Serving as a soldier in the U.S. Army, Private First Class William Henry Thompson was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for his actions on August 6, 1950 near Haman, Korea during the Korean War. At the time he was serving with Company M, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Thompson was 22 years old.
Thompson was killed in the action for which his medal was awarded. The medal was presented on June 21, 1951 — the Pentagon, presented by Gen. Omar Bradley to his Mother.
Thompson was born on August 16, 1927 in New York, New York. His Medal of Honor is credited to Bronx County, New York. He is buried at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York. His medal is held by Military History Center of the Carolinas, Greenville, SC.
Thompson is one of 153 Medal of Honor recipients from the Korean War and one of 678 credited to New York.
Official Medal of Honor citation
Pfc. Thompson distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. While his platoon was reorganizing under cover of darkness, fanatical enemy forces in overwhelming strength launched a surprise attack on the unit. Pfc. Thompson set up his machine gun in the path of the onslaught and swept the enemy with withering fire, pinning them down momentarily, thus permitting the remainder of his platoon to withdraw to a more tenable position. Although hit repeatedly by grenade fragments and small-arms fire, he resisted all efforts of his comrades to induce him to withdraw, steadfastly remained at his machine gun and continued to deliver deadly, accurate fire until mortally wounded by an enemy grenade. Pfc. Thompson's dauntless courage and gallant self-sacrifice reflect the highest credit on himself and uphold the esteemed traditions of military service.
Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.
Wounds and death in action
- Killed in action during the act for which the medal was awarded (August 6, 1950).
- Age at death: 22
- Resting place: Long Island National Cemetery
Other decorations and honors
Besides the Medal of Honor, William Henry Thompson received:
Source: Wikidata. Gold chips link to our guide to that decoration.
Battles and campaigns
Also served in: Korean War.
Places
Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in New York →
Timeline
- August 16, 1927Born in New York, New York
- August 6, 1950Act of valor — near Haman, KoreaAge 22. Company M, 24th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division Killed in action.
- June 21, 1951Medal of Honor presented posthumouslyThe Pentagon, presented by Gen. Omar Bradley to his Mother
- Resting placeLong Island National CemeteryFarmingdale, New York
Biography
William Henry Thompson (August 16, 1927 – August 6, 1950) was a United States Army soldier and a posthumous recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions in the Korean War. Born to a single mother in an impoverished neighborhood in New York City, Thompson entered the Army in 1945 and served tours in Alaska and Japan. At the outbreak of the Korean War, Thompson was a machine gunner of the U.S. 24th Infantry Regiment, a de facto segregated unit. During the Battle of Masan in August 1950, Thompson was part of a unit conducting an offensive along the Pusan Perimeter.
From the Wikipedia article “William Thompson (Medal of Honor, 1950)”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →
