Horace M. Thorne
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Horace Marvin Thorne | |
|---|---|
| September 29, 1918 – December 21, 1944 (aged 26) | |
 Horace M. Thorne, Medal of Honor recipient |
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| Place of birth | Keansburg, New Jersey |
| Place of death | near Grufflingen, Belgium |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/branch | United States Army |
| Rank | Corporal |
| Unit | 89th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 9th Armored Division |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Medal of Honor |
Horace Marvin Thorne (September 29, 1918 – December 21, 1944) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in World War II.
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[edit] Biography
Thorne joined the Army from Keyport, New Jersey, and by December 21, 1944 was serving as a Corporal in Troop D, 89th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 9th Armored Division. On that day, near Grufflingen in Belgium, he voluntarily took up an exposed position on top of a destroyed tank in order to better fire on the German forces. He killed several Germans and scattered the crews of two enemy machine gun nests before being killed himself. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor nine months later, on September 19, 1945.
Thorne, aged 26 at his death, was buried in Fair View Cemetery, Middletown, New Jersey.
[edit] Medal of Honor citati
Corporal Thorne's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
He was the leader of a combat patrol on 21 December 1944 near Grufflingen, Belgium, with the mission of driving German forces from dug-in positions in a heavily wooded area. As he advanced his light machinegun, a German Mark III tank emerged from the enemy position and was quickly immobilized by fire from American light tanks supporting the patrol. Two of the enemy tankmen attempted to abandon their vehicle but were killed by Cpl. Thorne's shots before they could jump to the ground. To complete the destruction of the tank and its crew, Cpl. Thorne left his covered position and crept forward alone through intense machinegun fire until close enough to toss 2 grenades into the tank's open turret, killing 2 more Germans. He returned across the same fire-beaten zone as heavy mortar fire began falling in the area, seized his machinegun and, without help, dragged it to the knocked-out tank and set it up on the vehicle's rear deck. He fired short rapid bursts into the enemy positions from his advantageous but exposed location, killing or wounding 8. Two enemy machinegun crews abandoned their positions and retreated in confusion. His gun jammed; but rather than leave his self-chosen post he attempted to clear the stoppage; enemy small-arms fire, concentrated on the tank, killed him instantly. Cpl. Thorne, displaying heroic initiative and intrepid fighting qualities, inflicted costly casualties on the enemy and insured the success of his patrol's mission by the sacrifice of his life.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Horace M. Thorne at Find A Grave Retrieved on 2007-10-03
- Medal of Honor Recipients - World War II (T-Z). Medal of Honor Citations. U.S. Army Center of Military History (July 16, 2007). Retrieved on 2007-10-03.
