Your favourite national war heroes?

[mustamato]

Well, here are atleast a couple from Finland that I like, to not get totally lost I just stick to world war 2.

http://guns.connect.fi/gow/haylumip.jpg
Simo Häyhä, the highest scoring sniper in history with accounted
542 kills. Will probably be unmatched as long as we live atleast.

http://www.sci.fi/~fta/juuti2s.jpg
Ilmari Juutilainen, fighter pilot with 94 victories. Makes him the
highest scoring non-german/austrian figher pilot in history.

http://turuntori.com/./tiedostot/251.jpg
Lauri Törni. Finnish LRRP platoon/company-leader during world war 2. A
later finnish president served under him. After the Finnish-Soviet armistice
the summer -44 he joined Waffen-SS. After the war he became a US
citizen and changed his name to Larry A Thorne. As a Green Beret he
went MIA under a mission in Vietnam in the 60´s.

http://www.skalman.nu/third-reich/bilder/fi-tankdestruction3.jpg
1944 the Red Army launched a major offensive on the finnish-russian front
(coordinated with the D-day) to be able to get rid of the finnish pain in the
ass and freeing resources for the rush to Berlin. 950 Soviet tanks were
destroyed before they were finally stopped and Finland and Soviet signed
an armistice. 16 of the tanks were destroyed by this man who was a
gunner on a german-supplied 75 mm anti-tank gun.

http://www.mosin-nagant.net/Finn-Maxim-One.jpg
Not to mention the ordinary grunts, collective heroes.

[James]

My favorite is some guy from the 29th ID who went ashore on Omaha Beach, a Marine who went ashore at Tarawa, some poor Navy bastard who sweated Midway, or an airman who flew over Ploesti. And that's just World War Two. ;)

[mustamato]

A couple more from the category "unknown finnish soldiers". These are all from the soviet offensive in the summer of -44.

A little background information on that offensive, it took mainly place on a small part in southeastern Finland between The Gulf of Finland and Lake Ladoga. To begin with the russians attacked with 270.000 soldiers, 660 tanks and were supported by 1660 field guns and 1500 aircrafts, so it was some pretty massive ****. More reserves were thrown in later, mainly in terms of material such as tanks, not more soldiers since Stalin didn´t want to sacrifice them on a sideshow as Finland when it was Berlin that he really wanted. To begin with the finns retreated, but gathered their forces for defence between two villages, Tali and Ihantala, where they met the russian. This was the place of the largest battle in Nordic history, 150.000 soldiers on the russian side and 50.000 on the finnish side. The battle ended with a tie after that the finns had lost about 8000 men and the russians 22.000. Armistice was signed soon after that. Finland lost a total of 85.000 soldiers during the war. The russian losses on the finnish-russian front has been estimated to atleast 250.000 soldiers.


http://www.sodatkuvina.cjb.net/images/Jatkosota/Rintama/4406KannasPoteronPohjallaViipurinL%E4hell%E4.jpg
Soldier armed with finnish submachine gun Suomi KP31

http://www.sodatkuvina.cjb.net/images/Jatkosota/Rintama/4406SturmRynn%E4kk%F6tykitEnsossa.jpg
German-supplied finnish StuG, with finnish modifications, insignia and camo.

http://www.sodatkuvina.cjb.net/images/Jatkosota/Rintama/4407HaavoittuneenSitomista.jpg
Wounded soldier gets first aid.

http://www.sodatkuvina.cjb.net/images/Jatkosota/Rintama/4406VihollisenTulikeskitys.jpg
Soldiers under artillery barrage is waiting for Ivan.

http://www.sodatkuvina.cjb.net/images/Jatkosota/Rintama/4407KannasPST-tykkiTuhoaaVihollisenTankin.jpg
Anti-tank gun and burning russian tank

http://www.sodatkuvina.cjb.net/images/Jatkosota/Rintama/4407Tali-Ihantala.jpg
Finns with german-supplied Panzerfausts and destroyed T-34


http://www.sodatkuvina.cjb.net/images/Jatkosota/Rintama/4409ViipuriAselevonHetki.jpg
Ceasefire has come, russian officers and a finn exchange souvenirs :)

[Armour recon]

THE MANNERHEIM CROSS AND KNIGHTS

http://www.mikkeli.fi/museot/englanti/images/pm_risti.jpg


Once the Winter War was over, Finland lacked a special decoration that could be awarded irrespective of military rank. At the proposal of the Commander-in-Chief, Field Marshal Mannerheim, amendments and additions were made to the 1939 Cross and Medal of Liberty Act. The act passed on 16 December 1940 and its fourth section describe the spirit which the act was designed to give to the decoration.

"As a reward for exceptional bravery, the achievement of vitally important results in battle or military operations led with special distinction, a soldier of the Finnish Armed Forces regardless of his rank can be appointed a Knight of the Mannerheim Cross, First or Second Class."

Commander-in-Chief Mannerheim was actively involved in designing the decoration that would bear his name. Also involved were Lieutenant Colonel Ragnar Grönvall and Major Michael Gripenberg. The Mannerheim Cross was created without working drawings in collaboration with the management of Tillander Oy. The Mannerheim Cross, Cross of Liberty, First Class, comes fifth in the Finnish system of honours. It is worn round the neck on a similar ribbon to the Cross of Liberty, First Class, with swords, awarded for merits in war.

The Mannerheim Cross, Cross of Liberty, Second Class, comes ninth in the Finnish system of honours. It is worn without a ribbon on the left side of the breast.

The provisions relating to the Mannerheim Cross were supplemented by decrees during the war. A decree issued on 14.5.1943 prescribed that an honorary award of 50,000 markkas be attached to the decoration. In the latter part of the war a decree issued on 18.8.1943 made it possible to confer twice on the same person a Mannerheim Cross, Cross of Liberty, Second Class.


