MAJ Larry Thorne

[Trip_Wire (RIP)]

Here is a website that has a good Bio on Major Larry Thorne.

Here is an SF soldier and hero that fought under three different flags, to include Germany, in the Waffen-SS.

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/larry-thorne.htm

[Texian]

Sounds like he was a great man.

RIP, Warrior.

[Loadsmasher]

From various contemporary press reports:

The story of Larry Thorne says a great deal about the real nature of the U.S. war in Vietnam, which combined anticommunism, anti-Asian racism, and barbarism toward the Vietnamese population. There are definite parallels between the U.S.-directed slaughter in Vietnam and the Nazi atrocities on the Eastern Front. But Shultz recounts the career of this Nazi collaborator turned American Green Beret as though it were a tale of epic heroism.

What in the world is wrong with the site designer that they thought this was an appropriate quote to use in conjunction with this site? It's disrespectful, inaccurate, and completely out of place on a website dedicated to someone who gave their life in battle for their adopted country.

[CoLawman]

Originally Posted by Loadsmasher

What in the world is wrong with the site designer that they thought this was an appropriate quote to use in conjunction with this site? It's disrespectful, inaccurate, and completely out of place on a website dedicated to someone who gave their life in battle for their adopted country.

I would guess that someone hacked into the site and added that passage. I was able to find the origin of that passage. It came from:

-ww.wsws.org/articles/2000/jun2000/viet-j06.shtml

QP's I posted this for illustrative purposes. Not sure if this violates rules of the board. The website is "World Socialist Web Site"

I have written to Mr. Michael Patterson, the originator and webmaster for the Arlington website, alerting him to the presence of the passage from the Commies. I doubt that a person who has devoted numerous hours memorializing our nation's heroes would share even a scintilla in common with Communists.

***edited to remove www from link. Everyone can cut/paste the site and add the extra w if they want to folow the link. -saca

[The Reaper]

They say anti-communism like it is a bad thing.

I wonder what all of the people who suffered under it for so long before being liberated think of that.

TR

[Tuukka]

Originally Posted by Loadsmasher

What in the world is wrong with the site designer that they thought this was an appropriate quote to use in conjunction with this site? It's disrespectful, inaccurate, and completely out of place on a website dedicated to someone who gave their life in battle for their adopted country.

Yes, that BS needs to go from that page.

The man was a warrior who fought for our country during a very crucial time in history for us and then moved onwards due to circumstances.

[CoLawman]

Received this email from Mr. Patterson this morning:

Thanks, Keith, for pointing out the obvious correction that needed to be made with respect to Major Thorne's remembrance. The offending passage has been removed. We also appreciated your kind comments about our efforts to remember Americas heroes.

Regards, Michael Patterson
Http://WWW.ArlingtonCemetery.Net
mailto:Webmaster@ArlingtonCemetery.Net

[Karl.Masters]

Co Lawman-

Good on you for doing that-

V/r
Karl

When I was in "Tactical Tracking" with David Scott-Donelan a few years back in Columbus, David had a young guy from the Finnish Special Forces that was following him around the country for a year or so. I guess he was going around and gaining knowledge from us LEO's and from the SF detachments that David taught so that he could take it back to Finland. During the week I had a chance to talk to this fellow about Larry Thorne. His stories about what Thorne did to the Russians was simply amazing. What really amazes me was that Thorne's favorite weapon to carry during the Vietnam War was the Springfield 1903.

[Genseric]

Since I live about 100 miles from the finnish border I have heard many, many stories about Lauri Törni or Larry Thorne as you know him.
One of the more amazing stories, wich apparently is the thing that made him a wanted man by the Soviet authorities is the fact that he singlehandedly took out 40-50 russians at one night.
It was deep behind the enemy lines and that made the russian platoon a bit too brave, they only had a few guards scattered around the camp. Lauri took them out silently and cut the throats of about 40 sleeping or barely awake russians another one of his more famous achievments were when he was commanding his own jaeger company. They succeeded in halting the soviets advance by destroying all of the ferry-crossings over a river while they were severely outgunned. That's what earned him the Mannerheim Cross (finnish Medal of Honor).

I for one can't believe he's dead. That man was/is NOT human.


About the fact that he favoured the 1903 Springfield rifle with attached scope.. He grew up with hunting, and the sprinfield is somewhat of a hunters rifle. And it's a clean bolt action.. one shot, one kill or detection = death.
Except the fact he was in the Waffen Schütze Staffeln (SS) I admire Lauri Törni/Larry Thorne very much.

[Peregrino]

Originally Posted by Genseric

Except the fact he was in the Waffen Schütze Staffeln (SS) I admire Lauri Törni/Larry Thorne very much.

It's hard to fault the man for wanting to kill communists. The Waffen SS on the Eastern Front was a veritable "foreign legion", including entire units of non-Germans - all united in their desire to fight Soviets. (For all their "racial purity" propoganda, the Germans could be remarkably pragmatic when it came to fighting.) The various expats certainly had sufficient reason to hate Russians. Thorne's experiences after WWII are something the Finns are probably still sorting out.
FWIW - Peregrino

[Stras]

For more information on Lauri Torni (AKA Larry Thorne) read the book.

"Soldier Under Three Flags"
H.A. Gill, III
ISBN 0-934793-65-4

[Stras]

http://www.larrythorne.com/