Lauri Törni
Finnish military officer in the Finnish Army, Waffen-SS, and U.S. Army (1919-1965) · Finland · On the map · Died at 46
Lauri Allan Törni, later known as Larry Alan Thorne, was a Finnish-born soldier who fought under three countries: as a Finnish Army officer in the Winter War and the Continuation War ultimately gaining a rank of captain; as a Waffen-SS captain of the Finnish Volunteer Battalion of the Waffen-SS when he fought the Red...
Lauri Törni is read about 517 times a day, in 29 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 6 November 2026
The middle day of the days counted, so one week of news cannot move it. The line under it is the last 400 days, one point a day.
Something wrong?A life in dates
Also in Deutsch
Media & music
Photos 10
Vänrikki Lauri Törni after graduating from cadet school in 1940
Törni in a Waffen-SS uniform during training in 1941
A plaque in Hotel Tammer, Tampere, about Lauri Törni's Jägers being banned from meeting there in 1946.
The last photo of Lauri Törni on October 15, 1965, three days before his death. A reconnaissance team is about to depart on a mission from Kham Duc. Pictured are Vietnamese helicopter pilots, Patrol Leader Charles Petry, Lieutenant Colonel Ray Call, and Captain Larry Thorne.
The shared grave of Thorne and fellow Vietnam War casualties in Arlington National Cemetery
Awards
About this person
Lauri Allan Törni, later known as Larry Alan Thorne, was a Finnish-born soldier who fought under three countries: as a Finnish Army officer in the Winter War and the Continuation War ultimately gaining a rank of captain; as a Waffen-SS captain of the Finnish Volunteer Battalion of the Waffen-SS when he fought the Red Army on the Eastern Front in World War II; and as a United States Army Major when he served in the U.S. Army Special Forces in the Vietnam War.
Where to find them
The same award as Lauri
Urho KekkonenBoth received Gold Medal of Merit of the Reserve Officers Association
Harri HolkeriBoth received Gold Medal of Merit of the Reserve Officers Association
Sauli NiinistöBoth received Gold Medal of Merit of the Reserve Officers Association
Hjalmar SiilasvuoBoth received Gold Medal of Merit of the Reserve Officers Association
Paavo TalvelaBoth received Gold Medal of Merit of the Reserve Officers Association