Richard H. Thompson
Encyclopedia
Biography
He was born on September 24, 1926 in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He entered in the Army in November 1944 and advanced to the grade of staff sergeant before being commissioned a second lieutenant. He served first at Fort Hamilton and then was assigned to Japan, where he performed duties as the Army Exchange Officer at Kokura
Kokura
is an ancient castle town and the center of Kitakyūshū, Japan, guarding, via its suburb Moji, the Straits of Shimonoseki between Honshū and Kyūshū. Kokura is also the name of the penultimate station on the southbound Sanyo Shinkansen line, which is owned by JR Kyūshū and an important part of the...
. He returned to the U.S. in March 1957 to take the Associate Infantry Company Officer Course at the United States Army Infantry School
United States Army Infantry School
The United States Army Infantry School is located in Fort Benning, Georgia. It is made up of the following components:*192d Infantry Brigade...
. Upon completion, he was assigned to Fort Chaffee
Fort Chaffee
Fort Chaffee Maneuver Training Center is in the northwest Arkansas region adjacent to the city of Fort Smith, located one mile southeast of Fort Smith Regional Airport. The Arkansas River flows eastward along the northern border of the post. Interstate 40 is five miles to the north on the...
, Arkansas. In the two years he was stationed there, General Thompson attained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Science from the College of the Ozarks (now the University of the Ozarks
University of the Ozarks
The University of the Ozarks is a private, four-year liberal arts, comprehensive university located in Clarksville, Arkansas, a community of just over 9,000 people and the county seat of Johnson County. U of O is located at the foot of the Ozark Mountains, about west of Little Rock...
).
From September 1959 to May 1960, General Thompson attended the Quartermaster Officer Advanced Course at Fort Lee, Virginia, and from there was assigned to Korea, serving until August 1961 as S-4, 321st U.S. Army Security Agency Battalion at Camp Red Cloud
Camp Red Cloud
Camp Red Cloud is a United States Army camp located in the city of Uijeongbu, between Seoul and the Korean Demilitarized Zone . The installation was renamed after Medal of Honor recipient Corporal Mitchell Red Cloud, Jr...
. From Korea, he attended the U.S. Air Force Air University
Air University
The United States Air Force Air University is a component of the United States Air Force's Air Education and Training Command, headquartered at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. Air University is the U.S. Air Force's primary center for professional military education.-Organization:Air Force...
, Air Command and Staff College
Air Command and Staff College
The Air Command and Staff College is located at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama and is the United States Air Force's intermediate professional military education school. It prepares field grade and equivalent officers of all U.S...
, and until August 1965 worked in multiple jobs as a staff officer in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics (DCSLOG). He enrolled at the George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
at that time and graduated with a Master's Degree in Public Administration in June 1968. Prior to the completion of his tour at the Department of the Army, he also went on temporary duty to the Army Logistics Management Center at Fort Lee in April 1965 and completed the Army Supply Management Course.
He then attended the Armed Forces Staff College. From there he was reassigned to Frankfurt, Germany, in October 1966, where he commanded the 503d Supply and Transport Battalion, 3rd Armored Division. He remained in Germany until August 1967 when he returned to Washington to attend the National War College
National War College
The National War College of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the...
. He was then assigned as a logistics systems officer with the Assistant Vice Chief of Staff and then as Chief of the Tactical Support Systems Group.
In April 1970, General Thompson served as Commander of the U.S. Army Inventory Control Center in Vietnam. Returning from overseas, he was assigned as Commander of the Defense Logistics Service Center, Battle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek, Michigan
Battle Creek is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan, in northwest Calhoun County, at the confluence of the Kalamazoo and Battle Creek Rivers. It is the principal city of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses all of Calhoun county...
, until July 1973. From September 1972 to February 1973, he also served as Commander of the Defense Property Disposal Service, which he established and activated. In July 1973, he was reassigned to HQDA as Director of Logistics Plans, Operations and Systems, DCSLOG. In 1975, he became the Director of Supply and Maintenance, DCSLOG.
In July 1977, General Thompson became the first Commander of the U.S. Army Troop Support and Aviation Materiel Readiness Command, an organization formed by the merger of two Army Materiel Command major subordinate commands—the Aviation Systems Command and the Troop Support Command.
In August 1980, he was reassigned to HQDA as Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics. One year later, General Thompson was promoted to lieutenant general and became the Army DCSLOG. On 29 June 1984, General Thompson received his fourth star and began his assignment as Commander of the U.S. Army Materiel Command, a position he held until his retirement in April 1987.
Awards and decorations which General Thompson has received include the Distinguished Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with two Oak Leaf Clusters, the Bronze Star
Bronze Star Medal
The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
, the Joint Service Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, designation as an Army Logistician, the Brazilian Grand Master of the Order of Military Merit, the Spanish Grand Cross of the Order of Military Merit, and Korean Order of National Security Merit Tong-II Medal.
Army Distinguished Service MedalDistinguished Service Medal (Army)The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army that is presented to any person who, while serving in any capacity with the United States military, has distinguished himself or herself by exceptionally meritorious service to the Government in a duty of great...
with oak leaf cluster
Legion of MeritLegion of MeritThe Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
with two oak leaf cluster
Bronze StarBronze Star MedalThe Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration that may be awarded for bravery, acts of merit, or meritorious service. As a medal it is awarded for merit, and with the "V" for valor device it is awarded for heroism. It is the fourth-highest combat award of the...
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal