Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Major Joseph Henry Thompson received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 1, 1918 near Apremont, France during World War I. At the time he was serving with 110th Infantry, 28th Division. Thompson was 47 years old.
He later rose to the rank of Colonel.
Thompson was born on September 26, 1871 in Kilkeel, County Down, Ireland — one of 258 recipients born in Ireland. His Medal of Honor is credited to Beaver Falls, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Thompson died on February 1, 1928 in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania, at the age of 56. He is buried at Beaver Falls Cemetery in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania.
Thompson is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 380 credited to Pennsylvania.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Counterattacked by two regiments of the enemy, Maj. Thompson encouraged his battalion in the front line by constantly braving the hazardous fire of machine guns and artillery. His courage was mainly responsible for the heavy repulse of the enemy. Later in the action, when the advance of his assaulting companies was held up by fire from a hostile machine-gun nest and all but one of the six assaulting tanks were disabled, Maj. Thompson, with great gallantry and coolness, rushed forward on foot three separate times in advance of the assaulting line, under heavy machine-gun and antitank-gun fire, and led the one remaining tank to within a few yards of the enemy machine-gun nest, which it succeeded in reducing, thereby making it possible for the infantry to advance.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, Joseph Henry Thompson received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: World War I.
Life beyond the battlefield
- Offices held: member of the Pennsylvania State Senate
- Occupations: politician
- Education: University of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh School of Law
Source: Wikidata.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Pennsylvania →
Timeline
- September 26, 1871Born in Kilkeel, County Down, Ireland
- October 1, 1918Act of valor — near Apremont, FranceAge 47. 110th Infantry, 28th Division
- February 1, 1928Died in Beaver Falls, PennsylvaniaAge 56.
- Resting placeBeaver Falls CemeteryBeaver Falls, Pennsylvania
Biography
Joseph Henry "Colonel Joe" Thompson (26 September 1871 – 1 February 1928) was a highly decorated World War I veteran, recipient of the Medal of Honor, lawyer, Pennsylvania state senator, head football coach of the University of Pittsburgh Panthers, and College Football Hall of Fame inductee.
From the Wikipedia article “Joseph H. Thompson”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
