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| Sgt. Thorborn Thostenson earned the Navy Cross on Iwo Jima with the 28th Marine Regiment. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63877098 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/399694535672739567/?lp=true |
Thorborn Milo “Thor” Thostenson never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
Thor was born March 16, 1919 in Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota. His parents Ole and Anna were also born in Minnesota, both to parents who emigrated from Norway. His father was a farmer. Thor had two younger brothers and four younger sisters. In 1940, Thor had graduated from high school and was attending college while living at home with his parents in Wood Lake, Minnesota. He was a Gold Gloves boxer.
Thor was inducted into the USMC in March 1942 and served in the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion (aka “Carlson’s Raiders”) in the battles of Guadalcanal and Bougainville. After Bougainville, he was returned to the States and married the former Alice Crane. Thor was reassigned to the 1st Battalion, 28th Marine Regiment of the 5th Marine Division, which took part in the amphibious invasion of Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945. Thor was awarded the Navy Cross, the US military's second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat, for his actions that day. His citation reads:
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant Thorborn M. Thostenson (MCSN: 371063), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism as a Squad Leader, serving with Company C, First Battalion, Twenty-Eighth Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 19 February 1945.
Thor was born March 16, 1919 in Yellow Medicine County, Minnesota. His parents Ole and Anna were also born in Minnesota, both to parents who emigrated from Norway. His father was a farmer. Thor had two younger brothers and four younger sisters. In 1940, Thor had graduated from high school and was attending college while living at home with his parents in Wood Lake, Minnesota. He was a Gold Gloves boxer.
Thor was inducted into the USMC in March 1942 and served in the 2nd Marine Raider Battalion (aka “Carlson’s Raiders”) in the battles of Guadalcanal and Bougainville. After Bougainville, he was returned to the States and married the former Alice Crane. Thor was reassigned to the 1st Battalion, 28th Marine Regiment of the 5th Marine Division, which took part in the amphibious invasion of Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945. Thor was awarded the Navy Cross, the US military's second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat, for his actions that day. His citation reads:
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Sergeant Thorborn M. Thostenson (MCSN: 371063), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism as a Squad Leader, serving with Company C, First Battalion, Twenty-Eighth Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 19 February 1945.
With his squad pinned down by heavy rifle and machine-gun fire emanating from a hostile pillbox manned by eleven Japanese, Sergeant Thostenson boldly advanced alone against the enemy position, throwing hand grenades and proceeding through devastating barrages to the entrance of the emplacement. Placing a demolition charge inside the fortification, he succeeded in destroying the pillbox and in killing all the Japanese occupants, thereby enabling his unit to resume its advance cross the island.
By his daring initiative, fearless leadership and gallant devotion to duty in the face of certain peril, Sergeant Thostenson contributed materially to the success of our forces in the bitter fighting on Iwo, and his indomitable fighting spirit and heroic conduct throughout were inspiring to those with whom he served, and reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service.
Sgt. Thostenson was shot and killed by a sniper only ten days later on March 1, 1945 while leading his squad of riflemen against the enemy. One month after his death, his daughter Diana Lea Thostenson was born.
Thorborn Milo Thostenson is buried in East Yellow Medicine Lutheran Cemetery in Hanley Falls, Minnesota. His Navy Cross was presented posthumously to his daughter, who died in 2011.
Thank you Sgt. Thostenson for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Thor.
_____
This profile was written by Bob Fuerst. "I’m a NASA engineer, B-17 Flying Fortress enthusiast, and amateur genealogist so this kind of research is an ideal outlet for me. But more than anything, it’s a way to express my sincere appreciation for The Greatest Generation and the sacrifices that they made, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. They should never be forgotten and I’m grateful to Don for allowing me to play a small part in honoring them."
Last year on this date I profiled James Starr of the 70th Infantry Division. You can read about James here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
Sgt. Thostenson was shot and killed by a sniper only ten days later on March 1, 1945 while leading his squad of riflemen against the enemy. One month after his death, his daughter Diana Lea Thostenson was born.
Thorborn Milo Thostenson is buried in East Yellow Medicine Lutheran Cemetery in Hanley Falls, Minnesota. His Navy Cross was presented posthumously to his daughter, who died in 2011.
Thank you Sgt. Thostenson for your sacrifice. Let's Earn It for Thor.
_____
This profile was written by Bob Fuerst. "I’m a NASA engineer, B-17 Flying Fortress enthusiast, and amateur genealogist so this kind of research is an ideal outlet for me. But more than anything, it’s a way to express my sincere appreciation for The Greatest Generation and the sacrifices that they made, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice. They should never be forgotten and I’m grateful to Don for allowing me to play a small part in honoring them."
Last year on this date I profiled James Starr of the 70th Infantry Division. You can read about James here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Follow on Twitter @ww2fallen100
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
WW2 Fallen 100 is supported by
The Greatest GENERATIONS Foundation
“Where Every Day is Memorial Day”
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