Willis Barney Thompson, Jr.
PFC Willis B. Thompson, Jr. served with HQ Company, First Battalion, 1st Marine Parachute Regiment.
He was reported missing in action at Koiari, Bougainville, on 29 November 1943.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 489782
Current Status
Remains Not Recovered.
Pursuit Category
The DPAA has not publicized this information.
Capsule History
Pre-War Life
Birth
November 11, 1922
at Smithland, KY
Parents
Willis Barney Thompson, Sr.
Minnie (Lindsey) Thompson
Education
Livingston County High School (1941)
Occupation & Employer
Family farm
Service Life
Entered Service
November 19, 1942
at Louisville, KY
Home Of Record
Smithland, KY
Next Of Kin
Father, Willis Thompson Sr.
Military Specialty
Parachutist
Primary Unit
HQ/1/1st Paramarines
Campaigns Served
Bougainville
Individual Decorations
Purple Heart
Additional Service Details
—
Loss And Burial
Circumstances Of Loss
At 0300 on 29 November 1943, PFC Willis Thompson and his comrades in the First Parachute Battalion boarded landing craft from a Bougainville beach and set off for what they hoped would be a surprise amphibious assault on the Japanese rear.
The Marines planned to storm ashore near Koiari and establish a temporary base, from which they could conduct raids against Japanese communications, supplies, and artillery positions. Unfortunately, they landed in the middle of a well-guarded supply depot and the Japanese responded with overwhelming force. The Marines made a little headway but were outnumbered and outgunned from the outset. Casualties quickly began to mount.
Fighting raged for the rest of the day; by afternoon, the Marines realized that they were not going to be able to advance, and the Japanese were busily bringing up reinforcements. The Americans were taken off by landing boats under cover of darkness, and returned to their original bivouac. Fifteen men were killed, and another seven listed as missing – turning the Koiari Raid into a costly failure.
Burial Information or Disposition
PFC Thompson was one of those reported as missing in action; the exact time of his disappearance is not known, only “from early morning of landing.” Nothing further was learned of his fate, and he was ultimately declared dead on 30 November 1944.
Memorials
Next Of Kin Address
Address of father, Mr. Willis Thompson Sr.
Location Of Loss
Thompson was last seen in the vicinity of Koiari, Bougainville.
