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name
THOMPSON, Earl Robert - Date of
birth
25 June 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Plainfield, Bergen County, New Jersey -
Hometown
Plainfield, Bergen County, New Jersey
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-526260 -
Rank
Captain -
Function
Company Commander -
Unit
M Company,
3rd Battalion,
12th Infantry Regiment,
4th Infantry Division
-
Awards
Bronze Star,
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Died of Wounds - Date of
death
29 November 1944 - Place of
death
Hürtgen, Hürtgen Forest, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| H | 9 | 54 |
More information
Capt. Earl R Thompson graduated from North Plainfield High School in 1939 where he was the president of his class all four years. He entered Rutgers University with the class of 1943 where he was studying to become a teacher.He enlisted in February 1943.
On 29 November 1944, the battalion went to a reserve position in the woods west of the town of Hürtgen. He and other soldiers in his unit were ordered to clear a field of tree stumps so vehicles could drop off rations and supplies. According to witnesses, while clearing out a tree stump, Pvt Ballard McCurley, who is remembered at the Tablets of the Missing at Henri-Chapelle, inadvertently set off an enemy anti-personnel mine and he was killed instantly. His remains were not recovered or identified immediately after his loss.
Capt Earl R. Thompson was amongst the several men who were wounded by this incident. He died of his wounds the same day.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Carla Mans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - U.S. School Yearbook, Rutgers Memorial 1947 / 1940 Census / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, U.S. School Yearbook