KNIGHTS OF THE MANNERHEIM CROSS, CROSS OF LIBERTY, FIRST CLASS

18 Field Marshal MANNERHEIM Carl Gustaf Emil 07.10.41
48 General of Infantry HEINRICHS Axel Erik 31.12.44

KNIGHTS OF THE MANNERHEIM CROSS, CROSS OF LIBERTY, SECOND CLASS

1 Colonel LAGUS Ernst Ruben 22.07.41
2 Major General TALVELA Paavo Juho 03.08.41
3 Colonel RAAPPANA Erkki Johannes 03.08.41
4 Private RÄTTÖ Vilho 03.08.41
5 Colonel SVENSSON Antero Johannes 16.08.41
6 Warrant Officer TUOMINEN Oiva Emil Kalervo 18.08.41
7 Lieutenant PÖSSI Juho 29.08.41
8 Corporal SORSA Valde Matias 01.09.41
9 Captain KIVELÄ Eero Olavi 08.09.41
10 Lieutenant REMES Olli 12.09.41
11 Colonel BLICK Aarne Leopold 14.09.41
12 Colonel PAJARI Aaro Olavi 14.09.41
13 Lance Corporal MANTERE Onni Olavi 16.09.41
14 Private PASANEN Emil 26.09.41
15 Corporal VEHVILÄINEN Veikko Kalevi 26.09.41
16 Second Lieutenant IISALO Keijo Pentti 01.10.41
17 Major General LAATIKAINEN Taavetti 03.10.41
18 Field Marshal MANNERHEIM Carl Gustaf Emil 07.10.41
19 Medical Colonel BROFELDT Simo Antero 07.10.41
20 Sergeant MALLILA Eino Ilmari 07.10.41
21 Colonel HEISKANEN Kaarlo Aleksanteri 07.10.41
22 Colonel VIHMA Einar August 12.10.41
23 Corporal SOKKA Antti Väinö 12.10.41
24 Lance Corporal SAVOLAINEN Tauno Toivo 12.10.41
25 Corporal KOSONEN Valdemar 16.10.41
26 Second Lieutenant VARSTALA Matti 16.10.41
27 Private HEINO Ahti 19.10.41
28 Second Lieutenant KORKKINEN Torsten Erik Einar 19.10.41
29 Lieutenant PENTTI Arvo Veikko 19.10.41
30 Lieutenant Colonel von ESSEN Hans Olof 22.10.41
31 Lieutenant MIKKONEN Soini Armas 22.10.41
32 Sergeant RÖNKÄ Oiva Vilho 22.10.41
33 Warrant Officer SALMINEN Viljo Fritjof 05.11.41
34 Corporal KORPI Paavo Armas 13.11.41
35 Captain VIIRI Tauno Johannes 13.11.41
36 Corporal VOUTILAINEN Aarre Alfred 19.11.41
37 Lance Corporal SAARELAINEN Veikko 19.11.41
38 Lance Corporal WENÄLÄINEN Eino Edvin 19.11.41
39 Corporal TAMMINEN Yrjö Alfons 19.11.41
40 Lieutenant RÄSÄNEN Albert 19.11.41
41 Private TÖRMÄLEHTO Taavi Armas 19.11.41
42 Sergeant LAINE Viljo Erik 19.11.41
43 Lance Corporal JANHUNEN Arvid Mikael 27.11.41
44 Sergeant Major SUOKAS Viljo Valtteri 13.12.41
45 Colonel VIIKLA Verner August 15.12.41
46 Major HÄKKINEN Toivo Nikodemus 14.01.42
47 Major HYNNINEN Jouko Untamo 14.01.42
48 General of Infantry HEINRICHS Axel Erik 05.02.42
49 Lieutenant HÄMÄLÄINEN Jorma 27.02.42
50 Lieutenant HONKANEN Ilmari Kalervo 27.02.42
51 Colonel AUTTI Pietari Aleksanteri 01.03.42
52 Lieutenant Colonel AHO Martti Johannes 01.03.42
53 Cornet HIRVI-KUNNAS Teppo Taneli 20.04.42
54 Lieutenant KAHLA Paavo Elias 26.04.42
55 Lieutenant WINQVIST Rolf Robert 26.04.42
56 Warrant Officer JUUTILAINEN Eino Ilmari 26.04.42
57 Sergeant Major MOILANEN Jooseppi 15.05.42
58 Lance Corporal MATILAINEN Mikko Olavi 15.05.42
59 Corporal KILPINEN Yrjö 15.05.42
60 Lieutenant Colonel NORDGREN John Valter Voldemar 15.05.42
61 Captain LAAKSO Osmo Tapio 19.05.42
62 Lance Corporal HARTIKAINEN Johannes 19.05.42
63 Captain VUORENSOLA Ahti Kalervo 19.05.42
64 Sergeant KOLPPANEN Jaakko Jalmari 19.05.42
65 Staff Sergeant KOUSA Sauli 05.07.42
66 Lieutenant Colonel KARI Kaarlo Kustaa 05.07.42
67 Major LUKKARI Aarne Reino Ilmari 05.07.42
68 Sergeant SKYTTÄ Lauri 05.07.42
69 Second Lieutenant NISSINEN Lauri Vilhelm 05.07.42
70 Medical Sergeant ISOSOMPPI Feeli Johannes 17.07.42
71 Lieutenant AHOLA Johan Aarne Einari 17.07.42
72 Lieutenant ALAKULPPI Olavi Eelis 17.07.42
73 Captain TOFFER Caj Edvard Ferdinand 21.07.42
74 Lieutenant KORPI Reino Kalervo 09.08.42
75 Lieutenant SEPPÄNEN Aaro 09.08.42
76 Second Lieutenant LEHTONEN Kaarlo Veikko Tapani 09.08.42
77 Sergeant Major LAUKKANEN Hugo 09.08.42
78 Lance Corporal SIMILÄ Johan Kustaa 09.08.42
79 Lieutenant PENTTILÄ Eino Valfrid 19.08.42
80 Lieutenant Colonel POLÓN Bernt Eino Edvard 23.08.42
81 Lieutenant KOLI Paavo Olavi 23.08.42
82 Sergeant Major KOJO Leo Johannes (24.08.42) 23.08.42
83 Sergeant LAITINEN Kaarlo Kullervo 23.08.42
84 Lieutenant KOKKO Lauri Albin 31.08.42
85 Second Lieutenant NUOTIO Paavo Konstantin 31.08.42
86 Second Lieutenant SIPPOLA Ahto Kullervo Kaj 31.08.42
87 Staff Sergeant MÖRÖ Arvo 31.08.42
88 Staff Sergeant SUORANTA Paavo Lauri Matias 31.08.42
89 Corporal OVASKA Toivo Johannes 31.08.42
90 Major MAUNULA Auvo Herman Toivo 08.09.42
91 Captain KEINONEN Yrjö Ilmari 08.09.42
92 Captain KARHUNEN Jorma 08.09.42
93 Lieutenant LINDBLAD Tor Robert 08.09.42
94 Second Lieutenant KORTE Toivo 08.09.42
95 Sergeant GERDT Kaiho Tuomas Albin 08.09.42
96 Colonel PUROMA Albert Aleksander 18.10.42
97 Colonel LAAKSONEN Sulo Eero 06.11.42
98 Captain KARU Veikko Johannes 06.11.42
99 Staff Sergeant VALLEBRO (Vorho) Antti 06.11.42
100 Sergeant MANNINEN Toivo Kaarlo 06.11.42
101 Corporal PAAJANEN Paavo 06.11.42
102 Corporal NORDIN Arvid Oskar 06.11.42
103 Major General WINELL Claes Bertel Napoleon 12.12.42
104 Commander ARHO Jouko Olavi Kaarlo (08.02.43) 08.03.43
105 Lieutenant Commander KIVILINNA Osmo Kullervo (08.02.43) 08.03.43
106 Captain EK Rolf Birger (08.02.43) 08.03.43
107 Lieutenant KORHONEN Niilo Juhani (08.02.43) 08.03.43
108 Warrant Officer OVASKAINEN Toimi (08.02.43) 08.03.43
109 Sergeant Major STORBACKA Harald (08.02.43) 08.03.43
110 Staff Sergeant SCHADEWITZ Einar 10.02.43
111 Lieutenant Commander PIRHONEN Jouko Kalevi Esaias 04.06.43
112 Lieutenant LESKINEN Veikko Kullervo 04.06.43
113 Sergeant Major MOISANDER Leevi Veli 04.06.43
114 Sergeant LIIKKANEN Arvi Anton 04.06.43
115 Lance Corporal LAISI Eino (04.03.43) 04.06.43
116 Lieutenant WIND Hans Henrik 31.07.43
117 Major PUUSTINEN Timo Johannes 01.08.43
118 Lieutenant NYKÄNEN Kaarlo Heikko 01.08.43
119 Sergeant Major MÄÄTTÄNEN Onni Henrik 01.08.43
120 Staff Sergeant PÖLLÄ Mikko 01.08.43
121 Sergeant TUOMELA Oiva Olavi 01.08.43
122 Warrant Officer OKSALA Unto Johannes 21.11.43
123 Sergeant HEINO Lauri Aleksanteri 21.11.43
124 Lance Corporal SANDROOS Sakari August 21.11.43
125 Private KORPI Erkki Matias 21.11.43
126 Lieutenant Colonel TURKKA Kauno Josef Vilhelm 16.01.44
127 Major LUUKKANEN Eino Antero 18.06.44
128 Lieutenant Colonel KUIRI Auno Johannes 19.06.44
129 Lieutenant Colonel MAGNUSSON Gustaf Erik 26.06.44
130 Major General MARTOLA Ilmari Armas-Eino 26.06.44
131 Lieutenant General OESCH Karl Lennart 26.06.44
132 Captain KVIKANT Carl-Birger Valdemar 26.06.44
133 Lieutenant AULANKO Olli Sakari 26.06.44
134 Corporal TUOMALA Kauko Hans Villiam 27.06.44
135 Major LEPPÄNEN Eero Kaarlo Olavi 27.06.44
136 Lieutenant KAUSTI Esko 01.07.44
137 Major KUVAJA Eino Hjalmar 04.07.44
138 Private SEPPÄNEN Eero 04.07.44
139 Lieutenant EKHOLM Gregorius 09.07.44
140 Lance Corporal KIIVERI Eino 09.07.44
141 Corporal KÄRPÄNEN Heikki 09.07.44
142 Warrant Officer LEHTOVAARA Urho Sakari 09.07.44
143 Major TOIVIO Veikko Eerikki 09.07.44
144 Lieutenant TÖRNI Lauri Allan 09.07.44
145 Lance Corporal VÄISÄNEN Ville 12.07.44
146 Second Lieutenant RIPATTI Eino Juhana 12.07.44
147 Staff Sergeant OINONEN Erkki Olavi 18.07.44
148 Staff Sergeant PUOLAMÄKI Asser Ensio 18.07.44
149 Lieutenant HONKANIEMI Toivo Nikolai 20.07.44
150 Staff Sergeant NURMI Martti August 23.07.44
151 Captain PARONEN Tauno Ilmari 22.08.44
152 Lieutenant Colonel MIETTINEN Martti Juho 02.10.44
153 Staff Sergeant VEIKKANEN Arvo Emanuel 02.10.44
154 Corporal KIRPPU Toivo 02.10.44
155 Lance Corporal ILOMÄKI Toivo Osmo 02.10.44
156 Major VALKONEN Pentti Pekka 07.10.44
157 Lieutenant Colonel HALSTI Wolfgang Hallstén 16.10.44
158 Lieutenant Colonel LOIMU Vilho Jalo Kalervo 16.10.44
159 Lieutenant General AIRO Aksel Fredrik 18.11.44
160 Major General TAPOLA Kustaa Anders 18.11.44
161 General of Infantry WALDEN Karl Rudolf 02.12.44
162 Colonel EHRNROOTH Adolf Erik 04.12.44
163 Colonel MARTTINEN Alpo Kullervo 04.12.44
164 Major AHOLA Arvo 21.12.44
165 Sergeant ANTTILA Allan Sylvester 21.12.44
166 Sergeant ANTTONEN Mikko Johannes 21.12.44
167 Sergeant HÄMÄLÄINEN Väinö Albin 21.12.44
168 Captain IISALO Tauno Veikko Ilmari 21.12.44
169 Sergeant Major KARJALAINEN Esa Ukko 21.12.44
170 Sergeant Major KATAJAINEN Nils Edvard 21.12.44
171 Lieutenant KOIVU Timo Joel 21.12.44
172 Lieutenant LAIHIALA Eino 21.12.44
173 Staff Sergeant LEHTIKANGAS Aapo Aulis 21.12.44
174 Staff Sergeant PIKKARAINEN Vilho Antero 21.12.44
175 Captain PUHAKKA Risto Olli Petter 21.12.44
176 Lance Corporal RYTÖNIEMI Jaakko Esko 21.12.44
177 Sergeant SALONEN Aarne Kaarle Valtteri 21.12.44
178 Private SIPILÄINEN Valter 21.12.44
179 Lance Corporal SUHONEN Tauno 21.12.44
180 Lance Corporal TANTTU Pauli Veikko 21.12.44
181 Corporal VYYRYLÄINEN Viljo Ilmari 21.12.44
182 Flying Officer ÄIJÖ Lauri Alfred 21.12.44
183 Lieutenant General SIILASVUO Hjalmar Fridolf 21.12.44
184 General of Artillery NENONEN Vilho Petter 08.01.45
185 Major HÄNNINEN Antti Vilho Valmis Voitto 10.02.45
186 Captain KIISKINEN Jouko Paavo Olli 10.02.45
187 Lieutenant KORHONEN Toivo Johannes 10.02.45
188 Lieutenant LINNAKKO Kaarlo Olavi 10.02.45
189 Lieutenant Commander KAJATSALO (Salo) Kaarlo Viljam 10.02.45
190 Captain VILANTI Kauko Johannes 10.02.45
191 Lieutenant Colonel LAAKSO Viljo Aukusti 07.05.45


TWICE APPOINTED KNIGHTS OF THE MANNERHEIM CROSS, CROSS OF LIBERTY, SECOND CLASS

12 Major General PAJARI Aaro Olavi 14.09.41 16.10.44
52 Colonel AHO Martti Johannes 01.03.42 16.10.44
56 Warrant Officer JUUTILAINEN Eino Ilmari 26.04.42 28.06.44
116 Captain WIND Hans Henrik 31.07.43 28.06.44

[mustamato]

KNIGHTS OF THE MANNERHEIM CROSS, CROSS OF LIBERTY, SECOND CLASS

176 Lance Corporal RYTÖNIEMI Jaakko Esko 21.12.44

http://www.skalman.nu/third-reich/bilder/fi-tankdestruction3.jpg

"Wtf, I destroyed 16 tanks (14 T-34, 2 JS-2) and all I got was a lousy second class cross of liberty :( "

;)

[Armour recon]

KNIGHTS OF THE MANNERHEIM CROSS, CROSS OF LIBERTY, SECOND CLASS

176 Lance Corporal RYTÖNIEMI Jaakko Esko 21.12.44

http://www.skalman.nu/third-reich/bilder/fi-tankdestruction3.jpg

"Wtf, I destroyed 16 tanks (14 T-34, 2 JS-2) and all I got was a lousy second class cross of liberty :( "

;)



How many tanks did Börje Brotell destroy?

[mustamato]

http://www.andreaslarka.net/ps531010/531010074.jpg

"This StuG with it's crew (commander Börje Brotell, gunner Olli Soimala, driver Sulo Kauppi and loader Armas Launikko) is the one that scored the most victories during the hard fighting in the summer of 1944. With 11 confirmed tank-kills this StuG now stands as a monument at the Finnish Armoured Brigades garrison area in Parola, Finland. This StuG is restored to almost war-time condition. The colours are authentic and the colour-scheme has been restored."

I don´t know how "tank kills" are counted, but I think that it is the gunner Soimala who should have the most credits for those.

[Armour recon]

Here is also good info about the knight's and Mannerheim and Quartermaster-General A. F. Airo.


http://www.mikkeli.fi/museot/englanti/pm_toiminta.html

[NcDeuce]

http://www.msc.navy.mil/GRAPHICS/Shughart.jpg
SERGEANT FIRST CLASS RANDALL D. SHUGHART

Citation: Sergeant First Class Shughart, United States Army, distinguished himself by actions above and beyond the call of duty on 3 October 1993, while serving as a Sniper Team Member, United States Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. Sergeant First Class Shughart provided precision sniper fires from the lead helicopter during an assault on a building and at two helicopter crash sites, while subjected to intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires. While providing critical suppressive fires at the second crash site, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the site. Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader unhesitatingly volunteered to be inserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite being well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. After their third request to be inserted, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader received permission to perform this volunteer mission. When debris and enemy ground fires at the site caused them to abort the first attempt, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader were inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. Equipped with only his sniper rifle and a pistol, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader, while under intense small arms fire from the enemy, fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured crew members. Sergeant First Class Shughart pulled the pilot and the other crew members from the aircraft, establishing a perimeter which placed him and his fellow sniper in the most vulnerable position. Sergeant First Class Shughart used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers while traveling the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. His actions saved the pilot's life. Sergeant First Class Shughart's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit and the United States Army.

http://www.msc.navy.mil/GRAPHICS/Gordon.jpg
MASTER SERGEANT GARY IVAN GORDON

Citation: Master Sergeant Gordon, United States Army, distinguished himself by actions above and beyond the call of duty on 3 October 1993, while serving as Sniper Team Leader, United States Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. Master Sergeant Gordon's sniper team provided precision fires from the lead helicopter during an assault and at two helicopter crash sites, while subjected to intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires. When Master Sergeant Gordon learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the second crash site, he and another sniper unhesitatingly volunteered to be inserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite being well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. After his third request to be inserted, Master Sergeant Gordon received permission to perform his volunteer mission. When debris and enemy ground fires at the site caused them to abort the first attempt, Master Sergeant Gordon was inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. Equipped with only his sniper rifle and a pistol, Master Sergeant Gordon and his fellow sniper, while under intense small arms fire from the enemy, fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured crew members. Master Sergeant Gordon immediately pulled the pilot and the other crew members from the aircraft, establishing a perimeter which placed him and his fellow sniper in the most vulnerable position. Master Sergeant Gordon used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers until he depleted his ammunition. Master Sergeant Gordon then went back to the wreckage, recovering some of the crew's weapons and ammunition. Despite the fact that he was critically low on ammunition, he provided some of it to the dazed pilot and then radioed for help. Master Sergeant Gordon continued to travel the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. After his team member was fatally wounded and his own rifle ammunition exhausted, Master Sergeant Gordon returned to the wreckage, recovering a rifle with the last five rounds of ammunition and gave it to the pilot with the words, "good luck." Then, armed only with his pistol, Master Sergeant Gordon continued to fight until he was fatally wounded. His actions saved the pilot's life. Master Sergeant Gordon's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon, his unit and the United States Army.

[Vance]

Any soldier that ever fought in a war for my country is a hero in my eyes...

[NcDeuce]

If I had to pick a warrior, I personally know, whose actions inspire me, it would have to be my PMS. He flew Cobras and eventually got into the U.S. Army 160th SOAR. While prep/training for Gothic Serpent in either Bragg or Campbell, his Little Bird helo clipped some trees and sent the bird straight down almost 100 feet. Both he and his co-pilot suffered broken vertabrae and other severe injuries. Thus, he missed out on the show in Somalia while his comrades fought and died. That has to kill him, I would be so pissed and sad at the same time.

[AirZone]

http://www.msc.navy.mil/GRAPHICS/Shughart.jpg
SERGEANT FIRST CLASS RANDALL D. SHUGHART

Citation: Sergeant First Class Shughart, United States Army, distinguished himself by actions above and beyond the call of duty on 3 October 1993, while serving as a Sniper Team Member, United States Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. Sergeant First Class Shughart provided precision sniper fires from the lead helicopter during an assault on a building and at two helicopter crash sites, while subjected to intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires. While providing critical suppressive fires at the second crash site, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the site. Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader unhesitatingly volunteered to be inserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite being well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. After their third request to be inserted, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader received permission to perform this volunteer mission. When debris and enemy ground fires at the site caused them to abort the first attempt, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader were inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. Equipped with only his sniper rifle and a pistol, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader, while under intense small arms fire from the enemy, fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured crew members. Sergeant First Class Shughart pulled the pilot and the other crew members from the aircraft, establishing a perimeter which placed him and his fellow sniper in the most vulnerable position. Sergeant First Class Shughart used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers while traveling the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. His actions saved the pilot's life. Sergeant First Class Shughart's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit and the United States Army.

http://www.msc.navy.mil/GRAPHICS/Gordon.jpg
MASTER SERGEANT GARY IVAN GORDON

Citation: Master Sergeant Gordon, United States Army, distinguished himself by actions above and beyond the call of duty on 3 October 1993, while serving as Sniper Team Leader, United States Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. Master Sergeant Gordon's sniper team provided precision fires from the lead helicopter during an assault and at two helicopter crash sites, while subjected to intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires. When Master Sergeant Gordon learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the second crash site, he and another sniper unhesitatingly volunteered to be inserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite being well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. After his third request to be inserted, Master Sergeant Gordon received permission to perform his volunteer mission. When debris and enemy ground fires at the site caused them to abort the first attempt, Master Sergeant Gordon was inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. Equipped with only his sniper rifle and a pistol, Master Sergeant Gordon and his fellow sniper, while under intense small arms fire from the enemy, fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured crew members. Master Sergeant Gordon immediately pulled the pilot and the other crew members from the aircraft, establishing a perimeter which placed him and his fellow sniper in the most vulnerable position. Master Sergeant Gordon used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers until he depleted his ammunition. Master Sergeant Gordon then went back to the wreckage, recovering some of the crew's weapons and ammunition. Despite the fact that he was critically low on ammunition, he provided some of it to the dazed pilot and then radioed for help. Master Sergeant Gordon continued to travel the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. After his team member was fatally wounded and his own rifle ammunition exhausted, Master Sergeant Gordon returned to the wreckage, recovering a rifle with the last five rounds of ammunition and gave it to the pilot with the words, "good luck." Then, armed only with his pistol, Master Sergeant Gordon continued to fight until he was fatally wounded. His actions saved the pilot's life. Master Sergeant Gordon's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon, his unit and the United States Army.

wow...i think i saw it in the movie black hawk down

didnt they die in the movie ?
or it was just a hollywood scene ?

[Dalleer]

I'd say that Lauri Törni has to be one of the people in my "top three" category of war heroes, along with the other numerous Finnish soldiers.

[...]

http://www.gnt.net/~jrube/images/chesty.jpg

[NcDeuce]

http://www.msc.navy.mil/GRAPHICS/Shughart.jpg
SERGEANT FIRST CLASS RANDALL D. SHUGHART

Citation: Sergeant First Class Shughart, United States Army, distinguished himself by actions above and beyond the call of duty on 3 October 1993, while serving as a Sniper Team Member, United States Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. Sergeant First Class Shughart provided precision sniper fires from the lead helicopter during an assault on a building and at two helicopter crash sites, while subjected to intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires. While providing critical suppressive fires at the second crash site, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the site. Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader unhesitatingly volunteered to be inserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite being well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. After their third request to be inserted, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader received permission to perform this volunteer mission. When debris and enemy ground fires at the site caused them to abort the first attempt, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader were inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. Equipped with only his sniper rifle and a pistol, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader, while under intense small arms fire from the enemy, fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured crew members. Sergeant First Class Shughart pulled the pilot and the other crew members from the aircraft, establishing a perimeter which placed him and his fellow sniper in the most vulnerable position. Sergeant First Class Shughart used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers while traveling the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. His actions saved the pilot's life. Sergeant First Class Shughart's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit and the United States Army.

http://www.msc.navy.mil/GRAPHICS/Gordon.jpg
MASTER SERGEANT GARY IVAN GORDON

Citation: Master Sergeant Gordon, United States Army, distinguished himself by actions above and beyond the call of duty on 3 October 1993, while serving as Sniper Team Leader, United States Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. Master Sergeant Gordon's sniper team provided precision fires from the lead helicopter during an assault and at two helicopter crash sites, while subjected to intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires. When Master Sergeant Gordon learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the second crash site, he and another sniper unhesitatingly volunteered to be inserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite being well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. After his third request to be inserted, Master Sergeant Gordon received permission to perform his volunteer mission. When debris and enemy ground fires at the site caused them to abort the first attempt, Master Sergeant Gordon was inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. Equipped with only his sniper rifle and a pistol, Master Sergeant Gordon and his fellow sniper, while under intense small arms fire from the enemy, fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured crew members. Master Sergeant Gordon immediately pulled the pilot and the other crew members from the aircraft, establishing a perimeter which placed him and his fellow sniper in the most vulnerable position. Master Sergeant Gordon used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers until he depleted his ammunition. Master Sergeant Gordon then went back to the wreckage, recovering some of the crew's weapons and ammunition. Despite the fact that he was critically low on ammunition, he provided some of it to the dazed pilot and then radioed for help. Master Sergeant Gordon continued to travel the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. After his team member was fatally wounded and his own rifle ammunition exhausted, Master Sergeant Gordon returned to the wreckage, recovering a rifle with the last five rounds of ammunition and gave it to the pilot with the words, "good luck." Then, armed only with his pistol, Master Sergeant Gordon continued to fight until he was fatally wounded. His actions saved the pilot's life. Master Sergeant Gordon's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon, his unit and the United States Army.

wow...i think i saw it in the movie black hawk down

didnt they die in the movie ?
or it was just a hollywood scene ?

Yes, you can see MSG Gordon and SFC Shughart in Black Hawk Down. Both were posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor as well.

[FallenAngel]

http://www.gnt.net/~jrube/images/chesty.jpg

That Chesty Puller? Great Marine :)

I just have to name one American that I know no one else would: Benedict Arnold. He was a general under Washington who basically "won" the battle of Saratoga. If it wasn't for him, the entire continental army would have been routed and destroyed piecemeal and the revolutionary war would have come to an abrupt end. ;)

[Deuterium]

http://turuntori.com/./tiedostot/251.jpg

Lauri Törni. Finnish LRRP platoon/company-leader during world war 2. A
later finnish president served under him. After the Finnish-Soviet armistice
the summer -44 he joined Waffen-SS. After the war he became a US
citizen and changed his name to Larry A Thorne. As a Green Beret he
went MIA under a mission in Vietnam in the 60´s.


He is still a fixture in 10th SFG(A) history and an honored member of the unit. Just last year his remains were found and burried in a ceremony attended by our unit. The highest team award in the unit is the annual Torni award given to the best team in 10th group. This guy was THE ultimate warrior.

[mustamato]

He is still a fixture in 10th SFG(A) history and an honored member of the unit. Just last year his remains were found and burried in a ceremony attended by our unit. The highest team award in the unit is the annual Torni award given to the best team in 10th group. This guy was THE ultimate warrior.

http://www2.helsinginsanomat.fi/kuvat/uutiset/2003/06/16/20030616ie02i.jpg
The last picture of Larry Thorne was taken three days before he disappeared. The Finnish-American war hero is on the left in the picture with some American and South Vietnamese brothers in arms.

It is fascinating that he fought in three different countries as an officer. Not many has done something similar. Especially not considering that it was three in almost every aspect (language, culture and so forth) completely different countries.

Finland
03.09.1938 Conscript
01.03.1939 Reserve Corpral (alikersantti)
09.05.1940 Reserve 2nd Lietunentant (vänrikki)
05.03.1942 Reserve Lieutenant (luutnantti)
27.08.1944 Reserve Captain (kapteeni)

26.07.1940 VM2
24.08.1940 VM1
09.10.1941 VR3
23.05.1942 VR4
09.07.1944 Mannerheim-cross
Winter war memorial medal
Memorial medal of 1st Division
Border jaegers cross
The defence forces medal in bronze

Germany
18.5.1941 Untersturmführer (only a month)
15.4.1945 Hauptsturmführer (end of the war)

11.12.1943 Iron cross, second class

USA
28.01.1954 PVT-1
28.05.1954 PVT-2
20.12.1954 PFC
28.04.1955 CPL
17.11.1955 SGT
09.01.1957 1st LTN
30.11.1960 CPT
16.12.1965 MAJ (after he died)

The Legion of Merit
The Distinguished Flying Cross
The Bronze Star
The Purple Heart (2 of them)
The Army Commendation Medal

http://www.veteraanienperinto.fi/suomi/Kertomukset/sotilas/sotilas/jatkosota/mauno_koivisto/koivisto1.jpg

The most famous of Törnis soldiers is probably Mauno Koivisto who later became a president in Finland (1982-1994), this picture is probably from his time before he volunteered and was approved for service in Törnis elite unit as a private. Koivisto was armed with a submachine gun when he was grunt in the 35th Infantry regiment, but he got a ordinary bolt-action rifle when he joined Törnis unit at first. Later on he got a captured DP machinegun. He used a interesting mixture of rounds in the magazine, incendiary, tracer, armourpiercing and so forth. He is said to have been very lethal with this weapon and later on also advanced corpral. The round mixture together with a little damage on the butt of the weapon made it unique. He lost the weapon during fighting in -44. It was discovered during exacavations a couple of years ago and Koivisto recognized it immediately. :D

[Seiyuuki]

There would be too many heroes to list.

[UoUo]

Few heros...

http://images.google.co.il/images?q=tbn:NZdrPI_-49gC:www.idf.il/resources/content/images/pazan_gens/rabin.jpg

Ythak rabin...the man in my sig...



On November 4, 1995, Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Yitzhak Rabin, was assassinated.


Yitzhak Rabin was born in Jerusalem, on March 1, 1922. He was raised by his parents, Nehemia Rabin and Rosa Cohen, who were active in the political party, Ahdut Ha'avoda, according to the values of the Labor movement. Nehemia was one of the first employees of Pinhas Rutenberg's Electricity Corporation and Rosa was the first woman in the "Hagana" leadership in Haifa.

Yitzhak Rabin studied at Beit Hinuch Leyaldei Ovdim (a school for workers' children) in Tel Aviv and the agricultural school Kedourie.
In the course of the Second World War he joined the Palmah and participated in the British invasion of Lebanon and Syria.
In the course of the War of Independence, Rabin commanded the Harel Brigade, which inter alia was in charge of keeping the way to Jerusalem open for supply convoys.

On January 13, 1949, he participated in the talks about the armistice agreement between Israel and Egypt in Rhodes.

On December 5, 1963 Rabin was appointed as Israel's seventh Chief of Staff, and in June 1967, commanded over the impressive military victory of the IDF in the Six Day War, which led to the reunification of Jerusalem under Jewish sovereignty, for the first time in 2000 years.

