Larry A. Thorne Distinguished Flying Cross citation
THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
AUTHORIZED BY ACT OF CONGRESS JULY 2, 1926 HAS
AWARDED
THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS
TO
MAJOR (INFANTRY) LARRY ALAN THORNE
UNITED STATES ARMY
CITATION:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross (Posthumously) to Major (Infantry), [then Captain) Larry Alan Thorne (ASN: 0-2287104), United States Army, for heroism while participating in aerial flight heroism against a hostile force while participating in aerial flight on 18 October 1965, in the Republic of Vietnam. Major Thorne was operations officer responsible for launching a small, combined reconnaissance patrol on an extremely hazardous mission into a suspected .Viet Cong stronghold. Due to the extreme hazards attending this mission, including weather and enemy action, Major Thorne volunteered to accompany submission aircraft during the introduction of the patrol in place of the assigned individual. After delivering the patrol to the landing zone, Major Thorne remained with one aircraft in the immediate area to receive an initial report from the patrol on the ground. This report was mandatory since only the vaguest information was available about enemy disposition near the landing zone. If the patrol were immediately confronted by a superior force, Major Thorne would land and extricate the patrol under fire. This was done with total disregard for the inherent dangers and with selfless concern for the ground forces. In so doing, he exposed himself to extreme personal danger which ultimately led to his disappearance and the loss of his aircraft. He had, however, guaranteed the safe introduction of the patrol into the area, the successful accomplishment of this mission and had positioned himself to react to any immediate calls for assistance from the patrol. Due to Major Thorne’s efforts, the mission was accomplished successfully and contributed significantly to the overall mission of interdicting Viet Cong activities within the area. Major Thorne’s actions were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.
Born Lauri Allan Törni on 28 May 1919 in Viipuri, Finland… Began his military service with the Finnish Alpine Ski Troops… Recruited for Nazi Germany’s Waffen SS, serving briefly as an officer in 1941… Returned to the Finnish Army to fight the Soviets, earning every one of his nation’s medals for valor… Imprisoned by the Finnish government for serving with the Germans, but promptly escaped and then pardoned by the president of Finland, who had served under Törni’s command during World War II… Moved to the United States, changing his name to Larry Alan Thorne, and joined Special Forces… Led Operational Detachment A-734 from 1963-64 in the Mekong Delta… Returned with Military Assistance Command-Vietnam’s Studies and Observation Group in 1965… Listed as Missing in Action, Thorne’s remains were located in 1999 and laid to rest along with the South Vietnamese helicopter crew in Arlington National Cemetery in 2003.