Info Sheet - James Burton Thompson
Died 6 October 2006
Information is being collected at this time to build a better memorial page.
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James B. Thompson age: 70
Date of Birth: 3/3/36 date died: 10/6/06
Place of death: San Antonio, Texas
Cause of death: Effects of cancer as a result of agent orange
Army biography: USA Lt Colonel Ret. 1986
Survivors: Wife, Koleta, Burnet, TX 78611 and 4 children.
Buried in Fort Sam Houston Veterans Cemetery on October 12, 2006.
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From Eugene Prosser, Troop XO: CPT Thompson was a fine Centaur. He was in the Maintenance Section my entire tour. He worked for Dick Thomas.
A story about him. Early in the tour I was Centaur 30 (Aerorifle Platoon Leader). We were returning from a mission (flying in a loose formation) and I took a couple of rounds, one thru the oil cooler. I landed and the rifle squad I was carrying immediately secured the area. I called maintenance and Tommy came out with a couple of mec's with him. As he looked around the area, I took my crew to his a/c. As I prepared to leave, he objected. I told him, I fly them, you fix them, as I departed the area with his a/c. Later, when he arrived in the mess hall ( with my ship), he said that was unfair. I remember telling him that all's fair in love and war. He retired as a COL ( Trans Corp) and later died of cancer, I think induced by Agent Orange.
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OBITUARY: Colonel James B. (Jim) Thompson, U.S. Army, Retired, age 70, passed away on 6 October, 2006. Funeral service at the Veteran's Cemetery, Fort Sam Houston, TX on 12 October 2006 for family only.
Born: March 3, 1936, New Bern, NC. Married: M. Koleta Shaw, May 5, 1957.
Civilian Education: New Bern High School, 1954; BA Industrial Engineering, NC State University, 1959; MA Urban Studies, Old Dominion University, 1974.
Military Career: COL Thompson retired with over 33 years of service as an Aviation Branch Officer and Master Aviator with more than 3400 hours in fixed and rotary wing aircraft at Fort Hood, TX in July 1986. Enlisted in the USA Reserves November 1953. Commissioned 2LT, U.S. Army Transportation Corps, Fort Eustis, VA, January 1960; attended Flight School and Fixed- Wing Training for the OV-1 Mohawk at Ft. Rucker, AL.
Commander,582nd Transportation Co., Brienne Le Chateau, France; Airfield Commander, Coleman Army Airfield, Manheim, Germany;
Troop Maintenance Officer, D Troop, 3/4 Cav, 25th Infantry Div. Cu Chi, Viet Nam;
Branch Chief, USA Primary Helicopter School, Ft. Wolters, TX;
Service Platoon Commander, 131st Aviation Company, Hue Phu Bai, Viet Nam;
Staff Maintenance Officer, 222nd Combat Aviation Battalion; Commander, 56th Transportation Co., Long Thong North, Viet Nam
Combat Developments Command, Fort Ord, CA;
Fixed Wing Branch Chief, USA Transportation School, Fort Eustis, VA,
Commander, 205th Aviation Co., Finthen, Germany;
Staff Officer, Aviation Div. DSCOPS, Heidleberg, Germany;
Army Staff Officer, Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, The Pentagon, Washington, DC;
Commander, 34th Support Battalion. 6th Cav. Brigade, Fort Hood, TX;
Commander, NATO Support Activity, Brussels, Belgium;
Commander, NATO/SHAPE Support Group (80th Area Support Group) SHAPE and Chievre, Belgium.
Military Education: Army ROTC flight training, 1959; U.S. Army Aviation Safety Officers Course, University of Southern California, 1970; U.S. Army Command and General Staff College Resident Course, 1972; U.S. Army War College, 1981.
Military Decorations: Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with V Device and 14 Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters.
After the Army: Office Manager, JB Goodwin Real Estate, Westlake Office, 1986-1995.
Formed Heritage Country Realty in 1995.
Community Activities: First United Methodist Church, member, Burnet, TX Westbank Lions Club, Charter member and Past President, Austin, TX Buda Lions Club, Past Vice President, Buda, TX Lometa Lions Club, Lometa, TX American Legion, Post 116, Past Commander, Lometa, TX Army Aviation Association of America, Life Member and Chapter Officer,. Army Community Eagles Society, Past President, Austin, TX Military Order of the Purple Heart, Life member Army War College Alumni Association, Life member Master Mason, Hancock Lodge, Fort Leavenworth, KS Vietnam Veterans Helicopter Pilots Association, Life member US Army Transportation Museum Foundation, Fort Eustis, VA The Order of Daedalians, National Fraternity of Military Pilots, National Life member and m ember Longhorn Flight #38, Austin, TX Veteran of Foreign Wars, member Military Officers Association of America, Life member
Survived by: wife, M. Koleta Thompson of Burnet, TX; brother, Charles B. Thompson of Gloucester, VA; children, Major James B. Thompson, Jr., U.S. Army (Ret), Elizabethtown, KY: Suzan K. Thompson, PhD, Licensed Professional Counselor, Virginia Beach, VA; Kate Morris, Director of Children's Ministries, Hillside Methodist Church, Acworth, GA; Major Jon B. Thompson, TXARNG, Round Rock, TX; 6 grandchildren: Joshua Morris, Magee Morris, Nate Morris, James Morris, Morgan Thompson, and Michael Thompson. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Good Nature 6 Fund, First State Bank of Burnet, 136 E. Washington, Burnet, TX 78611.