When the Thorne Middle School played host to Wreaths Across America Wednesday as one of only four stops in New Jersey enroute to Arlington National Cemetery with tens of thousands of wreaths for military graves, it paid special honor to the school’s own hero. Cpl. Horace M. “Bud” Thorne, killed during World War II in Belgium and the recipient of the military’s highest honor, the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Thorne, a native of North Middletown, was one of nine children and attended the Port Monmouth and Leonardo High schools before enlisting in the Army in March, 1941. He married his friend’s sister, Leah Pinson in Mach, 1944, and served in the European theater beginning in August, 1944.
The soldier was advanced to the rank of Corporal serving with the 89th Cavalry Regiment with the 9th armored division and was serving in Belgium in December, 1944, along with his brother-in-law, Lindel Pinson. His Medal of Honor tells the story of his heroism and death four days before Christmas. Pinson has told how he witnessed his brother-in-law’s heroism and how Thorne refused to come down from his position for his own safety
Thorne was buried in the Belgian forest. He was later exhumed and he now rests at Fair View Cemetery in Middletown.
His Medal of Honor, which is on display at the School’s memorial to him, reads:
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 machine gun, 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 tank men 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 machine gun 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 machine gun 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 machine gun 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.
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