In February 1968 Rabin was appointed as Israel's Ambassador to Washington where he left a distinct mark on US-Israel relations.
After returning to Israel he was appointed Minister of Labor in the Government, which Golda Meir formed after the Yom Kippur War, and in June 1974 was appointed Prime Minister. As Prime Minister Rabin had to contend with a reality of political and party schisms and growing public criticism of the political and military leadership. At the same time his government made a major effort to strengthen the army and resolve some of the country's social and economic problems.
Yitzhak Rabin signed the Interim Agreement with Egypt in 1975, which involved the withdrawal of Israeli forces was part of the Sinai. He also presided over the Entebbe Operation, in the course of which over 100 hijacked Israeli and Jewish Air-France passengers were released by Israeli military forces in Uganda.

Rabin resigned the premiership in April 1977.


From June 1977 until the formation of the National Unity Government in 1984, Rabin served as a Labor MK and was member of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Security Committee. He was also active in the UJA and Israel Bonds
. In 1984 Rabin was appointed Minister of Defense, in which capacity he served until March 1990. In 1985 he initiated the withdrawal of the IDF from most of Lebanon, leaving a security zone in the South.

After regaining the Labor Party leadership in February 1992, Rabin was appointed Prime Minister and Minister of Defense in July.
On September 13, 1993, he signed the Declaration of Principles with PLO chairman Yasir Arafat, which included mutual recognition between Israel and the Palestinians and Palestinian self-rule in Gaza and Jericho. A later agreement, signed in October 5, 1995, involved Israeli withdrawal from seven Palestinian towns in the West Bank and called for the holding of elections in the Palestinian authority.
An additional political achievement was the peace treaty between Israel and Jordan, signed on October 26, 1994.
For their efforts Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres and Yasir Arafat were granted the Nobel Prize for Peace in December 1994.
On November 4, 1995 Rabin was shot to death by a Jewish assassin, at the end of a mass demonstration in Kikar Malchei Yisrael in Tel Aviv in support of the peace process
[/code]
.

http://www.knesset.gov.il/rabin/images/gallery/oldcity.jpg



And ofcurse : Ariel Sharom

http://www.snunit.k12.il/campaign2001/gifs/sharon_rabin.jpg

The man that won the sout front in 1973 war

[radon]

imo Rähinäremmi posting that list was not too informative

http://www.saunalahti.fi/vaino2/marokonA2+.jpg

but you forgot: Aarne "Marokon kauhu" Juutilainen 1904-1976
Aarne " Morrocos terror" Juutilainen

I remember he was the brother of that pilot in the first post.
In the french foreign legion in the 30s. Thats why the name. Just before the war he was training troops in Finland. Lead the company where the sniper simo häyhä was. He had also his bad sides, he was a drunk often and then not very peaceful. He had the habit to shoot in front of the feet of lower-ranking soldiers when they were not the same opinion with him. He also shot at the foot of an officer because of a personal dispute.

When the winter war stopped and there was a halt in the war, he tried to get to the foreign legion but was not let out of they country. Also during this time his name got a bad reputation because some bad behaving people had too often said they were the war hero. When the was ending 1944 he had to leave the army.

[El'Potato]

What about that finnish soldier who completely on his own downed a whole soviet ski patrol on some 80 men with only a submachine gun?
Think he wasted around 12 magazines doing so, but anyway who was he?

[mustamato]

What about that finnish soldier who completely on his own downed a whole soviet ski patrol on some 80 men with only a submachine gun?
Think he wasted around 12 magazines doing so, but anyway who was he?

http://guns.connect.fi/gow/rokka.jpg

I think you might be referring to this man, Viljam Pylkas (1912 - 1999). He is not that famous. But the writer Väinö Linna, writer of Tuntematon Soldier (Unknown Soldier) probably based the character Antti Rokka on Pylkas. There is a caption in the book (and in the movies) where Rokka kills a russian ski patrol that tries to outflank their unit. Linna had been a front-line soldier himself and based most of the characters on his fellow comrades, and most of the "action" in the book on what he had experienced.

There was an incident during the war when a russian ski patrol of atleast 82 soldiers tried to outflank Pylkas unit. He fired 17 magazines at them, with 40 rounds each (they had room for 50 but were not filled with more than 40 each due to feeding problems otherwise), which makes a total of 680 rounds. 82 of the russians were killed. Maybe some of them got away. That makes 8.3 rounds per killed russian. It should also be noted that he changed the barrel of the submachine gun due to overheating. Quickly changing the barrel in combat (like in a machine gun) was one of the features of the finnish KP31 submachine gun.

[Loco]

It is fascinating that he fought in three different countries as an officer. Not many has done something similar. Especially not considering that it was three in almost every aspect (language, culture and so forth) completely different countries.

Enrique Lister, he isn´t exactly my war hero, but I think he was the only man in XX century who got such accomplishments: General in three armies.
A mason-worker and an inmigrant in America in his youth, began the Spanish Civil War commanding a group of popular militias, those militas were converted in the main strike force of the Republican Army: The 5ºRegiment, and the 11ªBrigade, fought in all the main battles of the war. He finished spanish war as a first-colonel, but commanded a Corp of Army. After the spanish war, he went to Soviet Union, where he was professor with other spanish officers in Frunze Military Academy, and when the german invassion, he fought like all his spanish camarades in the Red Army, was in Stalingrad battle, and with the polish(in the soviet side) and yugoslavians forces. He was officer in 4 armies, and general in 3 armies: Soviet Army, the Polish Army and Yugoslavian Army. In the below photo he´s the man in the center, with his units just after the battle or Brunete, 1937 Spain:
http://www.sbhac.net/Republica/Imagenes/FotoEpr/Thumb_GCE_GR01_P250_DespuesBrunete11DsChifloYGregorioConLister.jpg

In this photo taken in the Frunze Academy he´s the 5º counting since the left in the above line, and at the left of Lister is Modesto, another brigade´s commander of spanish Republic, and the tallest of all is Tagüeña, who commanded a Corp of Army in the battle of Ebro at the age of 24 years old, and finished his life as an scientist, what he was, btw, when the war began, the others men are spanish proffesors too:
http://www.sbhac.net/Republica/Imagenes/FotoEpr/PCE_MI28_P149_ProfesoresEspanolesFrunse.JPG

[S'13]

Trumpeldor, Joseph (1880-1920)

Soldier and early pioneer-settler in Erez Israel whose life efforts to organize the military defense of the Jewish settlements in Erez Israel and whose heroic death in a battle at Tel Hai in the north of the country became an inspirational symbol to pioneering youth from all parts of the Diaspora.
Born in a small town in the northern Caucasus, Trumpeldor was strongly influenced in his youth by the model of collective communal life which he witnessed at a nearby farming commune established by followers of the Russian writer Leo Tolstoy. In Trumpeldor's mind, the idea of collective living became merged with the Zionist ideal of settling Erez Israel, and he dreamed of establishing agricultural communes in Erez Israel which, if necessary, would be defended by armed force.

He was however, drafted into the Russian army and lost an arm while fighting in the Russo-Japanese war. In 1912 he went to Erez Israel and worked for a while at kevuzzat Deganyah, and participated in the defense of the Jewish settlements in the lower Galilee. When World War I broke out, he was deported to Egypt after he refused to join the Turkish army. In Alexandria, he called for the formation of a legion of volunteers drawn from the Erez Israel deportees to be at the disposal of the British and help liberate the country from the Turks.

The British allowed the formation of a Jewish brigade (the "Zion Mule Corps") of which Trumpeldor became the deputy commander and which participated in the Gallipoli campaign of 1915. Between 1915 and 1919 Trumpeldor traveled widely, spending much time in England and Russia, promoting the organization of Jewish regiments to fight the Turks and Jewish self-defense units to protect the settlements in Erez Israel.

In Russia, in particular, he was very active in the organization of the He-Halutz movement whose aim was the training of young Jews for settling in Erez Israel.

In 1919 he returned to Erez Israel and in January 1920 was called to the northern Galilee to help organize the defense of the settlements there which had come under increasingly fierce Arab attack. On March 1 he was mortally wounded while participating in the defense of the settlemenents at Tel Hai; his dying words were: Ein davar, tov lamut be'ad arzenu ("Never mind; it is good to die for our country").

Trumpeldor was buried near Tel Hai, and in 1934 a memorial was erected at his gravesite. Shortly after his death, a new settlement at the foot of Mount Gilboa was named Tel Yosef in his honor, and songs, poems and stories were written about him as a hero of the Jewish resettlement of Erez Israel. His lifestory served as an inspirational model to both the pioneering socialist youth movements and the right-wing youth groups. One of the largest and most successful of the latter was named in his honor: Betar, an abbreviation of Berit Trumpeldor.
http://www.saveisrael.com/images/trumpwhite.gif

[Javehn]

actually , his last words weren't : It is good die for the country , they were just good old Russian swearing ...

[duck]

S'13: The Beitar Jerusalem soccer team, does it originate from the group mentioned in the text?

[S'13]

actually , his last words weren't : It is good die for the country , they were just good old Russian swearing ...

There are all kinds of version to the story, however I saw a documented witness account in which he claimed that Trumpeldor's final words were "tov lamut be'ad arzenu". I myself don't think it matters what Trumpeldor said, it's enough to see what he did...

[S'13]

S'13: The Beitar Jerusalem soccer team, does it originate from the group mentioned in the text?

The Betar sports club is affiliated to the Betar movement.

[NcDeuce]

Probably a nice read but it's all in bold.

[XASA]

Audie Murphy

http://www.grunts.net/legends/audiemurphy.html

[Chris1]

Col. H Jones
http://www.sama82.org.uk/garden/images/hjones-5.jpg

The QUEEN has been graciously pleased to approve the Posthumous award of the VICTORIA CROSS to the undermentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished service during the operations in the South Atlantic:

Lieutenant Colonel Herbert JONES O.B.E. (465788), The Parachute Regiment

On 28th May 1982 Lieutenant Colonel JONES was commanding 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment on operations on the Falkland Islands. The Battalion was ordered to attack enemy positions in and around the settlements of Darwin and Goose Green.

During the attack against an enemy who was well dug in with mutually supporting positions sited in depth, the Battalion was held up just South of Darwin by a particularly well-prepared and resilient enemy position of at least eleven trenches on an important ridge. A number of casualties were received. In order to read the battle fully and to ensure that the momentum of his attack was not lost, Colonel Jones took forward his reconnaissance party to the foot of a re-entrant which a section of his Battalion had just secured. Despite persistent, heavy and accurate fire the reconnaissance party gained the top of the re-entrant, at approximately the same height as the enemy positions. From here Colonel Jones encouraged the direction of his Battalion mortar fire, in an effort to neutralise the enemy positions. However, these had been well prepared and continued to pour effective fire onto the Battalion advance, which, by now held up for over an hour and under increasingly heavy artillery fire, was in danger of faltering.

In his effort to gain a good viewpoint, Colonel Jones was now at the very front of his Battalion. It was clear to him that desperate measures were needed in order to overcome the enemy position and rekindle the attack, and that unless these measures were taken promptly the Battalion would sustain increasing casualties and the attack perhaps even fail. It was time for personal leadership and action. Colonel Jones immediately seized a sub-machine gun, and, calling on those around him and with total disregard for his own safety, charged the nearest enemy position. This action exposed him to fire from a number of trenches. As he charged up a short slope at the enemy position he was seen to fall and roll backward downhill. He immediately picked himself up, and again charged the enemy trench, firing his sub-machine gun and seemingly oblivious to the intense fire directed at him. He was hit by fire from another trench which he outflanked, and fell dying only a few feet from the enemy he had assaulted. A short time later a company of the Battalion attacked the enemy who quickly surrendered. The devastating display of courage by Colonel Jones had completely undermined their will to fight further.

Thereafter the momentum of the attack was rapidly regained, Darwin and Goose Green were liberated, and the Battalion released the local inhabitants unharmed and forced the surrender of some 1,200 of the enemy.

The achievements of 2nd Battalion The Parachute Regiment at Darwin and Goose Green set the tone for the subsequent land victory on the Falklands. They achieved such a moral superiority over the enemy in this first battle that, despite the advantages of numbers and selection of battle-ground, they never thereafter doubted either the superior fighting qualities of the British troops, or their own inevitable defeat.

This was an action of the utmost gallantry by a Commanding Officer whose dashing leadership and courage throughout the battle were an inspiration to all about him.

