Medal of honor winner Richard Sorenson dies

MPLS Star & Sickle ^ | 10-18-04 | Trudi Hahn

[Rakkasan1]

When the shout of "hand grenade" came, Richard Sorenson, a 19-year-old Marine in his first battle, knew what to do.

"We had been trained, over and over again, to cover a hand grenade," he told the Minneapolis Tribune in 1949 about his World War II experiences. "Cover the grenade! Don't let everybody get it just to save your own hide."

[Rakkasan1]

we lost another Great Living American.

[silent_jonny]

I'll take a WWII Vet over a Baby Boomer anyday. Rest now, Mr. Sorenson. You've earned it.

[FreeAtlanta]

Is this the man who is in the Swift Boat vets latest ad?

[SwinneySwitch]

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13

[AuH2ORepublican]

God rest his soul. He was a true hero and an example for us all.

[nuconvert]

No. That's Bud Day.

[Rakkasan1]

not sure, anyone else know?

[X-USAF]

Semper Fi and rest in peace, Marine; you are once again in God's loving hands.

[Mike Fieschko]

Is this the man who is in the Swift Boat vets latest ad?

As another freeper noted, Bud Day is in the ad wearing the MOH. Leo Thorsness is also in the ad, I believe, but he's not wearing it.

[Mike Fieschko]

The citation:

SORENSON, RICHARD KEITH Rank and organization: Private, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, 4th Marine Division. Place and date: Namur Island, Kwajalein Atoll Marshall Islands, 1 -2 February 1944. Entered service at: Minnesota. Born: 28 August 1924, Anoka, Minn. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving with an assault battalion attached to the 4th Marine Division during the battle of Namur Island, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, on 1-2 February 1944. Putting up a brave defense against a particularly violent counterattack by the enemy during invasion operations, Pvt. Sorenson and 5 other marines occupying a shellhole were endangered by a Japanese grenade thrown into their midst. Unhesitatingly, and with complete disregard for his own safety, Pvt. Sorenson hurled himself upon the deadly weapon, heroically taking the full impact of the explosion. As a result of his gallant action, he was severely wounded, but the lives of his comrades were saved. His great personal valor and exceptional spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of almost certain death were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

[agooga]

Damn-- that was one brave Marine... Semper Fi, hero.

[scory]

I always thought that bit about throwing yourself on a live grenade was something from the movies not real life. It seems to me that this man's action defines "above and beyond". I remember reading that General Patton order MOH winners to be removed from combat as he considered they needed to be kept alive so they could go back home and instill their heroism in their progeny as well as inspire other Americans. God rest this heroic man.

[joesnuffy]

If you have a saving relationship with Jesus Christ you don't have to worry about where you are going after your death...

Laying down ones own life and putting aside self in order to save others is a thing Jesus showed us all how to do.....

This was one brave Marine....

[wingnutx]

A Marine is up for the MOH for doing this in Iraq. Sadly he also died from his wounds.

[mywholebodyisaweapon]

The article says that Mr. Sorenson fathered 5 children in spite of wounds to very sensitive areas. That strikes me as nothing short of miraculous, if indeed they were his birth children, as it sounds.

In any case, God blessed this good man and his wife so that we could have five more solid citizens in this county.

Thank God for Richard Sorenson and men of his quality.

[Mr. Silverback]

Hey, this is a "late hit, but let me give you the rundown on the MOH Swiftees.

The two men in the ad are Bud Day and Leo Thorsness. Bud was wearing his MOH in the ad and is the most decorated living American. Their MOH citations appear below, and are impressive even among MOH winners:

DAY, GEORGE E.
Rank and organization: Colonel (then Major), U.S. Air Force, Forward Air Controller Pilot of an F-100 aircraft.
Place and date: North Vietnam, 26 August 1967.
Entered service at: Sioux City, Iowa.
Born: 24 February 1925, Sioux City, Iowa.
Citation: On 26 August 1967, Col. Day was forced to eject from his aircraft over North Vietnam when it was hit by ground fire. His right arm was broken in 3 places, and his left knee was badly sprained. He was immediately captured by hostile forces and taken to a prison camp where he was interrogated and severely tortured. After causing the guards to relax their vigilance, Col. Day escaped into the jungle and began the trek toward South Vietnam. Despite injuries inflicted by fragments of a bomb or rocket, he continued southward surviving only on a few berries and uncooked frogs. He successfully evaded enemy patrols and reached the Ben Hai River, where he encountered U.S. artillery barrages. With the aid of a bamboo log float, Col. Day swam across the river and entered the demilitarized zone. Due to delirium, he lost his sense of direction and wandered aimlessly for several days. After several unsuccessful attempts to signal U.S. aircraft, he was ambushed and recaptured by the Viet Cong, sustaining gunshot wounds to his left hand and thigh. He was returned to the prison from which he had escaped and later was moved to Hanoi after giving his captors false information to questions put before him. Physically, Col. Day was totally debilitated and unable to perform even the simplest task for himself. Despite his many injuries, he continued to offer maximum resistance. His personal bravery in the face of deadly enemy pressure was significant in saving the lives of fellow aviators who were still flying against the enemy. Col. Day's conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Air Force and reflect great credit upon himself and the U.S. Armed Forces.

THORSNESS, LEO K.
Rank and organization: Lieutenant Colonel (then Maj.), U.S. Air Force, 357th Tactical Fighter Squadron.
Place and date: Over North Vietnam, 19 April 1967.
Entered service at: Walnut Grove, Minn.
Born: 14 February 1932, Walnut Grove, Minn.
Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. As pilot of an F- 105 aircraft, Lt. Col. Thorsness was on a surface-to-air missile suppression mission over North Vietnam. Lt. Col. Thorsness and his wingman attacked and silenced a surface-to-air missile site with air-to-ground missiles, and then destroyed a second surface-to-air missile site with bombs. In tile attack on the second missile site, Lt. Col. Thorsness' wingman was shot down by intensive antiaircraft fire, and the 2 crewmembers abandoned their aircraft. Lt. Col. Thorsness circled the descending parachutes to keep the crewmembers in sight and relay their position to the Search and Rescue Center. During this maneuver, a MIG-17 was sighted in the area. Lt. Col. Thorsness immediately initiated an attack and destroyed the MIG. Because his aircraft was low on fuel, he was forced to depart the area in search of a tanker. Upon being advised that 2 helicopters were orbiting over the downed crew's position and that there were hostile MlGs in the area posing a serious threat to the helicopters, Lt. Col. Thorsness, despite his low fuel condition, decided to return alone through a hostile environment of surface-to-air missile and antiaircraft defenses to the downed crew's position. As he approached the area, he spotted 4 MIG-17 aircraft and immediately initiated an attack on the MlGs, damaging 1 and driving the others away from the rescue scene. When it became apparent that an aircraft in the area was critically low on fuel and the crew would have to abandon the aircraft unless they could reach a tanker, Lt. Col. Thorsness, although critically short on fuel himself, helped to avert further possible loss of life and a friendly aircraft by recovering at a forward operating base, thus allowing the aircraft in emergency fuel condition to refuel safely. Lt. Col. Thorsness' extraordinary heroism, self-sacrifice, and personal bravery involving conspicuous risk of life were in the highest traditions of the military service, and have reflected great credit upon himself and the U.S. Air Force.

Here's a painting commemorating Thorsness winning the Medal: