Lauri Heino
Lauri Heino | |
|---|---|
 Sergeant Lauri Heino (left) with Sergeant Matti Virtanen in front of a captured T-34 on 22 July 1944. | |
| Born | 24 August 1918 Somero, Finland |
| Died | 3 February 2001 (aged 82) Somero, Finland |
| Allegiance | Finland |
| Service | Finnish Army |
| Rank | Staff Sergeant |
| Unit | Finnish Armoured Division |
| Battles / wars | Continuation War |
| Awards | Knight of the Mannerheim Cross |
Lauri A. Heino (24 August 1918 in Somero – 3 February 2001) was a Finnish soldier, awarded the Mannerheim Cross (2nd class) on 11 November 1943. At the time, he held the rank of sergeant and was serving as a tank driver in the 3rd Company, I Armoured Battalion of the Finnish Armoured Brigade.[1]
Heino was the first foreign soldier to capture an intact Soviet T-34 tank and drive it.[when?]