[MARINO]

http://www.msu.edu/user/colmeiro/ultimos.jpg
This guys were resisting 1 year against 1000 enemis with artillery 1898/1899 a year after spanish american war ends, in a small church, cause they didn't belive that Spain was defeated, when a Spanish politicien come to told them truth the left the church the were recieve has heores by thei enemys(Philippines and Americans)
The Spanish commander, Saturnino Martin Cerezo, thought that the
Filipino revolution against Spain had not ended even with the coming of the Americans in 1898. He and his men, were still resisting the siege of Filipino revolutionary troops under Luna Novicio in that isolated stone church in a likewise isolated town locked in a small valley between the impenetrable Sierra Madre mountain range and the vast Pacific Ocean somewhere in the mid-eastern side of Luzon near Nueva Ecija and La Isabela.
When Martin Cerezo at last learned that Spain had already lost her far-flung over-sea province to the República de Filipinas, he capitulated to the army of Presidente Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy.What was surely unexpected was the magnanimous decree of Presidente Aguinaldo declaring these Spanish soldiers not as enemies but as honored friends for which they were given military respect and safe-conduct to Manila and subsequently allowed to return to Spain in spite of the raging U.S. war of invasion against the already well-organized Unang República ng Filipinas, ----the first to be established in Asia and Oceania
Aguinaldo’s élan, as the Spanish-speaking gentleman that he was, proved to the world that the Filipinos of that time were not the g-stringed savages, prone to head-hunting, torture and robbery, that a later colonization tried to show in the pre-war II St. Louis exposition to the exasperation of one Manuel Luis Quézon from Baler’s small "Sector de Mestizos".
In short, Filipinos and Spaniards parted as friends and not as enemies. And this is what the Filipino-Spanish day of friendship is all about. A focus on the fact that Spain did not leave as the hated enemy that many history textbooks tend to subjectively teach the new generations of Filipinos to this day.
Emilio Aguinaldo’s government was still free from the new colonial influence in the present-day educational system and he was, therefore, free to think of the future friendship and cooperation that the Filipino people were to enjoy with a Spain that would eventually raise to prosperity and into a new role in a future World-order. But the bloody interruption in the life of the Unang República and the subsequent over-Americanization of education in English, succeeded in delaying for a century that futuristic vision of great Filipino statesmen and truly free policy-makers like Emilio Aguinaldo, Apolinario Mabini, Felipe Agoncillo, Antonio Luna Novicio, Rianzares Bautista Lim, Pedro Paterno and so many others.

[ST4]

I dont believe in heroes... but long story, so dont ask.

Anyone who serves in the US military, wheater it is from your Delta operator to your Navy ship cook, are all heroes. I have the greatest respect for all member of the US miltiary.

Here are seven who really impact me (the men are in no perticular order):

Major Richard Ira Bong
http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/Bong.jpg
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty in the Southwest Pacific area from 10 October to 15 November 1944. Though assigned to duty as gunnery instructor and neither required nor expected to perform combat duty, Maj. Bong voluntarily and at his own urgent request engaged in repeated combat missions, including unusually hazardous sorties over Balikpapan, Borneo, and in the Leyte area of the Philippines. His aggressiveness and daring resulted in his shooting down 8 enemy airplanes during this period.
America's "Ace of Aces" - List of 40 Japanese Plans Shot Down http://www.acepilots.com/usaaf_bong.html



Senior Airman Jason Cunningham
http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/Cunningham.jpg
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Title 10, Section 8742, U.S.C., awards the Air Force Cross to Senior Airman Jason D. Cunningham for extraordinary heroism in military operations against an opposing armed force while serving as a pararescueman near the village of Marzak in the Paktia Province of Afghanistan on 4 March 2002. On that proud day, Airman Cunningham was the primary Air Force Combat Search and Rescue medic assigned to a Quick Reaction Force tasked to recover two American servicemen evading capture in austere terrain occupied by massed Al Qaida and Taliban forces. Shortly before landing, his MH-47E helicopter received accurate rocket-propelled grenade and small arms fire, severely disabling the aircraft and causing it to crash land. The assault force formed a hasty defense and immediately suffered three fatalities and five critical casualties. Despite effective enemy fire, and at great risk to his own life, Airman Cunningham remained in the burning fuselage of the aircraft in order to treat the wounded. As he moved his patients to a more secure location, mortar rounds began to impact within fifty feet of his position. Disregarding this extreme danger, he continued the movement and exposed himself to enemy fire on seven separate occasions. When the second casualty collection point was also compromised, in a display of uncommon valor and gallantry, Airman Cunningham braved an intense small arms and rocket-propelled grenade attack while repositioning the critically wounded to a third collection point. Even after he was mortally wounded and quickly deteriorating, he continued to direct patient movement and transferred care to another medic. In the end, his distinct efforts led to the successful delivery of ten gravely wounded Americans to life-saving medical treatment. Through his extraordinary heroism, superb airmanship, aggressiveness in the face of the enemy, and in the dedication of his service to his country, Senior Airman Cunningham reflected the highest credit upon himself and the United States Air Force.
Cunningham should of recieved the Medal of Honor in my opinion.



Master Sergeant Gary Gordon
http://www.msc.navy.mil/GRAPHICS/Gordon.jpg
Master Sergeant Gordon, United States Army, distinguished himself by actions above and beyond the call of duty on 3 October 1993, while serving as Sniper Team Leader, United States Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. Master Sergeant Gordon's sniper team provided precision fires from the lead helicopter during an assault and at two helicopter crash sites, while subjected to intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires. When Master Sergeant Gordon learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the second crash site, he and another sniper unhesitatingly volunteered to be inserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite being well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. After his third request to be inserted, Master Sergeant Gordon received permission to perform his volunteer mission. When debris and enemy ground fires at the site caused them to abort the first attempt, Master Sergeant Gordon was inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. Equipped with only his sniper rifle and a pistol, Master Sergeant Gordon and his fellow sniper, while under intense small arms fire from the enemy, fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured crew members. Master Sergeant Gordon immediately pulled the pilot and the other crew members from the aircraft, establishing a perimeter which placed him and his fellow sniper in the most vulnerable position. Master Sergeant Gordon used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers until he depleted his ammunition. Master Sergeant Gordon then went back to the wreckage, recovering some of the crew's weapons and ammunition. Despite the fact that he was critically low on ammunition, he provided some of it to the dazed pilot and then radioed for help. Master Sergeant Gordon continued to travel the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. After his team member was fatally wounded and his own rifle ammunition exhausted, Master Sergeant Gordon returned to the wreckage, recovering a rifle with the last five rounds of ammunition and gave it to the pilot with the words, "good luck." Then, armed only with his pistol, Master Sergeant Gordon continued to fight until he was fatally wounded. His actions saved the pilot's life. Master Sergeant Gordon's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon, his unit and the United States Army.



Lieutenant Tom Norris
http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/Norris.jpg
Lt. Norris completed an unprecedented ground rescue of 2 downed pilots deep within heavily controlled enemy territory in Quang Tri Province. Lt. Norris, on the night of 10 April 1972, led a 5-man patrol through 2,000 meters of heavily controlled enemy territory, located 1 of the downed pilots at daybreak, and returned to the Forward Operating Base (FOB). On 11 April, after a devastating mortar and rocket attack on the small FOB, Lt. Norris led a 3-man team on 2 unsuccessful rescue attempts for the second pilot. On the afternoon of the 12th, a forward air controller located the pilot and notified Lt. Norris. Dressed in fishermen disguises and using a sampan, Lt. Norris and 1 Vietnamese traveled throughout that night and found the injured pilot at dawn. Covering the pilot with bamboo and vegetation, they began the return journey, successfully evading a North Vietnamese patrol. Approaching the FOB, they came under heavy machine gun fire. Lt. Norris called in an air strike which provided suppression fire and a smokescreen, allowing the rescue party to reach the FOB. By his outstanding display of decisive leadership, undaunted courage, and selfless dedication in the face of extreme danger, Lt. Norris enhanced the finest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.



1st Lieutenant Audie Murphy
http://www.angelfire.com/md2/Ldotvets/images/Audie1.jpg
2d Lt. Murphy commanded Company B, which was attacked by 6 tanks and waves of infantry. 2d Lt. Murphy ordered his men to withdraw to prepared positions in a woods, while he remained forward at his command post and continued to give fire directions to the artillery by telephone. Behind him, to his right, 1 of our tank destroyers received a direct hit and began to burn. Its crew withdrew to the woods. 2d Lt. Murphy continued to direct artillery fire which killed large numbers of the advancing enemy infantry. With the enemy tanks abreast of his position, 2d Lt. Murphy climbed on the burning tank destroyer, which was in danger of blowing up at any moment, and employed its .50 caliber machine gun against the enemy. He was alone and exposed to German fire from 3 sides, but his deadly fire killed dozens of Germans and caused their infantry attack to waver. The enemy tanks, losing infantry support, began to fall back. For an hour the Germans tried every available weapon to eliminate 2d Lt. Murphy, but he continued to hold his position and wiped out a squad which was trying to creep up unnoticed on his right flank. Germans reached as close as 10 yards, only to be mowed down by his fire. He received a leg wound, but ignored it and continued the single-handed fight until his ammunition was exhausted. He then made his way to his company, refused medical attention, and organized the company in a counterattack which forced the Germans to withdraw. His directing of artillery fire wiped out many of the enemy; he killed or wounded about 50. 2d Lt. Murphy's indomitable courage and his refusal to give an inch of ground saved his company from possible encirclement and destruction, and enabled it to hold the woods which had been the enemy's objective.



Sergeant First Class Randall Shughart
http://www.msc.navy.mil/GRAPHICS/Shughart.jpg
Sergeant First Class Shughart, United States Army, distinguished himself by actions above and beyond the call of duty on 3 October 1993, while serving as a Sniper Team Member, United States Army Special Operations Command with Task Force Ranger in Mogadishu, Somalia. Sergeant First Class Shughart provided precision sniper fires from the lead helicopter during an assault on a building and at two helicopter crash sites, while subjected to intense automatic weapons and rocket propelled grenade fires. While providing critical suppressive fires at the second crash site, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader learned that ground forces were not immediately available to secure the site. Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader unhesitatingly volunteered to be inserted to protect the four critically wounded personnel, despite being well aware of the growing number of enemy personnel closing in on the site. After their third request to be inserted, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader received permission to perform this volunteer mission. When debris and enemy ground fires at the site caused them to abort the first attempt, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader were inserted one hundred meters south of the crash site. Equipped with only his sniper rifle and a pistol, Sergeant First Class Shughart and his team leader, while under intense small arms fire from the enemy, fought their way through a dense maze of shanties and shacks to reach the critically injured crew members. Sergeant First Class Shughart pulled the pilot and the other crew members from the aircraft, establishing a perimeter which placed him and his fellow sniper in the most vulnerable position. Sergeant First Class Shughart used his long range rifle and side arm to kill an undetermined number of attackers while traveling the perimeter, protecting the downed crew. Sergeant First Class Shughart continued his protective fire until he depleted his ammunition and was fatally wounded. His actions saved the pilot's life. Sergeant First Class Shughart's extraordinary heroism and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest standards of military service and reflect great credit upon him, his unit and the United States Army.



Engineman Second Class Michael Thornton
http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/Thornton.jpg
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while participating in a daring operation against enemy forces in the Republic of Vietnam on October 31, 1972. Petty Officer Thornton, an assistant U.S. Navy advisor, along with a U.S. Navy lieutenant serving as senior advisor, accompanied a three-man Vietnamese Navy SEAL patrol on an intelligence gathering and prisoner capture operation against an enemy-occupied naval river base. Launched from a Vietnamese Navy junk in a rubber boat, the patrol reached land and was continuing on foot toward its objective when it suddenly came under heavy fire from a numerically superior force. The patrol called in naval gunfire support and then engaged the enemy in a fierce firefight, accounting for many enemy casualties before moving back to the waterline to prevent encirclement. Upon learning that the senior advisor had been hit by enemy fire and was believed to be dead, Petty Officer Thornton returned through a hail of fire to the lieutenant's last position, quickly disposed of two enemy soldiers about to overrun the position, and succeeded in removing the seriously wounded and unconscious senior naval advisor to the water's edge. He then inflated the lieutenant's life jacket and towed him seaward for approximately two hours until picked up by support craft. By his extraordinary courage and perseverance, Petty Officer Thornton was directly responsible for saving the life of his superior officer and enabling the safe extraction of all patrol members, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
The Lieutenant that Thronton went back for, rescued, and swam him out to sea, even though he was shot in the face, was LIEUTENANT TOM NORRIS


Thronton later became a SEAL Officer after his action in October 1973 that resulted in his Medal of Honor. He was the first enlisted SEAL to recieve the Medal of Honor.

