USMA Class of 1929. Cullum No. 8499.
Brigadier General.
He was the son of Silas W. Thompson and June Williams Thompson.
On January 23, 1937, he married Elfriede Greimelmeier (died 1980) in Europe.
On January 26, 1983, he married Josette Berkland in the Cadet Chapel at West Point, New York.
He was the son of Silas W. and June Williams Thompson and was educated in the Alliance public school system. He entered the academy in 1925 and graduated 13th in the Class of 1929 and was assigned to the Engineers. He attended the State University of Iowa and Tulane University. During the 1930s, he was awarded the American Society of Civil Engineers' Freeman Fellowship for Study of Hydraulic Engineering Abroad. He studied the waterways of Germany, Hungary, Holland and other European countries and attended graduate classes at the Technische Hochschule in Berlin. After completion of his fellowship he was assigned to the Office of the American Military Attaché in Berlin and was detailed to various German army engineer units. His knowledge about German forces resulted in the assignment to command the European Theater Assault Training Center in England. He developed amphibious assault tactics and techniques to be used at the Normandy attack and trained the forces which made the initial assaults. As D-Day approached, he was appointed to command the 6th Engineer Special Brigade, which spearheaded the Normandy assault. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his leadership. Later on D-Day, he was seriously wounded and after recovery was promoted to brigadier general. He was assigned as Chief of Information and Education with responsibility for Stars and Stripes, the Army weekly magazine and the Armed Forces Radio Network in Europe. In 1946, he retired from the Army. Additional awards included the degree of Commander in the French Legion of Honor, the Croix de Guerre with Palms and many other American and Allied decorations. In 1994, he was named a Distinguished Graduate by the USMA Association of Graduates. After his retirement he joined the Reader's Digest Association as director of the company's European operations in order to introduce the magazine in France, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland. He later became director of all international operations, including the Far East. In 1966, he became Executive Vice President and General Manager of Eastern Europe and Russia. In 1971, at the age of 65, he retired from Reader's Digest. As President of the Association of Graduates, he directed a reorganization, which included a fund-raising program. Later he helped the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation's. As President of Boscobel Restoration, he helped the organization transition become a significant Hudson Valley museum. He met his first wife, Elfriede Greimelmeier, while stationed in Europe and they married on January 23, 1937. She died on May 9, 1980 in Mount Kisco, New York. On January 26, 1983, he married Josette Berkland in the Cadet Chapel at West Point.
Source: United States Military Academy Association of Graduates memorial.
Brigadier General.
He was the son of Silas W. Thompson and June Williams Thompson.
On January 23, 1937, he married Elfriede Greimelmeier (died 1980) in Europe.
On January 26, 1983, he married Josette Berkland in the Cadet Chapel at West Point, New York.
He was the son of Silas W. and June Williams Thompson and was educated in the Alliance public school system. He entered the academy in 1925 and graduated 13th in the Class of 1929 and was assigned to the Engineers. He attended the State University of Iowa and Tulane University. During the 1930s, he was awarded the American Society of Civil Engineers' Freeman Fellowship for Study of Hydraulic Engineering Abroad. He studied the waterways of Germany, Hungary, Holland and other European countries and attended graduate classes at the Technische Hochschule in Berlin. After completion of his fellowship he was assigned to the Office of the American Military Attaché in Berlin and was detailed to various German army engineer units. His knowledge about German forces resulted in the assignment to command the European Theater Assault Training Center in England. He developed amphibious assault tactics and techniques to be used at the Normandy attack and trained the forces which made the initial assaults. As D-Day approached, he was appointed to command the 6th Engineer Special Brigade, which spearheaded the Normandy assault. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his leadership. Later on D-Day, he was seriously wounded and after recovery was promoted to brigadier general. He was assigned as Chief of Information and Education with responsibility for Stars and Stripes, the Army weekly magazine and the Armed Forces Radio Network in Europe. In 1946, he retired from the Army. Additional awards included the degree of Commander in the French Legion of Honor, the Croix de Guerre with Palms and many other American and Allied decorations. In 1994, he was named a Distinguished Graduate by the USMA Association of Graduates. After his retirement he joined the Reader's Digest Association as director of the company's European operations in order to introduce the magazine in France, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland. He later became director of all international operations, including the Far East. In 1966, he became Executive Vice President and General Manager of Eastern Europe and Russia. In 1971, at the age of 65, he retired from Reader's Digest. As President of the Association of Graduates, he directed a reorganization, which included a fund-raising program. Later he helped the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation's. As President of Boscobel Restoration, he helped the organization transition become a significant Hudson Valley museum. He met his first wife, Elfriede Greimelmeier, while stationed in Europe and they married on January 23, 1937. She died on May 9, 1980 in Mount Kisco, New York. On January 26, 1983, he married Josette Berkland in the Cadet Chapel at West Point.
Source: United States Military Academy Association of Graduates memorial.
