John S. Thompson Memorial Bridge (504 PIR, 82nd Airborne Division)
Details:
The bridge over the Meuse River; the bridge plaque is on the south side of the bridge. Commemorative Object
A long suspension bridge over the Maas (Meuse) River named in honor of Lieutenant John S. Thompson of the E Company, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division who lead his platoon across the bridge (Bridge 11) to capture it during Operation Market Garden on September 17, 1944.
During Operation "Market Garden" the 82nd Airborne Division had the mission to secure a bridge over the river Maas in Grave, four bridges over the Maas-Waal canal and the road and railroad bridge over the river Waal in Nijmegen.
John "Jocko" Thompson was a professional baseball player with the Philadelphia Phillies before and after the war. He played with the 1950 "Whiz Kids" National League pennant team.
Monument Text:
The text on the plaque on the nearby 82nd Airborne Division Memorial reads:
JOHN S. THOMPSON BRUG
GRAVE, 17 SEPTEMBER 1944
E-Company divided across 11 C-47 Skytrains
had been given the mission to take
the south side of the Maas bridge at Grave.
As a result of jumping too early, most of the E company
landed in the village of Velp and its surrounding vicinity.
In the leading aircraft, LT Thompson saw, while standing in
the open doorway of his C-47, flying over the built up area of Velp
and decided to wait. Once over open ground, the remaining paratroopers
jumped and landed closer to their objective, the Maas Bridge at Grave.
Completely cut off from the rest of their unit, they decided
to start the mission.
After heavy fighting, the south side of the bridge was taken.
The mission was completely successful and the bridge taken without sustaining any loss. Once the area around the north side had been taken Colonel Tucker was informed that:
"BRIDGE 11 IS OURS"
With 15 men LT Thompson had achieved what had been assigned to an entire company.
THE NAME
"JOHN S. THOMPSON BRUG"
was unveiled by his wife, Mrs. Phyllis Thompson
Grave, 17 September 2004
Commemorates:
People:
Reuben Henry “Rube” III Tucker
Units:
504th Parachute Infantry Regiment
82nd Airborne Division
Wars:
WWII
Battles:
Operation Market Garden
Other images :
