Paul S Thompson (O-17537)
| Name | Thompson, Paul S |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Army Serial # | O-17537 |
| State | Oklahoma |
| Date of death | 1944-08-10 |
| Plot, Row, Grave | H, 18, 3 |
| Cemetery | Brittany American Cemetery, St. James, France , Google Maps |
| Role | Batallion commander |
| Unit | 908th Field Artillery Battalion, 83rd Infantry Division |
| Awards |
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| Additional information |
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| Battle hardened by the bloody Normandy campaign of July 1944, the 908th met its greatest test at La Marchandais, a small farm in Brittany about 10 km south of the seaport cities of St. Malo and Dinard. There, on August 10, 1944, as the 908th fired its 105mm guns directly into the St. Malo fortifications, the battalion was subjected to fierce German counter-battery fire. A German 150mm gun began to probe the Headquarters Battery area. Lt. Col. Thompson was in a small stone building when a German shell struck it. According to Goodridge, the shell entered one wall, and then struck the opposite wall causing the shell to explode on the inside of the building. Thompson was killed. More information can be found on the website of Dave Curry here and on the West Point Alumni website here. |
| Morning reports | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1944-06-18 | LTC | Listed in Record of Events for June 10, 1944 | HQ / 908FA | view page | |
| 1944-08-10 | LTC | Killed in action on August 10, 1944 | 1193 | HQ / 908FA | view page |
| 1944-08-10 | LTC | Listed in Record of Events for August 10, 1944 | HQ / 908FA | view page | |
| General Orders | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GO # | Rank | Award | Page | ||
| 83 / 1944 / #33 | LTC |
For meritorious service in action against the enemy during the period 4 August 1944 to 18 August 1944, in the *** sector, France. The courage, coolness and resourcefulness displayed by Lieutenant Colonel Thompson as Battalion Commander were of material assistance in the operations in this sector and merit the highest praise. |
view page | ||
| Various documents | |||||
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| Description | Page | ||||
| Listed in HQ 908th Field Artillery Battalion, History 1944: Commanding officer in Normandy and France campaign until 1218 hours, 10 August 1944 as a Lieutenant Colonel in 908FA | 11 | ||||
| Listed in HQ 908th Field Artillery Battalion, History 1944 as killed in action on August 10, 1944 as a Lieutenant Colonel in HQ/908FA. | 12 | ||||
| Listed in HQ 908th Field Artillery Battalion, History 1944: Awarded a Bronze Star (Posthumous) for distinguishing himself by meritorious service France from August 4 to 10, 1944 as a Lieutenant Colonel in 908FA | 13 | ||||