Medal of Honor: Horace M. Thorne – World War II – December 21, 1944

Name: Horace M. Thorne
Rank: Corporal
Organization: U.S. Army
Unit: Troop D, 89th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, 9th Armored Division
Place and Date: Near Grufflingen, Belgium – 21 December 1944
Entered Service At: Keyport, New Jersey
Born: Keansburg, New Jersey
Departed: December 21, 1944 (Killed in Action)
Accredited To: New Jersey

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Summary of Action

On December 21, 1944, near Grufflingen, Belgium, Corporal Horace M. Thorne was leading a combat patrol tasked with clearing German forces from entrenched positions in a heavily wooded area during the Ardennes campaign.

As the patrol advanced, a German Mark III tank emerged from the enemy position. Supporting American light tanks quickly immobilized it. Two German tank crewmen attempted to escape but were cut down by Thorne’s accurate machine-gun fire before they could reach the ground.

Determined to eliminate the remaining crew, Thorne left his covered position and crawled forward alone through intense machine-gun fire. Reaching the disabled tank, he hurled two grenades into the open turret, killing two additional enemy soldiers. He then retraced his path across the same fire-swept terrain as heavy mortar rounds began falling nearby.

Seizing his machine gun, Thorne dragged it without assistance to the disabled tank and climbed onto its rear deck. From this exposed position, he delivered short, rapid bursts into enemy positions, killing or wounding eight German soldiers and forcing two enemy machine-gun crews to abandon their emplacements in confusion.

When his weapon jammed, Thorne refused to leave his position. While attempting to clear the stoppage under concentrated enemy fire directed at the tank, he was struck and killed instantly.

By his fearless initiative, tactical aggression, and ultimate sacrifice, Corporal Thorne inflicted heavy losses on the enemy and ensured the success of his patrol’s mission.

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Medal of Honor Citation

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.