CW4 Thompson was born in Sacramento, California on 2 September, 1944. He served in Vietnam and as an instructor pilot in the Cargo Branch until he went to Korea. An experienced aviator, he had been instructing at the Chinook transition course at Fort Rucker, Alabama when he volunteered for Task Force 160. He was known as a very competent and experienced Chinook pilot and made Aircraft Commander and Instructor Pilot very quickly. He was a quiet, and no-nonsense type of guy who kept to himself most of the time.
He was a member of Alpha Company, 159th Aviation Battalion and was conducting over water training operations when his CH-47 Chinook #527 crashed in the Atlantic Ocean, just east of Cape Henry, Virginia on 20 March, 1983.
He was married to Rosa Thompson and had three daughters Lisa, Christina, and Ann..
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