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View Full Version : Knight of order of Mannerheim cross of cross of Liberty Pentti Iisalo has died.



domokun
10-30-2008, 08:48 PM
Pentti Iisalo

Knight of order of Mannerheim cross of cross of Liberty and reserve captain.

Died of natural causes in hospital at his home town Lahti at age of 88. I knew him personally as he was my friends dads uncle. I saw him quite often when I was at my friends home on some ocassions, he was quite inspiring guy.

He got the Manneheim Cross, second class, after leading assault on enemy anti-tank gun position during attack phase of Continuation war. He captured gun and used it destroy another Soviet gun position and number of retreating enemy vehicles causing Soviet forces to bottle up in road and preventing possible counter attacks. Position held until point platoon was reinforced by rest of battalion.

He was awarded the second class Manneheim cross on 1 of october 1941. Out of 191 knights there is just three alive after his passing. Out of four brothers two got Mannerheim cross, for third same award was requested by his commanders and fourth was wounded seriously in war. Mannerheim Cross is considered most prestigious military award in Finland, only two of first class crosses was awarded, one for Marshall of Finland C.G.E Mannerheim and Jaeger general A.E Heinrichs, so second class Cross can be considered as Finnish equivalent of Medal of Honor or Knights cross of Iron Cross with all the bling.

Rest In Peace, knight.

http://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg241/762rk95/Salute_smiley.gifhttp://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg241/762rk95/Salute_smiley.gifhttp://i250.photobucket.com/albums/gg241/762rk95/Salute_smiley.gif

Source of sad news in Finnish.Helsingin Sanomat (http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/artikkeli/Mannerheim-ristin+ritari+Pentti+Iisalo+on+kuollut/1135240684162)

Finnish Wiki on Pentti Iisalo. (http://fi.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentti_Iisalo) (you can try to read it with google translate, but Finnish language is bitch in it's format for auto translators)

Mannerheim Cross in Wiki. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mannerheim_Cross)

BMUS
10-30-2008, 10:31 PM
Rest in peace!

http://www.markesaret1809.se/ShowImage.ashx?ImageId=209

Jippo
10-31-2008, 02:12 AM
He was one of my heroes. Rest in Peace.

Thor
10-31-2008, 04:23 AM
R.I.P. Mannerheimriddare.

pekka elo
10-31-2008, 04:30 AM
May he reunite with his brothers in arms.

Rest in peace.

pocoloco
10-31-2008, 10:37 AM
Rest in Peace.

The article of Helsingin Sanomat tells that Iisalo's two brothers didn't receive their Mannerheim crosses since it was deemed that two Mannerheim crosses in one family is enough. Great logic there.

I wonder if we will have/see any of the Mannerheim cross receivers leading the guests to Presidential palace on the Independence Day.

Laworkerbee
10-31-2008, 11:54 AM
As someone who has visited Mannerheim's home and museum I know this award is not given out lightly.

RiP

Airgun_Hunter
10-31-2008, 09:18 PM
RIP.

I'm a huge fan of Finland warriors.
"Illu" Juutilanen - the Top Ace.

http://www.elknet.pl/acestory/juuti/juuti1.htm
http://www.elknet.pl/acestory/foto1/juuti1.jpg

Simo Häyhä the Greatest Sniper

Credited with as many as 700 kills during the Finnish Winter War


http://images.suite101.com/163028_zz.jpg

Hecatonchiros
11-01-2008, 10:20 AM
Lepää rauhassa ritari.

The three surviving knights are Tuomas Gerdt, Kaarlo Nykänen and Onni Määttänen.

IMTT
11-04-2008, 08:00 PM
RIP to the hero of Suomi!

Wasn't Larry Thorne awarded the Mannerheim cross?

Esko
11-05-2008, 02:01 PM
Wasn't Larry Thorne awarded the Mannerheim cross?
Yes, back then he was using his Finnish name Lauri Törni (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lauri_T%C3%B6rni).