Kalmer G. Thompson

NAME: Kalmer G. Thompson

ASN: 37098075

PLACE OF BIRTH:

DATE OF BIRTH:

DATES OF SERVICE: 14 Jan 1942 - 25 Aug 1945

UNIT ASSIGNED: E. Company, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment

E Company, 2nd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment

B Company 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion

Replacement Plt. G Co (Prov) 2nd Battalion 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment

B Company 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion

CAMPAIGNS: Algeria - French Morocco, Tunisia, Naples - Foggia, Anzio, Rome - Arno

AWARDS: Parachutist Badge with three combat jump stars, Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star Medal, POW Medal, Good Conduct Medal, EAME Campaign Medal with arrowhead and six bronze campaign stars, WWII Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Distinguished (Presidential) Unit Citation with one oak leaf cluster, 3rd Zouaves Regiment Badge, Honorable Service Discharge Emblem

SUMMARY OF SERVICE:

Worked on a farm prior to entering the service

14 Jan 1942 - Enlisted at Fort Snelling, MN

Completed 16 weeks of Basic Training at Camp Wolters, TX

Volunteered to become a paratrooper and was sent to Fort Benning, GA to attend THe Parachute School

Sailed on the Queen Elizabeth departing New York City and arriving is Glasgow, Scotland. Trip took four days.

Unit took train from Scotland to England and continued paratrooper training

08 Nov 1942 - Pfc. Kalmer G. Thompson 37098075 E Co 2nd Bn 509th PIR Hometown: Ulen, Minn Participated in Operation TORCH (VILLIAN) Plane: 3 Seat: 4 Combat Weight: 282

15 Nov 1942 - Participated in combat jump at Youks Les Bains

15 Jul 1943 - Pfc. Kalmer G. Thompson 37098075 E Co 2nd Bn 509th PIR 7-Dec-41 to 15-Jul-43 GO8 Awarded Good Conduct Medal, 1yr Svc

14 Sep 1943 - Cpl. Kalmer G. Thompson 37098075 2nd BN 509th PIR Participated in Operation GIANT III Jump at Avellino, Italy Naples-Foggia Combat Jump Star

11 Jan 1944 - Pvt. Kalmer G. Thompson 37098075 B CO 509th PIB SO 4 Assigned to Replacement Plt. G Co (Prov) 2nd Bn 509th PIR

22 Jan 1944 - Participated in Operation SHINGLE the amphibious landings at Anzio, Italy

29 Feb 1944 - Captured at Anzio, Italy. Taken to Camp in Austria. Guards were former WWI German prisoners so treated them well since they knew what they were going through. Fed meals once a day, cabbage soup and one-seventh of a loaf of bread

00 May 1945 - Liberated by Russians from POW Camp who told them the war was over

ARMY SERIAL NUMBER	37098075	37098075
NAME	THOMPSON KALMER G	THOMPSON KALMER G
GRADE, ALPHA	CPL	Corporal
GRADE CODE	6	First Lieutenant or Chief nurse or Head dietitian or Head physical therapy aide or Corporal or Technician 5th Grade or Lt. Jr. Grade or First Class, Seaman
SERVICE CODE	1	ARMY
ARM OR SERVICE	INF	Infantry
ARM OR SERVICE CODE	10	INF: INFANTRY
DATE REPORT: DAY (DD)	29	29
DATE REPORT: MONTH (MM)	02	02
DATE REPORT: YEAR (Y)	4	1944
RACIAL GROUP CODE	1	White
STATE OF RESIDENCE	74	Minnesota
TYPE OF ORGANIZATION	160	Parachute Infantry
PARENT UNIT NUMBER	0509	0509
PARENT UNIT TYPE	07	Battalion/Training Battalion Combat/Special Troops
AREA	98	North African Theatre: Italy
LATEST REPORT DATE: DAY (DD)	09	09
LATEST REPORT DATE: MONTH (MM)	07	07
LATEST REPORT DATE: YEAR (Y)	5	1945
SOURCE OF REPORT	1	Individual has been reported through sources considered official.
STATUS	8	Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated
DETAINING POWER	1	GERMANY
CAMP	013	Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11)
REP
POW TRANSPORT SHIPS

Photo taken in 1942 location unknown

Photo taken in 1942 at Fort Benning, GA

After the war he bought a farm

In 1950 he married Gloria

They had two sons and three daughters

Still lives on the farm he bought

Bronze Star Medal awarded for CIB

29 Jul 2016 - Passed away

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