William Thompson

William H. Thompson

U.S. Army

Quick Facts

Significance:

Korean War Buffalo Soldier and Medal of Honor Recipient

Place of Birth:

Brooklyn, New York

Date of Birth:

August 26, 1927

Place of Death:

Haman, South Korea

Date of Death:

August 6, 1950

Place of Burial:

Long Island National Cemetery

Cemetery Name:

Farmingdale, New York

William Henry Thompson was born on August 26, 1927, in Brooklyn, New York. Not much is known about Thompson’s childhood. During his teen years, he dropped out of school and spent time on the streets of New York City.

Thompson enlisted in the U.S. Army in October 1945 in the Bronx, New York. After basic training, he was stationed in Adak, Alaska, on the far western tip of the Aleutian Islands. After 18 months in Alaska, Thompson reenlisted, this time with the 6th Infantry Division (ID) stationed in South Korean on occupation duty. After the 6th ID returned to the United States, Thompson transferred to the Twenty-Fourth Infantry in Japan on post-World War II occupation duty. 

On June 25, 1950, the North Korean army invaded South Korea, starting the Korean War. The United States, acting under the auspices of the United Nations, came to the defense of the South Koreans. With the intervention of the United States, the communist Chinese joined the North Koreans in trying to repulse the Americans and South Koreans. 

Thompson first saw combat on July 22, 1950, at the Battle of Sangju. The North Koreans were able to easily disperse the Twenty-Fourth Infantry with rifle fire. From that point forward, many high-ranking officers distrusted the Twenty-Fourth. Viewing the all-Black unit through a racist lens, the officers dismissed the regiment as cowardly. However, historians today point to the lackluster training the regiment received from its white officers. 

On August 6, 1950, Thompson’s platoon from Company M, Twenty-Fourth Infantry, had just cleared the hamlet of Haman, South Korea, when they were attacked by a large group of North Koreans with automatic weapon fire and hand grenades. Because he had one of two heavy weapons in the platoon— a .30 caliber M1917 Browning machine gun—Thompson was ordered to engage the enemy. As the two gunners were getting into place, Thompson’s fellow machine-gunner was killed by a North Korean grenade.

Thompson continued engaging with the enemy with calm bursts of machine-gun fire. The North Koreans started to focus their fire on Thompson’s position, wounding Thompson numerous times with rifle fire and grenade fragments. Nevertheless, Thompson forced the North Koreans to take cover and delay their advance. During the lull in action Lieutenant Herbert H. Wilson ordered Thompson’s platoon to retreat. Thompson refused multiple times. Thompson’s final words to Wilson were, “Get out of here! I’ll cover you.” 

Wilson and the other men were able to go to higher ground for a better defensive position. As they were setting up, they continued to hear Thompson’s machine gun firing until multiple hand grenades exploded and the sound of Thompson’s machine gun stopped. 

A few days later, fellow members of Company M, Twenty-Fourth Infantry recovered Thompson’s body. Around him were the numerous bodies of the North Koreans that were trying to overrun his position. Thompson was buried at the Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York.

Private First Class William H. Thompson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor on June 21, 1951, at a ceremony at the Pentagon. General Omar Bradley presented the medal to Thompson’s mother. Thompson was the first African American to be awarded the Medal of Honor during the Korean War.

Thompson’s Medal of Honor citation reads: 
“Pfc. Thompson distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty in action against the enemy. While his platoon was reorganizing under cover of darkness, fanatical enemy forces in overwhelming strength launched a surprise attack on the unit. Pfc. Thompson set up his machine gun in the path of the onslaught and swept the enemy with withering fire, pinning them down momentarily, thus permitting the remainder of his platoon to withdraw to a more tenable position. Although hit repeatedly by grenade fragments and small-arms fire, he resisted all efforts of his comrades to induce him to withdraw, steadfastly remained at his machine gun and continued to deliver deadly, accurate fire until mortally wounded by an enemy grenade. Pfc. Thompson’s dauntless courage and gallant self-sacrifice reflect the highest credit on himself and uphold the esteemed traditions of military service.”