James Edward Thompson Jr. | |
---|---|
Born | Durham, North Carolina | October 13, 1935
Died | June 8, 2017 Brunswick, Georgia | (aged 81)
Buried | Christ Church Episcopal Cemetery,
St. Simons, Georgia |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Army |
Years of service | 1957–1991 |
Rank | Lieutenant General |
Commands held |
First United States Army United States Army War College 101st Airborne Division 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment 162nd Aviation Company (Assault Helicopter) |
Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Awards |
Army Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Distinguished Flying Cross (3) Soldier's Medal Bronze Star Medal (2) Purple Heart |
James Edward Thompson Jr. (October 13, 1935 – June 8, 2017) was a United States Army officer. He attained the rank of lieutenant general and was a commander of the 101st Airborne Division and First United States Army.
James Edward Thompson Jr. was born in Durham, North Carolina on October 13, 1935, [1] [2] and graduated from the University of Florida in 1957 with a Bachelor of Arts in education. [2] While in college, Thompson completed the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program, and at his graduation he was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry. [2]
After receiving his commission, Thompson completed the Infantry Officer Basic Course. [2] His later military education included the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Air Command and Staff College, and United States Army War College. [2] In addition, he received a Master of Arts in political science from Auburn University. [2]
During the Vietnam War, Thompson commanded the 162nd Aviation Company (Assault Helicopter) during the first half of 1968. [3] Thompson's later field grade officer assignments included: commander, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division; [2] assistant chief of staff for operations, plans and training (G-3), 25th Infantry Division; [2] director, military planning studies (European regions), Army War College; [2] and commander, 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. [2]
After receiving promotion to brigadier general, Thompson's assignments included: assistant division commander (ADC) for support and ADC for operations, 101st Airborne Division, Kentucky; [2] deputy director for plans and policy, United States Pacific Command; [2] and deputy director for operations, readiness, and mobilization in the Office of the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (G-3). [2]
Thompson was assigned as commander of the 101st Airborne Division in August 1983, [2] and he served until June 1985. [4] From 1985 to 1987, Thompson was commandant of the United States Army War College. [4] [5]
In June 1987, Thompson was assigned as commander of First United States Army; [6] he held this position until retiring in 1991. [6]
Thompson's awards and decorations include: [2]
Master Army Aviator Badge |
Basic Parachutist Badge |
Air Assault Badge |
Army Staff Identification Badge |
187th Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia |
Army Distinguished Service Medal |
Defense Superior Service Medal |
Distinguished Flying Cross with two bronze oak leaf clusters |
Soldier's Medal |
Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster |
Purple Heart |
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters |
Air Medal with "V" device and bronze award numerals 65 |
Army Commendation Medal with V device and oak leaf cluster |
Army Presidential Unit Citation |
Meritorious Unit Commendation with oak leaf cluster |
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star |
Vietnam Service Medal with four service stars |
Army Service Ribbon |
Army Overseas Service Ribbon with award numeral 2 |
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with gold star |
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation |
Vietnam Campaign Medal |
Thompson was married to Patricia (Cofer) Thompson. [2] They were the parents of two children, James and Tamara. [2]
In retirement, Thompson resided in St. Simons, Georgia. [7] He died in Brunswick, Georgia on June 8, 2017. [8] Thompson was buried at Christ Church Episcopal Cemetery in St. Simons. [8]
James Edward Thompson Jr. | |
---|---|
Born | Durham, North Carolina | October 13, 1935
Died | June 8, 2017 Brunswick, Georgia | (aged 81)
Buried | Christ Church Episcopal Cemetery,
St. Simons, Georgia |
Allegiance | United States |
Service/ | United States Army |
Years of service | 1957–1991 |
Rank | Lieutenant General |
Commands held |
First United States Army United States Army War College 101st Airborne Division 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment 162nd Aviation Company (Assault Helicopter) |
Battles/wars | Vietnam War |
Awards |
Army Distinguished Service Medal Defense Superior Service Medal Distinguished Flying Cross (3) Soldier's Medal Bronze Star Medal (2) Purple Heart |
James Edward Thompson Jr. (October 13, 1935 – June 8, 2017) was a United States Army officer. He attained the rank of lieutenant general and was a commander of the 101st Airborne Division and First United States Army.
James Edward Thompson Jr. was born in Durham, North Carolina on October 13, 1935, [1] [2] and graduated from the University of Florida in 1957 with a Bachelor of Arts in education. [2] While in college, Thompson completed the Reserve Officers' Training Corps program, and at his graduation he was commissioned a second lieutenant of Infantry. [2]
After receiving his commission, Thompson completed the Infantry Officer Basic Course. [2] His later military education included the Infantry Officer Advanced Course, Air Command and Staff College, and United States Army War College. [2] In addition, he received a Master of Arts in political science from Auburn University. [2]
During the Vietnam War, Thompson commanded the 162nd Aviation Company (Assault Helicopter) during the first half of 1968. [3] Thompson's later field grade officer assignments included: commander, 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division; [2] assistant chief of staff for operations, plans and training (G-3), 25th Infantry Division; [2] director, military planning studies (European regions), Army War College; [2] and commander, 3d Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. [2]
After receiving promotion to brigadier general, Thompson's assignments included: assistant division commander (ADC) for support and ADC for operations, 101st Airborne Division, Kentucky; [2] deputy director for plans and policy, United States Pacific Command; [2] and deputy director for operations, readiness, and mobilization in the Office of the Army's Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations (G-3). [2]
Thompson was assigned as commander of the 101st Airborne Division in August 1983, [2] and he served until June 1985. [4] From 1985 to 1987, Thompson was commandant of the United States Army War College. [4] [5]
In June 1987, Thompson was assigned as commander of First United States Army; [6] he held this position until retiring in 1991. [6]
Thompson's awards and decorations include: [2]
Master Army Aviator Badge |
Basic Parachutist Badge |
Air Assault Badge |
Army Staff Identification Badge |
187th Infantry Regiment Distinctive Unit Insignia |
Army Distinguished Service Medal |
Defense Superior Service Medal |
Distinguished Flying Cross with two bronze oak leaf clusters |
Soldier's Medal |
Bronze Star with oak leaf cluster |
Purple Heart |
Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters |
Air Medal with "V" device and bronze award numerals 65 |
Army Commendation Medal with V device and oak leaf cluster |
Army Presidential Unit Citation |
Meritorious Unit Commendation with oak leaf cluster |
National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star |
Vietnam Service Medal with four service stars |
Army Service Ribbon |
Army Overseas Service Ribbon with award numeral 2 |
Vietnam Gallantry Cross with gold star |
Vietnam Gallantry Cross Unit Citation |
Vietnam Campaign Medal |
Thompson was married to Patricia (Cofer) Thompson. [2] They were the parents of two children, James and Tamara. [2]
In retirement, Thompson resided in St. Simons, Georgia. [7] He died in Brunswick, Georgia on June 8, 2017. [8] Thompson was buried at Christ Church Episcopal Cemetery in St. Simons. [8]