Floyd James Thompson

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Floyd James Thompson
July 8, 1933 - July 16, 2002
Nickname	Jim 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
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.

1 Early life
2 Vietnam War
3 Return to the United States
4 Retirement
5 Awards
6 See also
7 External links

[edit] Early life

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.

[edit] Vietnam War

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.

[edit] Return to the United States

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.

[edit] Retirement

A stroke that left James Thompson left side paralyzed and his age contributed to his forced retirement from active duty in the Army. A ceremony was held for James Thompson in the Pentagon on January 28, 1982. Because of James recent stroke he had a hard time speaking so Michael Chamowitz his close friend and lawyer read his speech.

I am honored to receive this award (the Distinguished Service Medal) today but at the same time I am sadden to be leaving active military service. The Army has been my life and I am proud of each of my twenty-five years of service.

Of those 25 years, I spent nine as prisoner of war. Those days were grim, and survival was a struggle. I was able to withstand that long agony because I never lost my determination to live – no matter how painful that became – because I love my country and never lost faith in her, and because I had dreams of what my life would be like upon my return to America. Those dreams were always, unquestionably, of a life that was Army. I found that the dream of continued service gave me a goal that helped me survive my years as a POW.

After my return from Vietnam, the opportunity to serve became the motivating force in my life. Military service has given me my greatest challenges and my greatest rewards. I have worked hard for sound leadership development in the Army and for realistic training. The greatest problem faced by POWs was fear of the unknown. This fear can be reduced, not only for the potential POW but across the awesome environment of the battlefield, by training which is honest enough to address the real issue of combat and which is tough enough to approximate battlefield conditions.

No, I do not now retire freely – there was much I still wanted to do – but circumstances present me no alternative. I leave active military service because I must. But for the rest of my life, the Army will be no less a part of me, and of what I am, than what it has always been.

Colonel Floyd James Thompson

January 29, 1982

[edit] 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.

For his nine years in captivity Thompson received the Bronze Star and Legion of Merit. The Bronze Star recognized his continuous resistance to the enemy. The Legion of Merit recognized his suffering for his nine years in captivity.

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.

A ceremony held June 24, 1988 in the White House honoring POW's from World War I, World War II, 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.