Information provided by Tommy's daughter, FamilyHistoriansets, 2019
Tommy and Betty were married January 23, 1943 in Cincinnati, Ohio. They were married for 68 years until Betty passed in 2011.
Tommy was interred with honors on the Marine Corps Birthday, November 10, 2014. He retired from the United States Marine Corps in 1961 as a Lieutenant Colonel (LtCol). Much of his military history can be found at www.thompsonsanders.com
Tommy's birth certificate lists his name with "Jr." even though he was "III".
BIOGRAPHY
Rufus Buell "Tommy" Thompson, Jr. was born on September 14, 1919 and was raised with his four sisters in Lewistown, Montana. (He was actually the third RBT, but was named Jr.) His grandfather, Rufus Buell Thompson, came from deep New England roots. His grandmother, Emmergene Jacobs Thompson, was supposedly from the Warren family line going back to the Mayflower.
Tommy spent much of his childhood living in his father's childhood home at 702 W. Boulevard in Lewistown, Montana. The family had a great deal of support from his mother's family, the Martins, who owned a dairy farm nearby.
Tommy joined the USMC right after graduating from high school in 1937 hoping to play the sousaphone in the Marine Corps Band. He was part of the 35th Platoon in San Diego, CA. After graduating from boot camp, he was told that he was too big, being over 6 feet, to join the Band and was placed in sea school. His first sea duty was aboard the USS Portland.
In early January 1942, Tommy was on recruiting duty in Cincinnati, Ohio when he met Elizabeth "Betty" Meeker. They were married January 23, 1943 in Cincinnati and had 68 loving and supportive years together before Betty's passing in 2011.
During WWII, Tommy served aboard the USS Nashville and survived a kamikaze attack on December 13, 1944 near the Philippines. After WWII, Tommy and Betty started a family while Tommy remained in the USMC. They had a son and a daughter. The family lived in San Francisco, CA; Camp Lejeune, NC; Kwajalein, Marshall Islands; Vista, CA; Quantico, VA; and Arlington, VA. Tommy also spent a year, without the family, in Japan and Korea.
In 1961 as a LtCol, Tommy decided to retire from the USMC and started a second career as an administrator with the Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, CA. After 17 years there, Tommy and Betty decided to retire to Fallbrook, CA where they spent 35 years enjoying their eight-acre avocado grove. They spent their twilight years harvesting avocados, supplying family and friends with an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables, traveling, playing golf and bridge, and watching their family grow.
Tommy was an honorable, kind, and gentle man who cared deeply about his family, friends, and country. He lived his life to the fullest.
Tommy and Betty were married January 23, 1943 in Cincinnati, Ohio. They were married for 68 years until Betty passed in 2011.
Tommy was interred with honors on the Marine Corps Birthday, November 10, 2014. He retired from the United States Marine Corps in 1961 as a Lieutenant Colonel (LtCol). Much of his military history can be found at www.thompsonsanders.com
Tommy's birth certificate lists his name with "Jr." even though he was "III".
BIOGRAPHY
Rufus Buell "Tommy" Thompson, Jr. was born on September 14, 1919 and was raised with his four sisters in Lewistown, Montana. (He was actually the third RBT, but was named Jr.) His grandfather, Rufus Buell Thompson, came from deep New England roots. His grandmother, Emmergene Jacobs Thompson, was supposedly from the Warren family line going back to the Mayflower.
Tommy spent much of his childhood living in his father's childhood home at 702 W. Boulevard in Lewistown, Montana. The family had a great deal of support from his mother's family, the Martins, who owned a dairy farm nearby.
Tommy joined the USMC right after graduating from high school in 1937 hoping to play the sousaphone in the Marine Corps Band. He was part of the 35th Platoon in San Diego, CA. After graduating from boot camp, he was told that he was too big, being over 6 feet, to join the Band and was placed in sea school. His first sea duty was aboard the USS Portland.
In early January 1942, Tommy was on recruiting duty in Cincinnati, Ohio when he met Elizabeth "Betty" Meeker. They were married January 23, 1943 in Cincinnati and had 68 loving and supportive years together before Betty's passing in 2011.
During WWII, Tommy served aboard the USS Nashville and survived a kamikaze attack on December 13, 1944 near the Philippines. After WWII, Tommy and Betty started a family while Tommy remained in the USMC. They had a son and a daughter. The family lived in San Francisco, CA; Camp Lejeune, NC; Kwajalein, Marshall Islands; Vista, CA; Quantico, VA; and Arlington, VA. Tommy also spent a year, without the family, in Japan and Korea.
In 1961 as a LtCol, Tommy decided to retire from the USMC and started a second career as an administrator with the Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, CA. After 17 years there, Tommy and Betty decided to retire to Fallbrook, CA where they spent 35 years enjoying their eight-acre avocado grove. They spent their twilight years harvesting avocados, supplying family and friends with an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables, traveling, playing golf and bridge, and watching their family grow.
Tommy was an honorable, kind, and gentle man who cared deeply about his family, friends, and country. He lived his life to the fullest.
Information provided by Tommy's daughter, FamilyHistoriansets, 2019
Tommy and Betty were married January 23, 1943 in Cincinnati, Ohio. They were married for 68 years until Betty passed in 2011.
