More detail on this person: James B. Thompson
age 70 born 3/3/1936 died 10/6/2006 in San
Antonio, Texas from cancer. Burial information: Fort Sam Houston Veterans Cemetery
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site:
04/13/2025
Copyright © 1998 - 2025 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association
Survivors: Wife, Koleta, Burnet, TX and 4
children.
He will be buried in Fort Sam Houston Veterans
Cemetery on October 12, 2006. Family only. In lieu
of flowers, memorials to Goodnature 6 Fund, First
State Bank of Burnet, Burnet, TX 78611, a
philanthropic fund set up to help "rescue" those
with immediate needs in the community.
From: Koleta Thompson
OBITUARY for Colonel James B. (Jim) Thompson,
U.S. Army (Retired)
Colonel James B. (Jim) Thompson, U.S. Army,
Retired, age 70, passed away on 6 October, 2006.
Funeral service at the Veteran's Cemetery, Fort
Sam Houston, TX on 12 October 2006 for family
only. Born: March 3, 1936, New Bern, NC.
Married: M. Koleta Shaw, May 5, 1957.
Civilian Education: New Bern High School, 1954;
BA Industrial Engineering, NC State University,
1959; MA Urban Studies, Old Dominion University,
1974.
Military Career: COL Thompson retired with over 33
years of service as an Aviation Branch Officer and
Master Aviator with more than 3400 hours in fixed
and rotary wing aircraft at Fort Hood, TX in July
1986. Enlisted in the USA Reserves November
1953. Commissioned 2LT, U.S. Army
Transportation Corps, Fort Eustis, VA, January
1960; attended Flight School and Fixed- Wing
Training for the OV-1 Mohawk at Ft. Rucker, AL.
Commander,582nd Transportation Co., Brienne Le
Chateau, France; Airfield Commander, Coleman
Army Airfield, Manheim, Germany; Troop
Maintenance Officer, D Troop, 3/4 Cav, 25th
Infantry Div. Cu Chi, Viet Nam; Branch Chief, USA
Primary Helicopter School, Ft. Walters, TX;
Service Platoon Commander, 131st Aviation
Company, Hue Phu Bai, Viet Nam; Staff
Maintenance Officer, 222nd Combat Aviation
Battalion; Commander, 56th Transportation Co.,
Long Thong North, Viet Nam; Combat
Developments Command, Fort Ord, CA; Fixed Wing
Branch Chief, USA Transportation School, Fort
Eustis, VA, Commander, 205th Aviation Co.,
Finthen, Germany; Staff Officer, Aviation Div.
DSCOPS, Heidleberg, Germany; Army Staff Officer,
Deputy Chief of Staff Operations, The Pentagon,
Washington, DC; Commander, 34th Support
Battalion. 6th Cav. Brigade, Fort Hood, TX;
Commander, NATO Support Activity, Brussels,
Belgium; Commander, NATO/SHAPE Support
Group (80th Area Support Group) SHAPE and
Chievre, Belgium.
Military Education: Army ROTC flight training,
1959; U.S. Army Aviation Safety Officers Course,
University of Southern California, 1970; U.S. Army
Command and General Staff College Resident
Course, 1972; U.S. Army War College, 1981.
Military Decorations: Distinguished Flying Cross,
Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart,
Meritorious Service Medal with 3 Oak Leaf
Clusters, Air Medal with V Device and 14 Oak Leaf
Clusters, Army Commendation Medal with 2 Oak
Leaf Clusters.
After the Army: Office Manager, JB Goodwin Real
Estate, Westlake Office, 1986-1995. Formed
Heritage Country Realty in 1995.
Community Activities: First United Methodist
Church, member, Burnet, TX; Westbank Lions Club,
Charter member and Past President, Austin, TX;
Buda Lions Club, Past Vice President, Buda, TX;
Lometa Lions Club, Lometa, TX; American Legion,
Post 116, Past Commander, Lometa, TX; Army
Aviation Association of America, Life Member and
Chapter Officer; Army Community Eagles Society,
Past President, Austin, TX; Military Order of the
Purple Heart, Life member Army War College
Alumni Association, Life member Master Mason,
Hancock Lodge, Fort Leavenworth, KS; Vietnam
Veterans Helicopter Pilots Association, Life
member; US Army Transportation Museum
Foundation, Fort Eustis, VA; The Order of
Daedalians, National Fraternity of Military
Pilots, National Life member and member Longhorn
Flight #38, Austin, TX; Veteran of Foreign Wars,
member; Military Officers Association of America,
Life member.
Survived by: wife, M. Koleta Thompson of Burnet,
TX; brother, Charles B. Thompson of Gloucester,
VA; children, Major James B. Thompson, Jr., U.S.
Army (Ret), Elizabethtown, KY: Suzan K.
Thompson, PhD, Licensed Professional Counselor,
Virginia Beach, VA; Kate Morris, Director of
Children's Ministries, Hillside Methodist Church,
Acworth, GA; Major Jon B. Thompson, TXARNG,
Round Rock, TX; 6 grandchildren: Joshua Morris,
Magee Morris, Nate Morris, James Morris, Morgan
Thompson, and Michael Thompson.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the
Good Nature 6 Fund, First State Bank of Burnet,
136 E. Washington, Burnet, TX 78611.