They Paid The Ultimate Price for Us

The following summaries of military family members who paid the ultimate price. As we learn of others, this tribute will enlarge.

Robert Charles Thompson (John3, William2, Hugh1) was born in 1814 in Woodstock, VA and was declared dead October 1865 as Missing in Action. He had married Elizabeth Yeaunt in 1842. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enrolled in the Confederate Army, “rendering loyal service.” “His name appears among the sad class of the missing near the close of the struggle. He was last heard from in Jackson Mississippi in October 1864, and is thought to have died at about that time.”

Lewis Tappan Thompson (1838-1876), son of Lewis and Rosanna Gordon Thompson, enlisted into the Union Army in 1861, Company A, 71st Regiment New York Volunteers. He was later appointed Lieutenant in the Second United States Calvary and joined Company C. He was captured at the Battle of Gettysburg in 1862 by Confederate Troops. He was paroled. He was promoted to Major. At the close of the war, he was appointed Indian Agent in Colorado, and military aide to Governor Cummings. He rejoined his Army company in 1876 and was assigned to Fort Ellis. He died soon thereafter. His brother Lt Charles Thompson arranged for his body to be returned to PA for burial at Thompson Memorial Church.

Henry Chamberlain Thompson, born 1876, died in 1902 at Fort Bayard, New Mexico. He enrolled in the US Army; he was sent to Cuba as a Quartermaster's Clerk in 1898 during the Spanish American War. He died at the Army hospital of his assigned duty post, and was buried at the military cemetery at that location.

Edwin Silvey Thompson (pictured below) was born in 1912, entered the US Army in 1942, and was killed in action in France September 5, 1944. Sergeant Thompson was the youngest son of Harry and Marietta Thompson of Wood Hill (Solebury Township, Bucks County) PA. He was a bazooka gunner with the 28th Infantry, Eighth Army Division at the time of his death. Mr. Thompson was awarded the Purple Heart. Mr. Thompson grew up on the Headquarters Farm. He was married to Eleanor Matthis and father of three children: Eleanor (Ellen), Dorothy Jane, Edith Ann. Services were held at Thompson Memorial Church in Solebury PA; he is buried at the Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly NJ.