm Leader). During July 1941, he returned to Finland.

Continuation War
On March 4, 1942 promoted to the rank for Lieutenant. During the Continuation War, he commanded a unit informally known as Detachment Törni for deep penetration missions into enemy territory. One of his subordinates was Mauno Koivisto who postwar became President of Finland during the Battle of Ilomantsi. Due to his success, the Soviets placed a bounty on Törni of 3,000,000 Finnish marks. On December 11, 1943, he earned the German Eisernes Kreuz (Iron Cross 2nd Class). On July 9, 1944 bestowed the Vapaudenristin Mannerheim-risti (Mannerheim Cross 2nd Class). On August 27, 1944 promoted to the rank of Captain. At the end of the Continuation War, Törni was demobilized in November 1944.

In January 1945, Törni was recruited by the Pro-German Finnish resistance movement and sent to Neustrelitz, Germany for training in sabotage to organize resistance if Finland was occupied by the Red Army. During March 1945, his training abruptly ended and was unable to find transport back to Finland. Törni join the Waffen SS and fought near Schwerin, Germany against the advancing Red Army. On April 15, 1945 promoted to the rank of Hauptsturmführer (Head Storm Leader). At the end of World War II in Europe, he surrendered to the British Army and became a Prisoner Of War (POW).

Postwar
Törni was detained in a British POW Camp in Lübeck, Germany. He escaped captivity and returned to Finland but was arrested by the Valpo (Finnish Police) but escaped again. In April 1946 he escaped again and was put on trial for treason for continuing to serve in the German military. During October-November 1946 he was put on trail, found guilty and sentenced to six years at Turku provincial prison. In June 1947 he escaped but was captured then sent to Riihimäki State Prison. During December 1948, pardoned by President Juho Paasikivi.

During 1949, with Holger Pitkänen, his wartime executive officer crossed into Sweeden then traveled by train to Stockholm and stayed with Baroness von Essen where Pitkänen was arrested and returned to Finland. While in Sweeden met Marja Kops and the couple got engaged. Unemployed, he used the alias Eino Mörsky aboard SS Bolivia from Sweeden to Caracas, Venezuela where he met Finnish Colonel Matti Aarnio, who was living in exile. Next he became a stowaway aboard MS Skagen that steamed from Caracas to Mobile, Alabama. On September 20, 1950 when the ship arrived off Mobile, he jumped overboard and swam ashore and illegally entered the United States.

In the United States, he made his way to New York and was aided by the Finnish-American community in Brooklyn, NY and worked as a carpenter and cleaner. He was aided by the law firm of William Donavan, the former head of the Office of Strategic Services. (OSS) to gain legal residency. On August 12, 1953, he was granted a residence permit by an act of U.S. Congress, H.R. 2604 "An Act for the relief of Lauri Allan Torni." He petitioned to become a U.S. naturalized citizen and changed his name to Larry Alan Thorne.

U.S. Army
On January 28, 1954, he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a private with serial number RA 12448031. On December 20, 1954 promoted to the rank of Private First Class. On April 28, 1955 promoted to the rank of Corporal. On November 17, 1955 promoted to the rank of Sergeant. With the support of Finnish-American officers, he was joined the U.S. Army Special Forces assigned to the 77th Special Forces Group at Fort Bragg. He attended airborne school and earned his jump wings. In 1957, he was granted U.S. citizenship then attended Officer Candidate School (OCS). On January 9, 1957 commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant with serial number serial number O-2287104 in the Signal Corps.

During 1958, assigned to the 10th Special Forces Group at Bad Tölz, West Germany. In 1959, he was filmed for an episode of the U.S. Army The Big Picture: Phantom Fighters. During 1960, he received a regular commission in the Army. On November 30, 1960 promoted to the rank of Captain. During 1962, he was second in command on a search and recovery mission to locate the crash site of U.S. Army U-1A Otter 55-3317 that crashed in the Zagros Mountains in Iran.

Vietnam War
During November 1963, Thorne deployed to Vietnam for his first tour of duty with the Special Forces Detachment A-734 to support the support Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) operating Civilian Irregular Defense Group (CIDG) camps at Châu Lăng and Tịnh Biên. During an attack on Tịnh Biên, he earned the Bronze Star and and the Purple Heart for combat wounds.