[16 OBr SpN]

http://www.rusglobus.net/rg_ru/abroad/GZL/Starinov1.jpg

Colonel Ilya Starinov.

The "father" of Soviet Spetsnaz.
Participated in Spanish Civil War, fighting against Franko's regime. He was a senior advisor to the commander of the Southern Front. His nickname was "Rudolfo". During that period of time, his unit had carried out more than 200 successful saboteur missions.
His unit blew up a train carrying the echelon of Moroccan cavalry. His most legendary operation in Spain took place in February, 1938, when he and his Spanish comrades blew up a train carrying Italian air force command, along with hundreds of soldiers and officers.

Later all his Spanish comrades joined us against nazi forces in WWII.

During WWII, Starinov had created a massive net of diversionary units, which executed thousands of sabotage missions against nazis.

In October, 1941, his unit blew up the building in which commanders of the German 68th Infantry Division were positioned in Khar'kov, Ukraine. They blew up a massive bomb which was buried in the basement of the building. Among the dead was General Georg Von Braun, the commander of the 68th Infantry Division.

Listing all of his achievements will take a very long time. Some people call "the saboteur of the century". He is indeed a legendary person.
We called him "grandpa". He died at the age of 101. Before he died, he wrote three books about demolision techniques, and guerilla warfare.

Interesting fact - during the Afghan war, when we raided an enemy base, we found hundreds of copies of his book "Notes of the Saboteur", translated into Dari, Arabic, and Pashtu.
Afghans were learning from it.

Regards,
16 OBr SpN

[Flagg]

http://www.victoriacross.net/images/photo/p1246_upham_ch.jpg

I'm going with Charles Upham, why?

1.) Charles Upham: VICTORIA CROSS AND BAR

Acknowledged widely as the outstanding solider of the Second World War, Captain Charles Upham is the only combatant solider to receive the Victoria Cross and Bar (awarded to members of the armed forces of the Commonwealth for exceptional bravery). In Crete in May 1941 and the Western Desert in July 1942 Upham distinguished himself with displays of ‘nerveless competence’.

Born in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1908 Upham was educated at Christ’s College and Canterbury Agricultural College at Lincoln. Prior to the war he was a farm manager and then farm valuer before enlisting in the Second New Zealand Expeditionary Force (aged 30) in 1939, quietly citing his reason as a desire to fight for justice.

Courage and Resource
He was renowned for combining controlled courage with quick-thinking resourcefulness. While most medals for bravery are awarded for a single act, Upham’s first citation was for nine days of skill, leadership and evident heroism. In March 1941, he was a Second Lieutenant in the 20th NZ Battalion in Crete. His display of courage included destroying numerous enemy posts, rescuing a wounded man under fire and penetrating deep behind German lines, killing twenty-two German soldiers on the way to leading out an isolated platoon – all after being blown over by a mortar shell, painfully wounded in the shoulder by shrapnel and with a bullet in his foot.

The incident that typified Upham’s deeds was when two German soldiers trapped him alone on the fringes of an olive grove. Upham (on his way to warning other troops that they were being cut off) was watched by his platoon, a helpless distance away on the other side of the clearing, as he was fired on by the German soldiers. With any movement potentially fatal, he feigned dead and with calculated coolness waited for the enemy soldiers to approach. With one arm lame in a sling, he used the crook of a tree to support his rifle and shoot the first assailant, reload with one hand, and shoot the second who was so close as to fall against the barrel of Upham’s rifle.

Gallantry and Determination
Captain Upham's second citation was for his part in the July 1942 attack on Ruweisat Ridge, Egypt, where the New Zealand Division was stranded when promised armoured support never came through. As the Allied forces struggled to hold the line, Upham led his company on what was described as a savage attack on German and Italian strongpoints. Upham himself was responsible for destroying a German tank and several guns and vehicles with hand grenades and, though he was shot through the elbow with a machine gun bullet and had his arm shattered, he went on again to a forward position and brought back some of his men who had become isolated.
He was removed to the regimental aid post, but immediately after his wounds had been dressed he returned to his men. He consolidated and held his position and despite exhaustion, loss of blood and further injuries (as a result of artillery and mortar fire that decimated most of his company) he stayed with the only six remaining members until, now unable to move, he was eventually overrun by the superior weight of the enemy forces and captured.

Typifying his character and nickname ‘Pug’, he attempted to escape numerous times before being branded "dangerous" by the Germans and incarcerated in the infamous prison fortress Colditz.

Epitomising a certain strain of Kiwi modesty, Charles Upham was embarrassed by the accolades he received and attempted to avoid international media attention. When the people of Canterbury collected and offered him 10,000 pounds to purchase a farm in recognition of his gallantry, Upham refused and instead insisted the money be put towards an educational scholarship for children of returned soldiers.

At the conclusion of the war he returned to New Zealand to resume life as a sheep farmer in Hundalee, an isolated area north of Christchurch. It was rumoured that Charlie Upham never allowed a German-made car or machine onto the farm. He died in 1994.

When King George VI enquired to Major-General Kippenberger whether Upham deserved a Bar to the Cross, Kippenberger replied, "In my respectful opinion, sir, Upham has won the VC several times over." The Complete Australian and New Zealand Victoria Cross Reference affirms that "without doubt Upham remains one of the most courageous leaders of any modern conflict". Charles Upham was unassumingly a true edge warrior.


2.) My Recruit unit was 2 Platoon Upham

Down here he's revered as a true "hard bastard."

[Ngati Tumatauenga]

Damn Flagg, you beat me too it. Have you read 'The mark of the lion'?.

[ArmedPacifist]

I was always a fan of Hans Rudel. Great pilot.

Also my uncle. What he told me about Rwanada when I was younger was one of the deciding factors of me joining the army.
He is a Warrant Officer right now and still in the service. A true and dedicated soldier.

[Flagg]

Funny you should mention it Ngati.....I just got an email saying it's waiting for me to pick up at the Christchurch library!

[mustamato]

Whoaa. It´s really amazing to read about all those great men. Some of them have become quite famous because of Hollywood movies while others (such as the finnish heroes) are mainly known only in their respective country of origin.

So keep posting more heroes :)

___________________________________________

Here are my contributions to the list of even more war heroes.

http://www.sci.fi/~fta/wind-01l.jpg
http://www.sci.fi/~fta/wind-03b.jpg

Hans "Hasse" Wind. Finnish fighter pilot with 75 aerial victories, second only to Ilmari "Illu" Juutilainen with 94 victories. Wind has been called "the René Fonck of WW2". He was wounded in a dogfight 28th june 1944 when a 37 mm from a russian Airacobra hit his plane and was hospitalized for the rest of the war. He finished a total of 302 combat sorties. He left FAF service on 10 October 1945 as a captain. "Hasse" Wind died on 24 July 1995 in Tampere. He became the highest scoring pilot flying a Brewster Buffalo.

http://www.jimlaurier.com/details/hanswind.jpg

_____________________________________________

Marshal Carl Gustaf Emil Mannerheim

http://www.sodatkuvina.cjb.net/images/Jatkosota/Henkilot/V%E4riMannerheim.jpg
As the military leader during the second world war

http://www.mannerheim.fi/valokuva/01/tlevy.jpg
As a true soldier even he had one :)

The best way to present this man if you have never heard of him before is simply to post his merit list.

-Born 1867 and at the age of 14 sent to Military Cadet School in Hamina but was expelled for disciplinary reasons (obviously wanted to leed, not follow)
- Joined the Russian Army in 1887, enrolled in the Nikolaevsky Cavalry School in St. Petersburg.
- Took part in the Russo-Japanese war of 1904-05 as a staff officer in Nezhinski Dragoon Regiment and was promoted to colonel.
- Travelled 14.000 km during 2 years on the horseback during a (military) scientifc excursion.
- Major General in 1911
- Fought in the first world war on the eastern front
- Lieutenant General in 1914 and awarded the Cross of St. Geroge
- Returned to Finland due to the russian revolution, just in time for the civil war.
- Leader of the victorius "white side" during the war (in contrast to Soviet Union where the communists won)
- Candidate during the presidential elections in Finland 1918, lost however
- Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces during the second world war
- Appointed "Marshal of Finland"
- President of Finland in 1944 when Finland broke with Germany and sued for peace with Soviet Union
- Resigned the presidency in 1946, died at the of 83 in 1951

http://www.mannerheim.fi/valokuva/01/11.jpg
General of the "white side" during the civil war.

http://www.sodatkuvina.cjb.net/images/Jatkosota/Rintama/4206MannerheiminSyntym%E4p%E4iv%E4Hitler%26Mannerheim.jpg
Hitler during his surprise visit to Finland on Mannerheims 75th birthday. Hitlers only visit during the war to non-occupied country. Hitlers birthday present was the "Goldenes Grosskreuz des Deutschen Adlerordens". Hitler respected the older and noble Mannerheim, but Mannerheim had not much respect for this "corpral" as he used to call him. But politics is politics.

http://www.mannerheim.fi/valokuva/13/patsas.jpg
There are more than one statue of Mannerheim in Finland

http://www.mannerheim.fi/valokuva/01/vaakuna2.jpg
Mannerheim’s coat-of-arms was the coat-of-arms of
the Mannerheim family of barons.

[Dennis G]

Carlos Hathcock

http://drs.yahoo.com/S=96062883/K=Carlos+Hathcock/v=2/l=IVI/*-http://www.fulton-armory.com/hathcock.jpg

[Rantanplan]

http://www.mercola.com/2000/oct/22/klunk.jpg

Nuff said.

[MARINO]

Whoaa. It´s really amazing to read about all those great men. Some of them have become quite famous because of Hollywood movies while others (such as the finnish heroes) are mainly known only in their respective country of origin.
For Spanish herores, you hve an old movie, from 1940 after Spanish civil war , because after civil war spanish movies wwre very patriotic, nowadays is imposible to find a spanish patriotic or military movie, and if they exust they are a real ****.
So this movie is "Los Ultimos de Filipinas"="Lasts of Philippines"

[ArmedPacifist]

http://www.mercola.com/2000/oct/22/klunk.jpg

Nuff said.

colonel Klink? :D

[Smintjes]

http://www.livius.org/a/1/germania/ambiorix.jpg

Ambiorix: leader of the Eburones, a Belgian tribe. In the winter of 54/53 BCE, he destroyed of one of the legions of Julius Caesar, which resulted in the annihilation of his tribe.

More info: http://www.livius.org/am-ao/ambiorix/ambiorix.html

[Falco]

Billy Bishop :D

[GI_Rutger]

Jessica Lynch...The superwoman with the jammed gun!

[radon]

http://www.livius.org/a/1/germania/ambiorix.jpg
damn that is not ambiorix but asterix woot

[MARK.TIGGER]

anders Lassen VC
Capt Maury Stanley RNZA foo at battle of long tan S Vietnam

[ChobbhamDog]

http://www.panzerfaust.com/knights/wittman1.jpg
Sorry but i´ll chose a kraut..
WWII he destroyed nearly 140 tanks and almost as many anti-tank pieces.

He IS the tankcomander No:1
[/list]

[Durandal]

http://www.fentressco.com/sgtyork/york003-1919.gif

Sgt. Alvin C. York

I was going to say Randall Shughart and Gary Gordon are probably first on my list. They knew what was going to happen and the danger involved and they did it anyway.

So, I selected York...

The officers of the 82nd Division made this official report to General Headquarters: "The part which Corporal York individually played in the attack (the capture of the Decauville Railroad) is difficult to estimate. Practically unassisted he captured 132 Germans (three of whom were officers), took about thirty-five machine guns, and killed no less than twenty-five of the enemy, later found by others on the scene of York's extraordinary exploit. The story has been carefully checked in every possible detail from headquarters of this division and is entirely substantiated. Although York's statement tends to underestimate the desperate odds which he overcame, it has been decided to forward to higher authorities the account given in his own name. The success of this assault had a far-reaching effect in relieving the enemy pressure against American forces in the heart of the Argonne Forest."

