THE WALL OF FACES

Information about former MIA Major Larry Alan Thorne, whose remains were recovered from Vietnam in September 1999, from the Task Force Omega website is at this link:

http://taskforceomegainc.org/t375.htm

Sydän tammen ja teräksen hermoja. Kunnes seuraavaan elämään.

He fought for my country in two armies against the soviet union, he was prosecuted in his and my country of birth Finland as a traitor, however he was no traitor. He gave all he had to fight against the enemy that attacked his country, willing to give his life and for that he has my respect forever.
Even when he had fulfilled his duty, he proceeded to fight against the soviets in the Army of United States of America.
He went above and beyond to protect his homeland, and died as an hero. I only can dream of having such impactful life as he did.
May he rest in peace now, gone but not forgotten.

Thorne is shown in the back row, 2nd from left.

Lauri Alan Törni was born in Viipuri, Viipuri Province, when it was controlled by Finland. In 1945 the region was finally ceded to the Soviet Union following the Winter War and Continuation War. He served with the Finnish and German armies in the wars against the Soviet Union. In 1950, he immigrated to the United States and joined the US Army in 1954, while residing in Connecticut. At that time he changed his name to Larry Thorne. He joined the army Special Forces (Green Berets) and was commissioned in 1957. In 1963, Thorne was a captain serving as an advisor to the Army of South Vietnam. Thorne died while on a clandestine mission in Laos. His remains were eventually recovered in 1999 and interred at Arlington along with the remains of the South Vietnam Air Force personnel who died with him.

His parents were Jalmari Törni (1890–1970) and Rosa Maria Kosonen Törni (1896–1963). He was also survived by his sisters, Kaija Iris Törni Mikkola (1922–2001), and (unidentified).