USMA Class of 1929. Cullum No. 8499.
Brigadier General.
He was the son of Silas W. Thompson and June Williams Thompson.
On January 23, 1937, he married Elfriede Greimelmeier (died 1980) in Europe.
On January 26, 1983, he married Josette Berkland in the Cadet Chapel at West Point, New York.
He was the son of Silas W. and June Williams Thompson and was educated in the Alliance public school system. He entered the academy in 1925 and graduated 13th in the Class of 1929 and was assigned to the Engineers. He attended the State University of Iowa and Tulane University. During the 1930s, he was awarded the American Society of Civil Engineers' Freeman Fellowship for Study of Hydraulic Engineering Abroad. He studied the waterways of Germany, Hungary, Holland and other European countries and attended graduate classes at the Technische Hochschule in Berlin. After completion of his fellowship he was assigned to the Office of the American Military Attaché in Berlin and was detailed to various German army engineer units. His knowledge about German forces resulted in the assignment to command the European Theater Assault Training Center in England. He developed amphibious assault tactics and techniques to be used at the Normandy attack and trained the forces which made the initial assaults. As D-Day approached, he was appointed to command the 6th Engineer Special Brigade, which spearheaded the Normandy assault. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his leadership. Later on D-Day, he was seriously wounded and after recovery was promoted to brigadier general. He was assigned as Chief of Information and Education with responsibility for Stars and Stripes, the Army weekly magazine and the Armed Forces Radio Network in Europe. In 1946, he retired from the Army. Additional awards included the degree of Commander in the French Legion of Honor, the Croix de Guerre with Palms and many other American and Allied decorations. In 1994, he was named a Distinguished Graduate by the USMA Association of Graduates. After his retirement he joined the Reader's Digest Association as director of the company's European operations in order to introduce the magazine in France, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland. He later became director of all international operations, including the Far East. In 1966, he became Executive Vice President and General Manager of Eastern Europe and Russia. In 1971, at the age of 65, he retired from Reader's Digest. As President of the Association of Graduates, he directed a reorganization, which included a fund-raising program. Later he helped the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation's. As President of Boscobel Restoration, he helped the organization transition become a significant Hudson Valley museum. He met his first wife, Elfriede Greimelmeier, while stationed in Europe and they married on January 23, 1937. She died on May 9, 1980 in Mount Kisco, New York. On January 26, 1983, he married Josette Berkland in the Cadet Chapel at West Point.
Source: United States Military Academy Association of Graduates memorial.
Brigadier General.
He was the son of Silas W. Thompson and June Williams Thompson.
On January 23, 1937, he married Elfriede Greimelmeier (died 1980) in Europe.
On January 26, 1983, he married Josette Berkland in the Cadet Chapel at West Point, New York.
He was the son of Silas W. and June Williams Thompson and was educated in the Alliance public school system. He entered the academy in 1925 and graduated 13th in the Class of 1929 and was assigned to the Engineers. He attended the State University of Iowa and Tulane University. During the 1930s, he was awarded the American Society of Civil Engineers' Freeman Fellowship for Study of Hydraulic Engineering Abroad. He studied the waterways of Germany, Hungary, Holland and other European countries and attended graduate classes at the Technische Hochschule in Berlin. After completion of his fellowship he was assigned to the Office of the American Military Attaché in Berlin and was detailed to various German army engineer units. His knowledge about German forces resulted in the assignment to command the European Theater Assault Training Center in England. He developed amphibious assault tactics and techniques to be used at the Normandy attack and trained the forces which made the initial assaults. As D-Day approached, he was appointed to command the 6th Engineer Special Brigade, which spearheaded the Normandy assault. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his leadership. Later on D-Day, he was seriously wounded and after recovery was promoted to brigadier general. He was assigned as Chief of Information and Education with responsibility for Stars and Stripes, the Army weekly magazine and the Armed Forces Radio Network in Europe. In 1946, he retired from the Army. Additional awards included the degree of Commander in the French Legion of Honor, the Croix de Guerre with Palms and many other American and Allied decorations. In 1994, he was named a Distinguished Graduate by the USMA Association of Graduates. After his retirement he joined the Reader's Digest Association as director of the company's European operations in order to introduce the magazine in France, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland. He later became director of all international operations, including the Far East. In 1966, he became Executive Vice President and General Manager of Eastern Europe and Russia. In 1971, at the age of 65, he retired from Reader's Digest. As President of the Association of Graduates, he directed a reorganization, which included a fund-raising program. Later he helped the General Douglas MacArthur Foundation's. As President of Boscobel Restoration, he helped the organization transition become a significant Hudson Valley museum. He met his first wife, Elfriede Greimelmeier, while stationed in Europe and they married on January 23, 1937. She died on May 9, 1980 in Mount Kisco, New York. On January 26, 1983, he married Josette Berkland in the Cadet Chapel at West Point.
Source: United States Military Academy Association of Graduates memorial.
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