[mustamato]

http://www.fentressco.com/sgtyork/york003-1919.gif

The officers of the 82nd Division made this official report to General Headquarters: "The part which Corporal York individually played in the attack (the capture of the Decauville Railroad) is difficult to estimate. Practically unassisted he captured 132 Germans (three of whom were officers), took about thirty-five machine guns, and killed no less than twenty-five of the enemy, later found by others on the scene of York's extraordinary exploit. The story has been carefully checked in every possible detail from headquarters of this division and is entirely substantiated. Although York's statement tends to underestimate the desperate odds which he overcame, it has been decided to forward to higher authorities the account given in his own name. The success of this assault had a far-reaching effect in relieving the enemy pressure against American forces in the heart of the Argonne Forest."


That is pretty amazing. Maybe they thought it was a whole company or something assaulting them, has happened more than once that the enemy that surrendered got very surprised when they saw how few of the enemies there were :)

[NcDeuce]

Senior Airman Jason Cunningham
http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/Cunningham.jpg

I agree!

By David Kelly, Times Staff Writer

Sobered after his first combat rescue mission in Afghanistan, Senior Airman Jason Cunningham wrote his wife a letter, preparing her for the worst.

He apologized for not always being the best husband and for the hardships she would face if he died.

"I could not leave this earth without saying goodbye to you. I will miss you and the girls immensely," wrote Cunningham, "Even though I wasn't always the best husband, you have always been the best wife. I want you to know I died a happy man, happy that I met you and happy that I have two wonderful girls."

In a shaky voice, his wife, Theresa, read that letter aloud Saturday during a memorial service for Cunningham at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Camarillo.

"Even in the face of danger, he was still thinking about us," she said. "I keep looking for a reason why. Why? We were really happy. We had two children. Was this his time? Was it his destiny? We don't know."

Cunningham was part of a quick-reaction force sent to rescue a group of soldiers pinned down by heavy machine-gun and rocket fire on a mountain slope. One helicopter had already been shot down when Cunningham's unit flew in aboard another.

"They went in under heavy machine-gun fire. The helicopter was hit by a rocket and crash-landed," Savino told the hushed church. "The pilot and co-pilot were wounded. Some of the Rangers on board had been shot."

Cunningham, a paramedic, opened his rucksack and began treating the wounded. But the flames and smoke from the burning MH-47 helicopter forced him and another rescuer to move the wounded soldiers outside. As they maneuvered over the rocky terrain, gunfire and mortar shells rained down from entrenched Al Qaeda and Taliban positions above.

"Jason said they had to get these guys out of there. He ran across a direct line of fire to move the wounded men to another location," Savino said.

He helped move the wounded three times to shield them from enemy fire.

"Jason was going back and forth treating his wounded comrades when he was shot," Savino said. "He was shot but he continued to treat 10 wounded patients. They owe him their lives. The only reason they came home was because of Jason Cunningham. It doesn't make it easier saying he died doing what he loved or that he was a hero, but that's what he was."

Another Californian, U.S. Navy SEAL Neil Roberts of Woodland, also died in the fight.

Before the battle of March 4 and 5, Cunningham had helped rescue eight crew members aboard a C-130 transport plane that had crashed in Afghanistan. He wrote his wife the letter she had earlier read after that experience.

"He'd seen the dangers of what happened there and he was afraid," she said.

A month before his deployment in Afghanistan, Cunningham and his wife saw the film "Black Hawk Down" about a fierce battle between U.S. Army Rangers and Somali gunmen in Mogadishu.

She asked him why it was necessary for 10 men to go back to save one or retrieve a dead comrade.

"He said, 'Wouldn't you want someone to come after me? Those Rangers and pilots can do their jobs because they know someone is coming after them,'" she recalled.

Makes you glad we have these brave men in our military.

[Ratamacue]

Just to name one of the many lesser-known heroes of war:

Private Rodger W. Young, 148th Infantry, 37th Infantry Division
http://www.wegrokit.com/rypic2.jpg
Born in Tiffin, Ohio on 28 April 1918; died 31 July 1943 on the island of New Georgia, Solomons, South Pacific, while single-handedly attacking and destroying an enemy machine-gun pillbox. His platoon had been pinned down by intense fire from this pillbox; Private Young was wounded in the first burst. He crawled toward the pillbox, was wounded a second time but continued to advance, firing his rifle as he did so. He closed on the pillbox, attacked and destroyed it with hand grenades, but in so doing was wounded a third time and killed.

His bold and gallant action in the face of overwhelming odds enabled his teammates to escape without loss; he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
For those of you familiar with the book or movie "Starship Troopers," one of the ships in it was named the Rodger Young.

[11F5S]

Medal Of Honor Citation:

Master Sergeant (then Staff Sergeant) Roy P. Benavidez United States Army, who distinguished himself by a series of daring and extremely valorous actions on 2 May 1968 while assigned to Detachment B56, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1stSpecial Forces, Republic of Vietnam.

On the morning of 2 May 1968, a 12-man Special Forces Reconnaissance Team was inserted by helicopters in a dense jungle area west of Loc Ninh, Vietnam to gather intelligence informationabout confirmed large-scale enemy activity. This area was controlled androutinely patrolled by the North Vietnamese Army. After a short period oftime on the ground, the team met heavy enemy resistance, and requestedemergency extraction. Three helicopters attempted extraction, but wereunable to land due to intense enemy small arms and anti-aircraft fire.

Sergeant Benavidez was at the Forward Operating Base in Loc Ninh monitoringthe operation by radio when these helicopters returned to off-load woundedcrewmembers and to assess aircraft damage. Sergeant Benavidez voluntarilyboarded a returning aircraft to assist in another extraction attempt.

Realizing that all the team members were either dead or wounded and unableto move to the pickup zone, he directed the aircraft to a nearby clearingwhere he jumped from the hovering helicopter, and ran approximately 75meters under withering small arms fire to the crippled team. Prior toreaching the team's position he was wounded in his right leg, face, andhead. Despite these painful injuries, he took charge, repositioning theteam members and directing their fire to facilitate the landing of anextraction aircraft, and the loading of wounded and dead team members. Hethen threw smoke canisters to direct the aircraft to the team's position.

Despite his severe wounds and under intense enemy fire, he carried anddragged half of the wounded team members to the awaiting aircraft. He thenprovided protective fire by running alongside the aircraft as it moved topick up the remaining team members. As the enemy's fire intensified, hehurried to recover the body and classified documents on the dead teamleader. When he reached the leader's body, Sergeant Benavidez was severelywounded by small arms fire in the abdomen and grenade fragments in hisback. At nearly the same moment, the aircraft pilot was mortally wounded,and his helicopter crashed.

Although in extremely critical condition due tohis multiple wounds, Sergeant Benavidez secured the classified documentsand made his way back to the wreckage, where he aided the wounded out ofthe overturned aircraft, and gathered the stunned survivors into adefensive perimeter. Under increasing enemy automatic weapons and grenadefire, he moved around the perimeter distributing water and ammunition tohis weary men, reinstilling in them a will to live and fight.

Facing abuildup of enemy opposition with a beleaguered team, Sergeant Benavidezmustered his strength, began calling in tactical air strikes and directedthe fire from supporting gunships to suppress the enemy's fire and sopermit another extraction attempt.

He was wounded again in his thigh bysmall arms fire while administering first aid to a wounded team member justbefore another extraction helicopter was able to land. His indomitablespirit kept him going as he began to ferry his comrades to the craft.

Onhis second trip with the wounded, he was clubbed from additional wounds tohis head and arms before killing his adversary. He then continued underdevastating fire to carry the wounded to the helicopter. Upon reaching theaircraft, he spotted and killed two enemy soldiers who were rushing thecraft from an angle that prevented the aircraft door gunner from firingupon them. With little strength remaining, he made one last trip to theperimeter to ensure that all classified material had been collected ordestroyed, and to bring in the remaining wounded.

Only then, in extremelyserious condition from numerous wounds and loss of blood, did he allowhimself to be pulled into the extraction aircraft.

Sergeant Benavidez'gallant choice to join voluntarily his comrades who were in criticalstraits, to expose himself constantly to withering enemy fire, and hisrefusal to be stopped despite numerous severe wounds, saved the lives of atleast eight men.

His fearless personal leadership, tenacious devotion toduty, and extremely valorous actions in the face of overwhelming odds werein keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflectthe utmost credit on him and the United States Army.



RIP Brother.


http://www.geocities.com/Pentagon/Quarters/8061/tribute.html

[Mr. Nielsen]

That is pretty amazing. Maybe they thought it was a whole company or something assaulting them, has happened more than once that the enemy that surrendered got very surprised when they saw how few of the enemies there were :)

Undoubtedly, though it likely would not have been so easy at the beginning of the war or at the eastfront.

Another example is the taking of the Greek city Saloniki in October 1944 by Anders Lassen.
The city was held by several thousand german troops, and he took it with less than 50 men.

[Loco]

Note: This post was in the thread about the toughest military units of the last 3 centuries, so I changed it to this place because this is the right place:

A group of three woman who fought with coctails molotovs and dynamite against tanks and professional soldiers, they were civil women converted in soldiers in few days. I doubt any SForce of today have the spirit and bravery and, too, skill they showed.
Rosita Sánchez, in spite of her look, she fought succesfully against professional troops and caused losses to enemy:
http://www.sbhac.net/Republica/Imagenes/FotoRep/Thumb_GCE_RF03_AGA55567_MilicianaExtremena_2.jpg
http://www.sbhac.net/Republica/Imagenes/FotoRep/GCE_RF03_AGA55566_MilicianaExtremena.jpg
At the left of below photo, Rosario Sánchez "la dinamitera", she was condecorated for her bravery, and lost her right hand attacking tanks with dynamite, she was at the end of war sargent because of her merits. I think she still is alive:
http://www.sbhac.net/Republica/Personajes/Heroes/Thumb_GCE_RF03_Col_RosarioSanchez_JuanitaDinamitera.jpg
And Julia Sanz, being condecorated because of bravery in combat, she was ascended to caporal. Both Rosario and Julia fought in the 14 battalion of Volunteers:
http://www.sbhac.net/Republica/Personajes/Heroes/Thumb_GCE_SD_SD_GF08_JuliaSanzIngresaComoCaboCarabineros.jpg
In the rebel side there were war heroes, of course. My favourite militar of this side is José Varela Iglesias(1891-1951), who had and extraordinary career, beginning as a soldier when he was 18 in the corps of Infantería de Marina(Marines), and he was ascending the military rank to the top rank in spanish army. As if it wasn´t enough, he was honoured twice with the medal Laureada de San Fernando, the most important in Spain, in addition to the medal of the military merit, the second in importance. He got the most of his medals in Marroq, where he was wounded 6 times. The extraordinary of the case is that Laureada medal usually is granted most of the times post mortem, because the rewarded one died in the action in the one that gained it, so the exigence for winning this medals are extraordinary. He won the first medal in the assault to the cave of Ruman(Riff mountains), over the river Lucus, in 1920. From this hidden and high cave, the enemy was preventing any movement of the Spanish troops without risking his safety. After 2 failed assaults, the lieutenant Varela offered himself volunteer to assault the cave with 20 volunteers of his section of the Trops Regulares Indígenas. The assault was done with
pistol and bayonet. In the fight inside the cave the enemy had 30 dead men, and the section of Varela 17, but the route remained open. He won the second Laureada still being a lieutnant. He rejected all honours by the king, only accepted the military ones he deserved by ordinance. He fought the rest of Marroq campaign commanding berbers soldiers mainly. When he assisted the course of War School for being promoted to General, in 1934, he was the 1º of his class. When the civil war began, he was General de Brigada. Through the CWar, he was one of the more remarkable generals, and it´s the reason his name is well known today in Spain, but Varela would deserve being in the history of Spanish Army though it was only for what he obtained being an official young man, since he´s the only one who got 2 Laureadas.
http://www.barranque.com/guerracivil/varela.jpg

[Loco]

I saw an old movie about Caporal York, played by Gary Cooper, in cable tv. As I remember, Caporal York was before war a country man very good hunting turkey, and he showed a great accuracy in a contest. About his exploit, the movie shows G.Cooper acting like a sniper or so.

[FuturePara]

http://rds.yahoo.com/S=96062883/K=Scott+Speicher/v=2/l=IVI/*-http://i.cnn.net/cnn/2002/US/03/16/speicher.pow/vert.speicher.jpg

Michael Scott Spiecher

If you're out there...we'll find you.

[AFG]

Gen. Douglas MacArthur



runners up would have to be Carlos Hathcock II, and the two Delta snipers (Shughart and Gordon) that gave their lives during The Battle of the Black Sea (aka the Mog battle).

[OldRecon]

Saw this pic in an entry above under this tread of a brave woman fighter on the republican side of the Spanish civil war:
http://www.sbhac.net/Republica/Personajes/Heroes/Thumb_GCE_RF03_Col_RosarioSanchez_JuanitaDinamitera.jpg

Wonder, isn't the guy in the middle of the picture the communist army commander "El Campesino"?

She did not fight with the anarchist or the POUM then?

[Loco]

Yes, he´s Valentín González El Campesino(The Peasant), a controverted man.
None of the three woman were in POUM raised militias. In the case of Rosita Sánchez, you can see the star(sure red) she has over her breast. POUM was a troskist party, lately persecuted by orthodox PC. El Campesino was member of PC(being in Soviet Union after CWar he break with PC, but that´s other story), so it would be unlikely he was peacefully beaside a POUM member in what was probably a propaganda photo. BTW, in republican side there were women in all kind of popular militias created both by socialist, comunist, troskists, anarchists.

[[AFSOC]]

here's my favourites

http://www.martylyons.com/Images/CaptainCanuck0.JPG

http://www.auntie.com/dustcatchers/ross/captain-america01.jpg

:D

[ArmedPacifist]

It was Johnny Canuck.

[[AFSOC]]

Johnny Canuck and Captain Canuck are the same....

[ArmedPacifist]

]Johnny Canuck and Captain Canuck are the same....

lies

[DE6]

Major Paul Triquet, VC, CD

http://www.r22er.com/images/Triquet_Capt_Paul.jpg

Sole French-speaking VC recipient of WWII. His feats of arms at Casa Berardi stand among Canada's greatest.

For his citation, you're going to have to translate from French. Royal 22e Regiment is French-speaking and proud of it!

http://www.r22er.com/fr/recipiendaire/triquetfr.html

The "Vandoos" VC recipients also include :

Caporal Joseph Kaeble, VC, MM

http://www.r22er.com/fr/recipiendaire/keablefr.html

Lieutenant Jean Brillant, VC, MC

http://www.r22er.com/fr/recipiendaire/brillantfr.html

From Stateside:

A hero from one of the most "fertile" hero-breeding unit: MACV-SOG

Col. Robert L. Howard

http://members.cox.net/rlhtribute/images/uniform_rlh.jpg

One of America's most decorated soldier. Submitted three times for MOH, got it on the third. He couldn't care less about it, though.

His citation:
http://www.homeofheroes.com/moh/citations_living/vn_a_howard.html

To learn more about Howard, John Plaster's book "SOG" is highly recommended.

[mustamato]

Just two more...

Harry Järv, a recon-soldier in the finnish army during the war, belonged to the swedish minority, he had a camera with him all the time and took a lot of pictures with it. Lost a leg when he stepped on a mine. Has written a lot of books and stuff after the war. Harry Järv will be portraied in the new upcoming finnish warmovie...

http://www.kkrva.se/images/kkrvaht/harry_jarv.gif
Harry Järv with his camera and trusty KP31 submachine gun

And some pictures he took with it

http://www.kkrva.se/images/kkrvaht/skidakare.gif
Recon patrol during the winter

http://www.kkrva.se/images/kkrvaht/ostman_skjuten.gif
Ragnar Östman was shot in the chest by a enemy sniper 7th march
1943, and is here taken care of by his comrades

http://www.kkrva.se/images/kkrvaht/skogen.gif
Already the 12th of june the first confrontation with the sniper (that
shot Ragnar Östman) and his two securing squads came. Allan Finholm
is first to charge, closely followed by Bertel Söderman, but the enemy
fled immediately and dissapeared before there even was a firefight.

http://www.veteraanienperinto.fi/suomi/Kertomukset/TietoP/ulkolaiset/jarv3.jpg
Karl Rosenlöf sneaking. By using extreme caution Järvs soldiers always
managed to sneak past the Red Army posts.

Orvar Nilsson, swedish volunteer in Finland during the war from the first beginning during the winter war until the armistice in 1944. Has after the war, just as Harry Järv been a writer and so forth...

http://www.smb.nu/images/pos/0304_frivillig_i_finland_1.gif
"With Finland for Sweden, join the swedish volunteer corps"-advertise,
over 8000 swedes were sent as volunteers to Finland during the Winter
War of 1939-40

http://www.smb.nu/images/pos/0304_frivillig_i_finland_3.gif
Orvar Nilsson as a Lieutenant at the Jandeba-front during the Continuation
War 1941-44

http://www.sotaveteraaniliitto.fi/lehdet/4_03/k-merk.jpg
Orvar Nilsson awarded the cross of liberty, second class.

[fantassin]

I am surprised to see that MSG GORDON wears the French mountain qualification badge over his right pocket.

It's in the shape of a mountain bird called the "Choucas" in French that holds a blue star (the symbol of mountain recce units) in its claws.

I wonder where he got that one....even though many foreign line and special units come to France for mountain training.

[Gauntlet]

The Finnish Alpine Ski Patrols are awsome!! Those fellas took out tank divisions from the Soviets, like 10 of them! In fact it was the Finns who inspired to US to create the 10th Mountain.

[Gauntlet]

Just two more...

Harry Järv will be portraied in the new upcoming finnish warmovie...

Cool. Can you show me where I can find out more about this movie. I'm a WWII buff and I think it'll be cool to see Finnish and Swedish soldiers because... well... How many movies out there are based on the Finnish invasion? It'll be interesting.

[RealUltimatePower]

GARY COLEMAN!!!

[mustamato]

Just two more...

Harry Järv will be portraied in the new upcoming finnish warmovie...

Cool. Can you show me where I can find out more about this movie. I'm a WWII buff and I think it'll be cool to see Finnish and Swedish soldiers because... well... How many movies out there are based on the Finnish invasion? It'll be interesting.

Previous and main finnish warmovies (there are more but nothing that comes up in my mind right now):

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048752/ (from 1955, classic, but old and too patriotic)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090215/ (newer version, recommended)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0098437/ (Winter war, very recommended
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0162625/ (too much Hollywood, but a good time-killer)

________________________________________________

About this upcoming warmovie. I don´t know that much about it. But I found some pictures from the making of the movie.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/%7Ejkt/index.php

http://koti.mbnet.fi/%7Ejkt/keskik/ryssat.jpg
One of the russian squads

http://koti.mbnet.fi/%7Ejkt/keskik/maxim_t-as_ryssat.jpg
Maxim

http://koti.mbnet.fi/%7Ejkt/keskik/panzerfaust.jpg
Finn with Panzerfaust

http://koti.mbnet.fi/%7Ejkt/keskik/raskrh1.jpg
Finnish heavy mortar, those are probably soldiers dressed up like
actors

http://koti.mbnet.fi/%7Ejkt/keskik/kvkrh_t-as.jpg
... same thing here, but with 81 mm mortar instead, they
fired live rounds with them so these are definitively trained
professionals and not actors.

http://koti.mbnet.fi/%7Ejkt/keskik/kv-mies.jpg
Finnish rifleman

http://koti.mbnet.fi/%7Ejkt/keskik/ryhmakuva_p-kangas.jpg
Part of a finnish platoon

[fantassin]

This man was an outstanding officer.

Raoul Charles MAGRIN-VERNEREY, better known under the pseudonym MONCLAR, was an outstanding warrior, the true type of the Foreign Legion officer as shown in legends and popular literature. Born on February 7, 1892, in Budapest, he attended high school at the Lycée Victor Hugo in Besançon and at the Omans seminary. At fifteen and a half, he ran away from home and enlisted in the Foreign Legion. This first contact was short lived due to his very young age.

Entering Saint Cyr in 1912, he graduated in 1914 with the Montmirail class, was promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant on August 5 of that same year, joined the 60th Infantry Regiment and ended the war with the rank of Captain. He was then “Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur” with eleven citations, including seven in the order of the Army, had been wounded seven times and was 90 percent disabled from the service.

Assigned to the Middle-East, he assumed command of various posts or Syrian units. Two new citations were awarded to that uncommon officer who had demonstrated extreme bravery.


In 1931, he was again assigned to the Foreign Legion and did not leave it until October 1941. Within that time, he was assigned to the 2nd Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment in Morocco, then joined the 5th Foreign Legion Infantry Regiment in the Tonkin.

On May 13, 1940, in Bjervik, Norway, the 13th Half Brigade fought its first battle, relentlessly conquered four objectives, forced the enemy to run away, leaving behind numerous prisoners, automatic weapons, countless equipment and up to 10 twin-engine aircraft.

From May 28 to June 2, Lieutenant Colonel MAGRIN-VERNEREY and his legionnaires won in Narvik what was called the only French victory of 1939-1940. A victory which won them a citation to the order of the Free French Forces with the award of the “Croix de Guerre” with palm for liberating 60 allied prisoners, for capturing 590 German soldiers and for seizing eight guns as well as a large quantity of equipment.

He had just returned to France when Lieutenant Colonel MAGRIN-VERNERY, along with 500 of his men, joined the Free French Forces in England on June 21, 1940. Promoted to the rank of Colonel, he then adopted the name of MONCLAR (from the name of the village of Monclar in the department of Tarn et Garonne).

While participating in the operations led against the forces of the Axis in Africa, it is he who, as the commander of the Orient French Brigade in Eritrea, seized Massaoua, made 9 general officers, 440 officers and 14000 Italians prisoners.

Having been appointed Deputy Commanding General of the French troops in Algeria as of 1946, he was, in 1948, Inspector of the Foreign Legion units. During almost two years, he took numerous trips wherever the Foreign Legion units were stationed and fought, in Algeria, Morocco, Madagascar and Indochina.

In 1950, as Lieutenant General, on the eve of his retirement, he exchanged his stars for the stripes of a Lieutenant Colonel in order to be able to fight voluntarily as the commander of the French battalion made available to the United Nations in Korea.

Having reached the age limit, he returned to France in 1951 and, in 1952, succeeding General Kientz, he became Governor of the Invalides.

Lieutenant General MAGRIN-VERNEREY was the recipient of numerous medals including the “Médaille Militaire”, the “Grand Croix de la Légion d’Honneur”, the 1914-1918 and the 1939-1945 “Croix de Guerre”, the Legion of Merit with the rank of officer, the Silver Star, the Military Cross and other numerous foreign decorations. He was wounded seven times, was the recipient of 22 citations and 100 percent disabled.
[/b]

[Uninen]

Did somebody already mention Lauri Törni aka Larry Thorne..

http://www.taskforceomegainc.org/t375p.jpg
Lauri Törni aka Larry Thorne.

War hero for Finnish Long range patrols in ww2, Hero for Waffen-ss in ww2 and hero for MACV-SOG of US in Nam.

(Went MIA in Nam.. :( )

Larry Alan Thorne was born Lauri Allan Torni in Viipuri, Finland. (Link..) (http://www.taskforceomegainc.org/t375.html)

As a young adult, he enlisted in the Finish Army where he obtained the rank of Captain. During the early years of World War II, he developed, trained and commanded the Finish ski troops. Under his strict and demanding leadership, the ski troops fought the Russians deep behind enemy lines for extended periods of time. During Finland's wars against the former Soviet Union, he was awarded every medal for bravery that Finland could bestow including the Knight of the Mannerheim Cross, which is the equivalent of the American Congressional Medal of Honor. After Finland fell to the communists, Capt. Torni joined the German SS in order to continue fighting the communists. After World War II, Lauri Torni made his way to the United States where he enlisted in the US Army under the Lodge Bill. After completing basic training, Larry Thorne was selected for the budding Special Forces program. He quickly rose through the ranks, and with the assistance of allies within the military, received a commission. In 1964, Larry Thorne served his first 6-month tour of duty in South Vietnam.

In February 1965, then Capt. Larry Thorne returned to Long Thanh, South Vietnam for his second tour of duty. While assigned to Headquarters, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam; Capt. Thorne was instrumental in establishing the standard operating procedures employed by the fledgling Studies and Observation Group, better known by its acronym "MACV-SOG."

:lol:

[Uninen]

http://koti.mbnet.fi/%7Ejkt/ke