During February 1965, Thorne returned to Vietnam for his second tour of duty with the 5th Special Forces Group (5th SFG). He then transfered to Headquarters, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV-SOG) as a military advisor for classified special operations missions. On October 15, 1965 a last photograph was taken of Thorne preparing for a mission.

Mission History
On October 18, 1965 passenger aboard H-34 Kingbee 148790 that made a liftoff from Forward Operating Base 1 (FOB-1) at Kham Duc in Quảng Tín Province (Quảng Nam Province) in the South Central Highlands Region of Vietnam piloted by piloted by Bao T. Nguyen and The L. Phan with door gunner Sgt Van Lanh Bui. One of two H-34s that rendezvoused with a U.S. Air Force (USAF) O-1 Bird Dog on a mission to insert the first Studies and Observations Group (SOG) "Shining Brass" mission inside Laos to insert to insert U.S. Army team including SGM Petry, SFC Card, and SFC Smith. After the team was inserted, the last communications was in the vicinity of grid coordinates (GC) YC 895 105 on the return flight. When with this helicopter failed to return, it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA).

Search
For several weeks, search missions were flown in the vicinity of last contact and surrounding territory without result.

Wreckage
In fact, at 21:48 this helicopter crashed in bad weather into a jungle covered western facing slope at an elevation of 2,9523' / 900m in Vietnam. On impact, the helicopter crashed and burned with everyone aboard killed on impact. After the crash, Vietnamese people visited the crash site and salvaged parts for local use or scrap metal.

Recovery of Remains
Thorne was officially declared Missing In Action (MIA) on October 18, 1965. He was officially declared dead a year and a day later on October 19, 1966. He was assigned Joint Casualty Resolution Center (JCRC) number 0174.

On May 6-7, 1993 a team from the Joint Task Force-Full Accounting (JTF-FA) traveled to the Phouc Son District and interviewed local witnesses who provided information related to this loss and guided them to an alleged crash in the vicinity of GC 48P YB 921 101. The team surveyed the site and recovered material evidence but did not find or receive any remains and was unable to correlate the wreckage.

During June 1-2, 1997 a team from the 46th Joint Task Force-Full Accounting (JTF-FA) a team again investigated crash site as GC 48P YC 945 896 and recovered material evidence and possible remains. The material evidence was consistent with a UH/CH-34 helicopter but insufficient to correlate to this specific loss.

During May 11-16, 1998 a team from the 50th Joint Task Force-Full Accounting (JTF-FA) a team conducted further investigations, interviewing nine witnesses, five of who had information related to this loss and guided them to the same crash site investigated in 1997 and the team recovered more material evidence including a Carl Gustaf m/45 (Swedish K) submachine gun and possible remains, but they were insufficient to correlate to the site.

On July 18–August 2, 1999 a team from the 56th Joint Task Force-Full Accounting (JTF-FA) a team from Vietnam Recovery Element Six (RE 6) led by Captain Mark Higgenbothem with anthropologist Mr. Dennis Danielson plus Vietnamese personnel plus representatives from Finland returned to the crash site. The team also included representatives from Finland.

On July 18, 1999 the team team conducted an initial site survey at the crash site and laid a grid over an excavation area of roughly 36m x 6m. Using local labor, they excavated and screened each 4m x 4m unit and recovered remains, teeth and personal effects including two keys, a section of dog tag chain and a Vietnamese coin and a small gold nugget. They also discovered air crew related material evidence and dataplates. They photographed the remains of the Carl Gustaf m/45 (Swedish K) submachine gun and turned over to the representatives of Finland. On August 2, 1999 the site was closed and no further work was recommended.

Following the mission, the casketed remains were part of a repatriation ceremony at Noi Bai Airport attended by U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Pete Peterson. At the Central Identification Laboratory (CILHI) the recovered remains underwent forensic study and were identified as Thorne based on material evidence, forensic analysis and dental. On December 2, 2002 the Department of Defense (DoD) announced the identification of Thorne.

Memorials
Thorne went Missing In Action (MIA) on October 18, 1965 at age 46. For his actions on this mission, he was recommended for the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). According to U.S. Army policy, Thorne was officially declared dead a year and a day later on October 19, 1966. Posthumously, he was promoted to the rank of Major on December 16, 1966.