Tommy was interred with honors on the Marine Corps Birthday, November 10, 2014. He retired from the United States Marine Corps in 1961 as a Lieutenant Colonel (LtCol). Much of his military history can be found at www.thompsonsanders.com
Tommy's birth certificate lists his name with "Jr." even though he was "III".
BIOGRAPHY
Rufus Buell "Tommy" Thompson, Jr. was born on September 14, 1919 and was raised with his four sisters in Lewistown, Montana. (He was actually the third RBT, but was named Jr.) His grandfather, Rufus Buell Thompson, came from deep New England roots. His grandmother, Emmergene Jacobs Thompson, was supposedly from the Warren family line going back to the Mayflower.
Tommy spent much of his childhood living in his father's childhood home at 702 W. Boulevard in Lewistown, Montana. The family had a great deal of support from his mother's family, the Martins, who owned a dairy farm nearby.
Tommy joined the USMC right after graduating from high school in 1937 hoping to play the sousaphone in the Marine Corps Band. He was part of the 35th Platoon in San Diego, CA. After graduating from boot camp, he was told that he was too big, being over 6 feet, to join the Band and was placed in sea school. His first sea duty was aboard the USS Portland.
In early January 1942, Tommy was on recruiting duty in Cincinnati, Ohio when he met Elizabeth "Betty" Meeker. They were married January 23, 1943 in Cincinnati and had 68 loving and supportive years together before Betty's passing in 2011.
During WWII, Tommy served aboard the USS Nashville and survived a kamikaze attack on December 13, 1944 near the Philippines. After WWII, Tommy and Betty started a family while Tommy remained in the USMC. They had a son and a daughter. The family lived in San Francisco, CA; Camp Lejeune, NC; Kwajalein, Marshall Islands; Vista, CA; Quantico, VA; and Arlington, VA. Tommy also spent a year, without the family, in Japan and Korea.
In 1961 as a LtCol, Tommy decided to retire from the USMC and started a second career as an administrator with the Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, CA. After 17 years there, Tommy and Betty decided to retire to Fallbrook, CA where they spent 35 years enjoying their eight-acre avocado grove. They spent their twilight years harvesting avocados, supplying family and friends with an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables, traveling, playing golf and bridge, and watching their family grow.
Tommy was an honorable, kind, and gentle man who cared deeply about his family, friends, and country. He lived his life to the fullest.
Tommy and Betty were married January 23, 1943 in Cincinnati, Ohio. They were married for 68 years until Betty passed in 2011.
Tommy was interred with honors on the Marine Corps Birthday, November 10, 2014. He retired from the United States Marine Corps in 1961 as a Lieutenant Colonel (LtCol). Much of his military history can be found at www.thompsonsanders.com
Tommy's birth certificate lists his name with "Jr." even though he was "III".
BIOGRAPHY
Rufus Buell "Tommy" Thompson, Jr. was born on September 14, 1919 and was raised with his four sisters in Lewistown, Montana. (He was actually the third RBT, but was named Jr.) His grandfather, Rufus Buell Thompson, came from deep New England roots. His grandmother, Emmergene Jacobs Thompson, was supposedly from the Warren family line going back to the Mayflower.
Tommy spent much of his childhood living in his father's childhood home at 702 W. Boulevard in Lewistown, Montana. The family had a great deal of support from his mother's family, the Martins, who owned a dairy farm nearby.
Tommy joined the USMC right after graduating from high school in 1937 hoping to play the sousaphone in the Marine Corps Band. He was part of the 35th Platoon in San Diego, CA. After graduating from boot camp, he was told that he was too big, being over 6 feet, to join the Band and was placed in sea school. His first sea duty was aboard the USS Portland.
In early January 1942, Tommy was on recruiting duty in Cincinnati, Ohio when he met Elizabeth "Betty" Meeker. They were married January 23, 1943 in Cincinnati and had 68 loving and supportive years together before Betty's passing in 2011.
During WWII, Tommy served aboard the USS Nashville and survived a kamikaze attack on December 13, 1944 near the Philippines. After WWII, Tommy and Betty started a family while Tommy remained in the USMC. They had a son and a daughter. The family lived in San Francisco, CA; Camp Lejeune, NC; Kwajalein, Marshall Islands; Vista, CA; Quantico, VA; and Arlington, VA. Tommy also spent a year, without the family, in Japan and Korea.
In 1961 as a LtCol, Tommy decided to retire from the USMC and started a second career as an administrator with the Aerospace Corporation in El Segundo, CA. After 17 years there, Tommy and Betty decided to retire to Fallbrook, CA where they spent 35 years enjoying their eight-acre avocado grove. They spent their twilight years harvesting avocados, supplying family and friends with an abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables, traveling, playing golf and bridge, and watching their family grow.
Tommy was an honorable, kind, and gentle man who cared deeply about his family, friends, and country. He lived his life to the fullest.
Inscription
Rufus B Thompson Jr
Lt Col US Marine Corps
World War II, Korea
Sept 16, 1919
Oct 22, 2014
An Honorable &
Gentle Man
Semper Fidelis
