Finnish Forces

Courageous machine gunner

Veikko Saarelainen (1919-1968) Knight of the Mannerheim Cross No.37. Served as machine gunner in Jaeger Brigade's 3rd Battalion (JP 3) during Continuation War of 1941-1944. He was wounded first on 27.7.1941, at Salmi, in Ladoga Karelia, and second time on 4.1.1942, during fierce fighting at Poventsa, in East Karelia. The Mannerheim Cross (2nd class) was awarded to him on 19.11.1941, mainly for his action at Salmi on 27.7.1941: Private Saarelainen was riding on a truck along a road when they came to crossroads and surprisingly confronted enemy trucks. He was first to react and quickly jumped off the truck, set up his machine gun in the middle of the open road and destroyed six trucks. At the same time a column of fourteen enemy trucks, many of them full of soldiers, approached the crossroads from different direction. Saarelainen, now wounded, turned his weapon and remarkable part of the enemy soldiers fell in his machine gun fire and the trucks were destroyed. During the firefight he thought of moving to some cover as the bullets whizzed by and the man feeding ammunition for him was killed among few other casualties, but he was sure he would get hit if he stopped firing and ran. Altogether he used 10 boxes of ammunition. During the war he also earned himself 3rd and 4th class Cross of Liberty, and 1st and 2nd class Medal of Liberty. 3rd class Cross of Liberty being very high decoration to a man of his rank. In civilian life he worked at his parent's farm before his conscription, and became a shop keeper after the war. Promotions: Korpraali (Lance Corporal) - 3.10.1941 Alikersantti (Corporal) - 20.7.1943 Kersantti (Sergeant) - 4.6.1968 (6 months before death)