Thompson Richard J.

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Richard J. Thompson is honored on the following 1 monument(s) in our database:

Battling Bastards Of Bataan Monument

Name:

Richard J. Thompson

Rank:

Corporal

Serial Number:

6562466

Unit:

31st Infantry Regiment

Date of Death:

1942-04-18

State:

California

Cemetery:

Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, San Mateo County, California, USA

Plot:

Section B

Row:

Grave:

Site 693

Decoration:

Comments:

Richard J. Thompson was born on July 24, 1920, in Los Angeles County, California. He served in the 31st Infantry Regiment as a Corporal during World War II.

After the fall of Bataan in the hands of the Japanese Army on April 9, 1942, Cpl Thompson was one of the 10,000 to 12,000 Americans who were forced to march over 60 miles under brutal conditions, resulting in 1,000 to 5,000 deaths due to starvation, dehydration, and abuse. Survivors were sent to Camp O'Donnell, where dire conditions, including overcrowding, malnutrition, and disease, caused an additional 1,500 to 2,300 American deaths within weeks. Those who survived faced ongoing hardships, including transfers to other camps and forced labor, where many continued to suffer or die.

Cpl Thompson was among the American soldiers who lost their lives in captivity on April 18, 1942. He is now buried in the Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, San Mateo County, California, USA.

Source of information: www.livescience.com