Pfc. George Herbert Thompson

Biography and Wartime Service

George Thompson was born on September 8, 1925 in Oakland, New Jersey. He enlisted on November 27, 1943, in Newark, New Jersey and proudly served his country during World War Two. For his bravery and courage, he received both the Silver Star and Bronze Star.

After the war, George was a tireless volunteer in Oakland, having served on the public events committee and worked countless hours for the recreation program. Besides his family, coaching and teaching football and baseball were his passions. George served as the ABC Baseball commissioner for the Mickey Mantle league and shared his knowledge and love with many of the youth of Oakland as a coach of the Braves and other teams. His contributions were honored when field #3 was renamed the George Thompson field, and again when he was inducted into the Oakland Recreation Hall of Fame. George also served as the Grand Marshall in the Oakland Memorial Day Parade in 2008.

George Thompson married Dolores (Yuroshek) and they had two sons. He died on September 26, 2011, just a couple of weeks after I met him at the annual reunion of the 83rd Infantry Division in West Point, New York. He is burried at the Cedar Lawn Cemetery, Paterson, New Jersey.

Gallery

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