United States. A Purple Heart, Private Thompson, 27Th Regiment, Usmc, Killed In Action At Iwo Jima, February 28, 1945

Two-piece construction, in bronze gilt with purple, red, white and green enamels, engraved "PFC. CARL D. THOMPSON, USMCR." on the reverse, measuring 35 mm (w) x 43.5 mm (h), original ribbon with brooch pinback, intact enamels, scattered gilt wear on the obverse, better than very fine. In its hardshelled "coffin-style" case of issue, light wear evident on the corners and edges, case also better than very fine. Accompanied by a Recordable Compact Disk containing copies of his Service Records, along with printout copies of documents regarding his re-internment in the United States and assorted research papers.

Footnote: Carl Davis Thompson was born on July 17, 1926 in Clarks, Nebraska, the son of Nels Thompson and Elizabeth Thompson. His father was born in Sweden and his mother was born in Iowa. Carl Thompson graduated Grammar School in Clarks in 1939 and graduated from High School in Shelby, Nebraska in 1943, where he participated in three sports: track, basketball and football, the latter as Captain of the team. He was working as a Laborer in a metal fabrication plant, along with doing some welding and was a resident of Omaha, Nebraska when he enlisted as a Private (537479) with the United States Marine Corps Reserve, for the "duration of the war", on November 17, 1943 in Omaha, at the age of 17, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Elizabeth Thompson of Omaha (later of Jersey City, New Jersey) and his father, Nels Thompson of Osceloa, Nebraska, stating that he was Single and that his religion was Protestant. Private Thompson was placed on Active Duty on December 9, 1943 and was posted to the 7th Recruit Battalion at the Recruit Depot in San Diego, California on December 12th. Two months later, he was named Temporary Private First Class on February 4, 1944, joining the 1st Battalion, 27th Marines, Fleet Marine Force on February 5th and promoted to the rank of Private First Class shortly thereafter.

He qualified as a Combat Swimmer in April 1944 and was classified as a Light Machine Gun Crewman (Primary) on June 14, 1944. Private First Class Thompson embarked from San Diego, California aboard the Sumter-class attack transport USS Baxter (APA-94) on August 12, 1944, as part of the 1st Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division, disembarking in Hilo, Hawaii on the 18th. Five months later, he embarked aboard the LST-634 (Landing Ship, Tank) from Kawaihae, Hawaii on January 10, 1945, then embarked from Lahaine Meads, Main on January 17th aboard the Bayfield-class attack transport USS Hansford (APA-106). He crossed the 180th Meridian on January 31, 1945 during the voyage. After three weeks at sea, he arrived at Saipan in the Mariana Islands, before embarking Saipan aboard the LST-241 on February 11, 1945, disembarking at Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands on the 19th, where he landed with the assault troops and would participate in the Battle of Iwo Jima beginning on February 19th. This major battle was fought between February 19 and March 26, 1945, in which the United States Marine Corps landed on and eventually captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA). The American invasion, designated Operation Detachment, had the goal of capturing the entire island, including the three Japanese-controlled airfields (including the South Field and the Central Field), to provide a staging area for attacks on the Japanese main islands. This five-week battle comprised some of the fiercest and bloodiest fighting of the Pacific War of during the Second World War. Nine days after arriving at Iwo Jima, Private First Class Carl Davis Thompson, Company 'B', 1st Battalion, 27th Regiment, 5th Marine Division, United States Marine Corps Reserve was Killed on Action, on February 28, 1945, at the age of 18, suffering a gun shot wound to the head. He was buried on March 7, 1945 in the 5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, Plot 4, Row 10, Grave 990, a medical examination later revealing that the lower part of his left leg was also missing. His mother, Elizabeth Thompson, was informed of her son's death in a KIA Telegram dated March 27, 1945, as well as in a letter dated April 2, 1945, from Lieutenant General A.A. Vandergrift, United States Marine Corps, Commandant of the Marine Corps.

His father, Nels Thompson, was also informed of his son's death in a KIA Telegram dated March 27, 1945. In a letter dated April 30, 1945, his mother was informed that she would be receiving a Purple Heart in his honor. His mother also received a letter of condolence dated June 12, 1945 from Captain Edward M. O'Herron, Jr., Commanding, United States Marine Corps Reserve. Captain O'Herron went on to describe the fateful events of the day of her son was killed: "Our company ('B' Company) was in the assault on Hill "362", a commanding area, the capture of which was essential to the success of the entire Iwo Jima operation. It was the second day of the assault, for progress was bitterly contested by a maze of Japanese pillboxes, riflemen and mortar fire. PFC Thompson had landed on Iwo Jima with his machine gun squad on D-Day, February 19, 1945. From the moment he went ashore in the landing wave, he had unhesitatingly exposed himself time and time again. Fearlessly he had pushed forward every day that we were in the lines; he was at the front on that fateful February 28th. A heavy enemy mortar barrage was laid on our position and we were ordered to move to a safer area. It was while we were moving, that Carl (Thomson) fell, mortally wounded. There was no period of suffering or pain, for death came almost instantly. We carried Carl to the rear where he was buried with all the honor that his comrades could bestow on one who did his job so magnificently and so gloriously." Private First Class Thompson's remains were returned to the United States on December 1, 1948 for final burial, as requested by the next-of-kin, his mother. The Superintendent of the Long Island National Cemetery was advised by the Marine Corps that Private First Class Thompson's mother was to be given ten days' advance notice prior to the date set for the funeral, as it was known that Private First Class Thompson's sister living in Grand Rapids, Michigan would like to attend. He was buried on January 12, 1949 in Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York, Plot: Section J, Site 15869, with a military escort accompanying the remains to the cemetery. His grave marker is inscribed "CARL DAVIS THOMPSON / NEBRASKA / PFC / JULY 19 1926 / FEBRUARY 28 1945". In addition to the Purple Heart, he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Unit Citation with ribbon bar and one star, which was awarded to the Assault Troops of the Fifth Amphibious Corps, Reinforced, for service on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, along with the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. The Marine Corps assessed and reported his personal effects as: one name stamp, one comb, one tube of toothpaste, one toothbrush, one chap stick, three bars of soap, twelve handkerchiefs, one sweatshirt, six pairs of socks, one money belt, one pen and pencil set, one belt, one knife with sheath, one New Testament, one cigarette case, one pillow cover, one box of tooth powder, one package of pipe cleaners and one toilet kit, along with two pairs of boxing globes.