Ltc Usa

LTC Charles John Thompson USA (ret.), 94, formally of Petersburg, died October 8, 2013 in Sun City Hospice, Florida. Born March 20, 1919 in a blizzard, Leola, South Dakota, the son of Clara Schuchardt and Thomas John Thompson. He enlisted in the Army, December 1939, and was assigned to 27th Infantry Wolfhounds, Schofield Barracks, Hawaii. On December 7, 1941, Heavy Weapons Platoon Sgt. Thompson defended against attacking Zero's from the roof of his barracks. On August 1, 1941, he was commissioned 2nd Lt. Infantry. Shortly thereafter on August 8, he married his high school sweetheart, Eleanor Phyllis Moen, followed by a honeymoon in quaint Columbus, Georgia while attending Airborne and Communications School. Assigned 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment, his first combat jump was into Holland during Operation Market Garden, 1944. Cpt. Thompson was assigned to the newly formed Army Rigger School at Fort Lee, VA, 1953. In March 1954 he served as Airborne Advisor to the French during the battle of Dien Bien Phu, Vietnam. He was thereafter stationed with his family in Kokura, Japan for three years. He retired as Deputy Commander of the Rigger School, 1961. He was an ALMC instructor, Fort Lee, 1961-69. In 1970-72 he directed the Army Property Disposal Command in Bein Hoa, South Vietnam. From 1973-75 he served in Wiesbaden, Germany and traveled throughout Europe. He again crossed the Nijmegen Bridge, captured by his unit during Market Garden. From 1976-82 he taught, trained and shared his vast and varied experiences as an instructor at ALMC, Fort Lee. Among his awards and decorations: Bronze Star/V, Purple Heart, Combat Infantry Badge, Master Parachutist Wings with Star in addition to numerous campaign and service medals. He retired to "Little Oaks" farm in Brunswick County, where he excelled in his avocation, raising Polled Hereford, tending a large garden and fruit trees. Family and friends delighted in his yearly BBQ and picnic. In 1953, Charles was founding member of The Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, Petersburg. He served faithfully in all capacities of his spiritual community; Men of the Church, Councilman, President and formed the St. James Society. In Brunswick County he was an active member of Concord Methodist Church. Further retiring to Sun City, Florida in 2003, with wife Janet, he joined Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. He was a member of Pearl Harbor Survivors Association, 508th Parachute Regiment Association and 82nd Airborne Association. He was a member of Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and Mayflower Society. Charles is preceded in death by his loving wife of 48 years, Eleanor Moen Thompson and his brother, Dr. William Thomas Thompson of Tempe, Arizona. He is survived by his wife Janet Thompson; his brother Alfred Wayne Thompson; sisters-in-law Loretta and Marilyn Thompson; his sons, Charles John Thompson II, Daniel Moen Thompson and daughter, Lisa Marie Thomasson; grandchildren, Elizabeth Moen McCormack, Daniel Hargrave Thompson, Alexandra Leigh Thompson, John Charles Thompson III, Thomas John Plaster, Clarie Ann Plaster, Thomas Edward Plaster; and great-grandchildren, Isaiah Scott Nowlin, Stella Grace McCormack, Isabel Harrison McCormack and Owen Thomas McCormack. Charles John Thompson was born in a blizzard and passed into sunshine. A memorial service celebrating his life will be held at 1:00 pm Tuesday, November 5, 2013 at The Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Petersburg. Family will receive friends in the Parish Hall following the service. Charles and Eleanor will be interred in Arlington National Cemetery, at a later date. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to the Charles John Thompson Memorial Fund, The Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, 1769 South Sycamore Street, Petersburg, Virginia 23805. Funeral arrangements by the Colonial Heights Chapel of the E. Alvin Small Funeral Homes & Crematory, 2033 Boulevard. Condolences may be registered at www.ealvinsmall.com.