Finnish Forces

LTC Alpo Marttinen

Alpo Marttinen, Knight of the Mannerheim Cross #163. He served in Finnish Army since 1927 and was in several staff duties in 1939-42 and then gained much reputation as skillful leader while commanding Infantry Regiment 61 in 1942-44. He was wounded once on Jan 31, 1943, by enemy sniper. Marttinen participated in hiding of weapons in 1944 ("Weapons Cache Case") and escaped to Sweden in 1945 from where he traveled to USA in 1946 and served in US Army from 1947 to 1968. He died on December 20, 1975 in Falls Church, Virginia and is buried to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Decorations: Mannerheim Cross II class, Cross of Liberty II class with oak leafs and swords, Cross of Liberty III class, Iron Cross II class, United States Legion of Merit, Army Commandation Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster,, 3x Army Commandation Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, 2x National Defence Service Medal.