Thorne is memorialized at National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl) on the courts of the missing. After his remains were identified, a rosette was added next to his name. He is also memorialized on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on panel 2E, line 126.

In November 1965, a memorial service was held for Thorne at the J. F. Kennedy Center for Special Warfare Chapel in Fort Bragg.

In July 1966, the Larry Thorne Headquarters Building (Thorne Hall) was named in his honor at 10th SFG(A) Headquarters in Fort Carson, Colorado.

In 1967, a memorial service was held by his relatives in Helsinki, Finland.

On June 26, 2003 after his remains were identified, Thone and the three Vietnamese helicopter crew was buried in a group burial at Arlington National Cemetery at section 60 site 8136.

On January 12, 1988 the The Larry A Thorne Memorial Chapter XXXIII of the Special Forces Association in Cleveland, Tennessee was established in his honor.

Each year, the U.S. Army 10th Special Forces Group bestows the Larry Thorne Award to the best Operational Detachment-Alpha in the command.

In 2010 he was named as the first Honorary Member of the United States Army Special Forces Regiment. In 2011 he was inducted in the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) Commando Hall of Honor.

In October 2021, Thorne's name was added to the Vietnam Memorial in Norwalk, CT.

Swedish power metal band Sabaton "Soldier of 3 Armies" on their album Heros released May 16, 2014 tells the story of Larry Alan Thorne / Lauri Allan Törni in Finnish Army and U.S. Army.

Awards
Finland: Vapaudenristin Mannerheim-risti (Mannerheim Cross 2nd Class), Medal of Freedom 1st Class, 2nd Class, 3rd Class and 4th Class, Winter War Campaign Division’s Memorial Cross Border Jaegers Cross Defense Forces Bronze Medal
Germany: Eisernes Kreuz (Iron Cross 2nd Class)
United States: Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), Bronze Star and Purple Heart with oak leaf cluster, posthumously.

Relatives
Jalmari Törni (father died May 31, 1970)
Rosa Maria (née Kosonen) Törni (mother died March 8, 1963)
Salme Kyllikki Rajala (sister born 1920 died 2010)
Kaija Iris Mikkola (sister born 1922 died 26 Jun 2001)

References
U.S. Congress H.R. 2604 "An Act for the relief of Lauri Allan Torni" August 12, 1953 [PDF] via Wayback Machine June 6, 2014
U.S. Department of Justice Petition For Naturalization - Lauri Allan Torni
Hall of Valor - Larry Alan Thorne (DFC citation)
DPAA Personnel Profile - Major Larry Alan Thorne
Arlington National Cemetery (ANC Explorer) - Larry A. Thorne (group burial photo)
FindAGrave - MAJ Larry Alan Thorne (courts of the missing photo, photo, news)
Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund - The Wall of Faces - Larry Alan Thorne (photo)
FindAGrave - MAJ Larry Alan Thorne Törni (National Vietnam Veterans Memorial photo)
FindAGrave - Maj. Larry Alan Thorne Törni (Arlington National Cemetery grave photo)
U.S. Army Film "The Big Picture: Phantom Fighters" (1962) includes film shot in 1959 of Lt. Thorne in the 10th Special Forces Group at Bad Tölz, West Germany
The Green Berets (1965) pages 26-46 Sven Kornie / Captain Steve Kornie in chapter 1 was based on Thorne
Lauri Törnin tarina: Vapaustaistelijan vaiheita Viipurista Vietnamiin / Lauri Törni's story: The journey of a freedom fighter from Vyborg to Vietnam (1982) by Jukka Tyrkkö
Soldier Under Three Flags: Exploits of Special Forces' Captain Larry A. Thorne (1998)
Born a Soldier: The Times and Life of Larry A Thorne (2008) by J. Michael Cleverley
Lauri Törni: Yrke Soldat / Lauri Törni: Occupation Soldier (2008) by J. Michael Cleverley translated to Sweedish by Joel Parde
Honor Norwalk CT Veterans: Major Larry Alan Thorne: U.S. Army; Also Finland and Germany
Tuntematon Lauri Törni (Unknown Lauri Törni) (2013)
Lauri Törni - Mannerheim-ristin ritari ja USA:n vihreiden barettien sankari (2019, 2022, 2026) by Kari Kallonen

Contribute Information
Do you have photos or additional information to add?