Floyd James Thompson
1933-07-08 - 2002-07-16
Colonel Floyd James Thompson
Place of birth:	Bergenfield, New Jersey, USA
Place of death:	Key West, Florida, USA
Allegiance:	US Special Forces (Green Berets)
Years of service:	1956- 1982
Rank:	OF-5/Colonel
Unit:	5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces Bien Hoa, South Vietnam 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... July 8 is the 189th day of the year (190th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 176 days remaining. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... July 16 is the 197th day (198th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 168 days remaining. ... Image File history File links FloydThompson. ... Map highlighting Bergenfields location within Bergen County. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Map of Key West Key West is a city located in Monroe County, Florida. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A US Special Forces operator in Afghanistan The United States Army Special Forces —also known by the nickname Green Berets or simply Special Forces (capitalized)— is a Special Operations Force of the U.S. Army trained for unconventional warfare and special operations. ... Colonel (IPA: or ) is a military rank of a commissioned officer, with the corresponding ranks existing in nearly every country in the world. ... Bien Hoa is a city in Dong Nai Province, Vietnam, about 20 miles (30 kilometers) east of Ho Chi Minh City, to which Bien Hoa is linked by Vietnam Highway 1. ... Official language Vietnamese Capital Saigon Last President Duong Van Minh Last Prime Minister Vu Van Mau Area  - Total  - % water 173,809 km² N/A Population  - Total  - Density 19,370,000 (1973 est. ...
Battles/wars:	Vietnam War
Awards:	Silver Star (1974) Bronze Star (1974) Legion of Merit (1974) Prisoner of War Medal (1988) Distinguished Service Medal (1982)

Floyd James "Jim" Thompson (July 8, 1933 - July 16, 2002) was the longest held POW in United States history, spending nearly nine years in captivity in Vietnam. Born in New Jersey, Thompson worked in a grocery store before he was drafted by the United States Army in 1956. After basic training at Fort Dix, New Jersey, Thompson decided to make the military his career. He completed Officer Candidate School and after a tour of duty in Korea, he joined the Army Special Forces as a Green Beret. Captain Thompson went to Vietnam in December 1963 and was captured on March 26,1964. He was released on March 16, 1973, 10 days short of 9 years. The years following his homecoming, however, were far from happy. Thompson's marriage had been troubled even before his captivity. He and his wife divorced in 1975. Thompson later remarried, but divorced soon afterwards. Thompson was never able to form any kind of a relationship with his children. His daughters were only 6, 5 and 4 when he left and his son was born the day of his capture. Ironically, Thompson said that one of the things that helped him cope with his brutal imprisonment was thinking of the fine family that awaited his return. Thompson developed a very serious drinking problem and was in several military hospitals for treatment. In 1981, while still on active duty, Thompson suffered a massive heart attack and also suffered a severe stroke that left his disabled for the rest of his life. In 1990, Thompson's son Jim was convicted of murder and imprisoned. It should be pointed out that few know of Thompson's distinction as the longest held prisoner. Many think it is Naval Commander Everett Alvarez Jr. Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines Democratic Republic of Vietnam National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength ~1,200,000 (1968) ~520,000 (1968) Casualties South Vietnamese dead... The Silver Star is a United States military decoration and is the third highest medal for valor. ... The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration and is the fourth highest award for bravery, heroism or meritorious service. ... The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces which is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. ... Prisoner of War Medal The Prisoner of War Medal was authorized by Congress and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. ... The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army which 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 responsibility. ... July 8 is the 189th day of the year (190th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 176 days remaining. ... 1933 (MCMXXXIII) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... July 16 is the 197th day (198th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 168 days remaining. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Fort Dix is a census-designated place located in Burlington County, New Jersey. ... In the United States armed forces, Officer Candidate School (OCS) or the equivalent is a training program for non-commissioned officers, soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen and recent college graduates to earn commissions as officers. ... In the military, a tour of duty is a period of time spent at sea or assigned to service in a foreign country. ... Korea (Korean: (조선 or 한국, see below) is a geographic area, civilization, and former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ... Alcoholism is the consumption of, or preoccupation with, alcoholic beverages to the extent that this behavior interferes with the drinkers normal personal, family, social, or work life, and may lead to physical or mental harm. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Everett Alvarez Jr. ...

Early life

Vietnam War

Return to the United States

Retirement

Awards

In October of 1974 James Thompson started to receive medals and awards in recognition for his service and sacrifice in Vietnam. In recognition of his escape from Viet Cong POW camps Thompson received the Silver Star. A Viet Cong soldier, heavily guarded, awaits interrogation following capture in the attacks on Saigon during the festive Tet holiday period of 1968. ... Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ... The Silver Star is a United States military decoration and is the third highest medal for valor. ...

For his nine years in captivity Thompson received the Bronze Star and Legion of Merit. The Bronze Star recognized continuous resistance to the enemy. The Legion of Merit recognized his suffering for his nine years in captivity. The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration and is the fourth highest award for bravery, heroism or meritorious service. ... The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces which is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. ... The Bronze Star Medal is a United States Armed Forces individual military decoration and is the fourth highest award for bravery, heroism or meritorious service. ... The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces which is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements. ...

In January 29, 1982 a retirement ceremony was held for Thompson, James Thompson received the Distinguished Service Medal in appreciation for his 25 years of service to his country as an Army Officer. The Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Army which 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 responsibility. ...

A ceremony held June 24, 1988 in the White House honoring POW's from WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam. Two representatives were picked from each war to receive the Prisoner of War Medal. Thompson and Everett Alvarez were picked to represent POW’s from Vietnam. Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ... WWI may be an acronym for: World War I World Wrestling Industry This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... German soldiers at the Battle of Stalingrad World War II was the most extensive and costly armed conflict in the history of the world, involving the great majority of the worlds nations, being fought simultaneously in several major theatres, and costing tens of millions of lives. ... Combatants Western Allied/UN combatants: Republic of Korea United States United Kingdom Communist combatants: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea People’s Republic of China Soviet Union Commanders Douglas MacArthur Mark W. Clark Matthew Ridgway Jeong Il-Gwon Syngman Rhee Kim Il-sung, Peng Dehuai Strength Note: All figures may... Prisoner of War Medal The Prisoner of War Medal was authorized by Congress and signed into law by President Ronald Reagan in 1986. ... Everett Alvarez was a U.S. Navy officer who endured one of the longest periods as a prisoner of war in American history. ...

External links

• Find-A-Grave biography