One soldier: Finland MOH winner, then Waffen SS in WWII. Then Green Beret 'Nam hero.

A Finnish kid who obviously couldn't live without the military. He first fought the Russians when they invaded his homeland of Finland in 1939. And was awarded their MOH. When the Russians prevailed he escaped and joined the Nazi's to continue fighting them. Underwent special training and served as an officer in the Waffen SS. Was imprisoned when Germany surrendered but escaped again and fled to Venezuela where he went to work on a cargo ship.

When the ship passed by close to Mobile Al. he jumped overboard and swam to shore where he immediately tried to join the US Army but his SS past was a problem. But one of his Finnish countrymen living in America got his congressman to pass a congressional bill awarding him citizenship. Eisenhower signed the bill and got him in the army but he had to start over as a private. He volunteered for Special forces and became a Green Beret, changed his name to a more American sounding Larry Thorne. He served 2 tours in 'Nam where he won the Silver Star. And received a special promo to Captain. He was shot down and killed at age 46 serving in a recon position. He is in the Special Forces Hall of Fame, the Special Forces headquarters building is named after him at Ft Carson, Colorado and he is in the Commando Hall of Honor. A best seller book was written about him in Finland in 2003. Hell of a life and soldier who did all that in 46 years. Just read the story in Aug 2019 Vietnam magazine.