George William Thompson
PFC George W. Thompson served with Love Company, Third Battalion, 8th Marines.
He was killed in action at Guadalcanal on 20 November 1942.
Branch
Marine Corps Regular
Service Number 316287
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
June 16, 1919
in Mt. Olivet, KY
Parents
George Henry Thompson
Elma Dillue (McConnell) Thompson
Education
Details unknown
Occupation & Employer
Civilian Conservation Corps
Service Life
Entered Service
August 15, 1941
at Louisville, KY
Home Of Record
Route 1
Mt. Olivet, KY
Next Of Kin
Parents, George & Elma Thompson
Military Specialty
—
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
Between 18-20 November 1942, the 8th Marines took up positions and prepared to participate in a renewed westward attack along the north coast of Guadalcanal. For the regiment’s Third Battalion, this meant occupying a grassy ridge just east of the Matanikau River and sending out daily combat patrols into Japanese territory.
On 20 November, a fifteen-man patrol from L/3/8 under 2Lt. Charles Walkup departed friendly lines to search for enemy activity along the ridges south of their position. “Patrol work in the jungles is very risky business,” explained PFC Edward E. Morris. “It is difficult to see any distance and the Japs are experts at camouflage. Oftentimes you can’t see the enemy until you are actually on top of them, then it depends on who sees who first.”
Morris managed to get the drop on one adversary, but his advantage did not last long.
I ran across three Japs near a tree. I shot and killed one and the other two immediately jumped behind a tree. Since I was in the open I turned and started to run for cover. While I was running, however, a shell hit me between the shoulder blades in the back, going clean through me.
A Japanese machine gunner tied in to a tree wounded PFC Morris and killed PFC George W. Thompson. The patrol tried to continue despite its casualties, but when two more machine guns opened fire, Lieutenant Walkup ordered a withdrawal to the perimeter. Unfortunately, this meant leaving Thompson’s body behind.
Burial Information or Disposition
None; remains not recovered from the field.
PFC Morris was hospitalized until his discharge on 5 March 1945. He passed away in 1993.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
The Thompsons lived on a rural route near Mt. Olivet, Kentucky.
Location Of Loss
Approximate site of the ambush.
