John W. Thompson

The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to John W. Thompson, First Sergeant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Le Grande Savart, west of Fismette, France, August 10, 1918. First Sergeant Thompson showed remarkable bravery and disregard of personal danger when, with two other soldiers, he attacked a German machine gun, killed the crew, and then with deadly effect turned the gun upon other machine-guns and hostile infantry which were in position near by. The crews of all the other German machine-guns were killed, ten machine-guns were captured, and the way cleared for the further advance of the American forces.

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Torpedoman First Class John W. Thompson, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession as a diver during the rescue and salvage operations following the sinking of the U.S.S. SQUALUS on 23 May 1939. Torpedoman First Class John Thompson’s courage and devotion to duty in making repeated dangerous dives during the most difficult diving conditions characterizes conduct far above and beyond the call of duty. (Advanced one grade in rating without examination.)

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