News About Adams County’s
Men and Women in the Service
Sergeant William Thompson came Thursday evening to spend a 5-day furlough with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Garner Thompson. Sgt. Thompson is stationed at Indiantown, Pa.
Source: Adams County Free Press, Corning, Iowa, Thursday, July 15, 1943, Page 6
News About Adams County’s
Men and Women in the Service
Mr. and Mrs. Garner Thompson received word that their son, Sgt. William Thompson, has recently been transferred to New York City.
Source: Adams County Free Press, Corning, Iowa, Thursday, July 22, 1943, Page 5
News About Adams County’s
Men and Women in the Service
Mr. and Mrs. Garner Thompson received a letter from their son Sergeant William Thompson, saying that he had landed safely across, somewhere in England.
Source: Adams County Free Press, Corning, Iowa, Thursday, October 07, 1943, Page 6
Sgt. Wm R. Thompson
Is Killed In Action
Last week Mr. and Mrs. Garner Thompson of Prescott were notified by the War Department that their son, Sgt. Wm. R. Thompson, was missing in action in France since August 1, 1944. Wednesday morning a second telegram was received stating that Sgt. Thompson was killed in action August 1. Letters dated July 27 was the last word relatives received from Sgt. Thompson. He was serving with the Gen. Patton army.
Source: Adams County Free Press, Corning, Iowa, Thursday, August 24, 1944, Page 1
Memorial Next Sunday
For Sgt. W. Thompson
A service commemorating Sgt. Wm. R. Thompson, who was killed in action in France, August 1, 1944, will be held at the Massena Christian church Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock. The Corning American Legion Post members will have charge of the memorial service, which will be open to the public. Sgt. Thompson is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Garner Thompson of Prescott. The family formerly resided in the Bridgewater neighborhood.
Source: Adams County Free Press, Corning, Iowa, Thursday, September 14, 1944, Page 1
Three Soldier Dead
Returned For Burial
The bodies of three more of the fifty Adams County young men who lost their lives, many of them on foreign soil in World War II, are soon to be returned home for burial. Sgt. William R. Thompson, Pfc. Donald D. Eckels and Pvt. Donald Nevius. All will be shipped to the Graves Registration and distribution center at Kansas City, later to be shipped to home stations for burial.
Sgt. William R. Thompson
The body of Sgt. William R. Thompson, son of Mrs. Jennie Thompson of Prescott, will be brought back from France aboard the U. S. Army Transport Lawrence Victory, arriving August 19. The body will be shipped to the distribution center at Kansas City and later brought here for burial. Sgt. Thompson served under General Geo. Patton and was killed in France August 1, 1944..
Source: Adams County Free Press, Corning, Iowa, Thursday, September 02, 1948, Page 5
News From Prescott
The business houses were closed Tuesday, Sept. 29, from 1:30 to 2:30 during the funeral of William Thompson, son of Mr. and Mrs. Garner Thompson. Short services were held at the home in Prescott and military services were held at the Garner Cemetery south of Bridgewater with the William Thompson Post of Bridgewater in charge.
Mr. and Mrs. Art Guthrie of Bridgewater came Sunday and remained in the Garner Thompson home until after the services for William Thompson.
Source: Adams County Free Press, Corning, Iowa, Thursday, September 30, 1948, Page 10
Obituaries
SGT. WILLIAM R. THOMPSON
William Robert Thompson, only son of Garner and Jennie Guthrie Thompson, was born west of Bridgewater, Iowa, April 15, 1924, and gave his life in the service of his country on the battlefields of France, August 1, 1944, at the age of 30 years, 3 months ant 16 days.
With the exception of a few years in Adair county, all of his life was spent on the old Guthrie farm near Massena, Iowa, in Victoria township. There he attended the public schools, and graduated from Massena High school with the class of 1940. He spent the next eleven years assisting his father on the farm.
On December 1, 1941, he entered the service of his country. He was assigned to the armored forces and received his basic training at Camp Polk, Louisiana. He then became a tank commander and was promoted to the rank of sergeant. He was transferred to Virginia, California, and finally to Pennsylvania. He went overseas September 1, 1943, and was stationed in England until the invasion of France. There he served under General Patton and fought in the battle of St. Lo, where it is believed that he lost his life. Those who knew him feel sure that he was the same splendid soldier on the battlefield as on the home front. Here he was faithful and conscientious in any task he was asked to perform.
Billy was endowed with many virtues, one of the outstanding one being his cheerful disposition and pleasing personality. He had a faculty for making and keeping friends and was ever a kind and devoted son and brother. God grant that this splendid life was not given in vain, and that from this sacrifice there may come a just and enduring peace.
He leaves to mourn his sad departure his parents of Prescott, Iowa; one sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Bissell; a niece and a nephew, Nancy and Richard Bissell, of Prescott; his grandmother, Mrs. Thomas Henderson, of Penticion, British Columbia, Canada; two uncles, Art Guthrie of Bridgewater, Iowa, and Grover Guthrie of Lovilla, Iowa; one aunt, Mrs. Marie Peacock of West Hollywood, California; other relatives and a host of friends.
Services were held for Sgt. Thompson at the Thompson home in Prescott, Iowa, Wednesday, Sept 29, 1948, at 1:30, conducted by Rev. Arthur Henry. Pall bearers were Forest Polson, Brad Outhler, Arthur Lewis, Wray Brissler, Irvin Harris, Howard Hastings. Interment was made in the Garner Cemetery at Bridgewater, Iowa.
Source: Adams County Free Press, Corning, Iowa, Thursday, October 07, 1948, Page 14
