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Kenneth C. Thompson

World War II - U. S. Army Field Artillary

PFC. Kenneth Thompson
June 12, 1918 - February 3, 2002
U.S. Army Field Artillary Unit
burial: Woodlawn Cemetery, Oconto Falls, Oconto County, Wisconsin

Army Field Artillary Insignia

Purple Heart

(1940's news article and photo researched and contributed by: Dean Schaal from his mother's wartime scrapbook)

News Article
July 1944

( Son Of ) Charles Thompson
Wounded in France

Special in Press-Gazette

GILLETT, Wis - Charles Thompson, Gillett, received a telegram from the War department, notifying him that his son Pfc. Kenneth (Babe) Thompson 26, was seriously wounded in action in France July 15, (1944).
    Pfc. Thompson enlisted in September, 1940, and was stationed at Fort Brag, N.C., until 1942, when he went overseas. He was in the invasion of France and all through the African campaign and Sicily.
    He is a graduate of the Gillett High school and was very active in basketball, baseball and football while he was going to school.
    Thompson has two other brothers in service, Tech. Sgt Robert, somewhere in England, and Seaman First Class Carl, somewhere in the Hawaiian islands.

(Notes: According to federal government records Kenneth C. "Babe" Thompson enlisted, at age 20 years, in Milwaukee, into the Regular Army on September 5, 1940 shortly after high school graduation in Gillett, Oconto County, Wisconsin. His branch was Field Artillery and enlistment was for the Philippine Department in the Pacific. After war was declared on December 7, 1941 his assignments included North Africa under General Eisenhower, then the Italy invasion and finally France where he was seriously injured, following the D-day invasion of June 6, 1944.

Obituary

    Kenneth C. "Babe" Thompson, 83, Ooonto Falls, died suddenly Sunday evening. February 3. 2002 at Community Memorial Hospital. He was born June 12, 1918 in Gillett to Charles and Caroline (Carrie Kneoppen) of Thompson.     He grew up in Gillett and attended public schools where he was known as a very good athlete, graduating from high school with the class of 1936. As a young man he entered the U.S. Army and served his country throughout the world, receiving the Purple Heart for his military actions.
    On May 22. 1946 he married Myra Luedeman in Gillett. Babe lived in the Oconto Falls area for most of his life where he was employed by the Scott Paper Co. for many years. He was a member of the Oconto Falls United Methodist Church and numerous veteran's organizations.
    He is best remembered for his close association with the Oconto County Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 45, where he served in many different offices and ways. In 1992. he was recognised as the Wisconsin Disabled Veteran Of The Year.
    Babe dearly loved spending time with his grandchlldren. traveling the area for a good piece of pie and sharing his sense of humor with others.
    He is survived by his 13 grandchildren of whom he was very proud, ....... one great-grandson born February 2, 2002,...... and two brothers Lloyd and Carl Thompson both of Milwaukee; one sister, Evelyn Nichols, Minocqua.
    He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Myra, on July 16, 1982; three brothers, two sisters and one son-in-law, .........
    Friends called on Wednesday at Jonas Funeral Service in Oconto Falls. DAV (Disabled American Veterans) service was held at the Funeral Home. Funeral service was conducted 11 a.m. Thursday, February 7, at the Oconto Falls United Methodist Church with the Rev. Jerry Cho officiating. Burial in Woodlawn Cemetery, Oconto Falls.

Brother Robert John Thompson [December 19, 1914 - January 19, 1991; burial: Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery, Gillett, Wisconsin] was a Tec. 3 in the 895th Signal Company, Depot Aviation, U.S. Army Air Corps, World War II.

Brother Carl Thompson [August 25, 1925 - September 15, 1993 in Milwaukee] U.S. Navy, Seaman 1st Class, World War II.

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