Frank Tsosie Thompson
Encyclopedia
Frank Tsosie Thompson was an American
Navajo
code talker
in the United States Marines during World War II
.
, on September 4, 1920. He attended board schools in Albuquerque and Fort Defiance, Arizona
. He enlisted in the United States Marines on the day he graduated from high school, May 5, 1942.
Thompson served in the Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment of the 2nd Marine Division during World War II. He served in a number of battles across the Pacific theater, including Tarawa, Abemana Atoll, Guadalcanal
, Saipan
and Tinian
. Thompson reached the rank of corporal. He remained in the U.S. Marines from May 5, 1942, until September 17, 1945.
Thompson attended New Mexico Highland University from 1947 until 1948 after the war using the G.I. Bill. He became a carpenter
by profession. He worked in maintenance
for the Navajo Nation
in Fort Defiance, Arizona, for 37½ years until his retirement in 1991.
He was awarded the Congressional Silver Medal
for his service as a code talker
in 2001.
Frank Thompson died of natural causes at the age of 87 on June 2, 2008, in Breadsprings, New Mexico.
Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr ordered that all American flags in the Navajo Nation be lowered to half staff from June 4 until June 7, 2008, in honor of Thompson. Shirley also issued a proclamation
saying that Thompson "served the United States of America and the Navajo Nation with courage
, honor and distinction
." His funeral
was held at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Gallup, New Mexico
, and he was buried in Hillcrest Cemetery.
Thompson was survived by his wife, Janet B. Thompson, his children Janice Thompson, Cassandra Bloedel, Floyd Thompson, Frankie Thompson, Terry Thompson, Francine Thompson and Valeri Llopis, and seven grandchildren.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Navajo
Navajo language
Navajo or Navaho is an Athabaskan language spoken in the southwestern United States. It is geographically and linguistically one of the Southern Athabaskan languages .Navajo has more speakers than any other Native American language north of the...
code talker
Code talker
Code talkers was a term used to describe people who talk using a coded language. It is frequently used to describe 400 Native American Marines who served in the United States Marine Corps whose primary job was the transmission of secret tactical messages...
in the United States Marines during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Biography
Thompson was born in Crystal, New MexicoCrystal, New Mexico
Crystal is a census-designated place in McKinley and San Juan counties in the U.S. state of New Mexico. The population was 347 at the 2000 census....
, on September 4, 1920. He attended board schools in Albuquerque and Fort Defiance, Arizona
Fort Defiance, Arizona
Fort Defiance is a census-designated place in Apache County, Arizona, United States. The population was 4,061 at the 2000 census.- History :...
. He enlisted in the United States Marines on the day he graduated from high school, May 5, 1942.
Thompson served in the Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment of the 2nd Marine Division during World War II. He served in a number of battles across the Pacific theater, including Tarawa, Abemana Atoll, Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal is a tropical island in the South-Western Pacific. The largest island in the Solomons, it was discovered by the Spanish expedition of Alvaro de Mendaña in 1568...
, Saipan
Saipan
Saipan is the largest island of the United States Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands , a chain of 15 tropical islands belonging to the Marianas archipelago in the western Pacific Ocean with a total area of . The 2000 census population was 62,392...
and Tinian
Tinian
Tinian is one of the three principal islands of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.-Geography:Tinian is about 5 miles southwest of its sister island, Saipan, from which it is separated by the Saipan Channel. It has a land area of 39 sq.mi....
. Thompson reached the rank of corporal. He remained in the U.S. Marines from May 5, 1942, until September 17, 1945.
Thompson attended New Mexico Highland University from 1947 until 1948 after the war using the G.I. Bill. He became a carpenter
Carpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
by profession. He worked in maintenance
Maintenance, Repair and Operations
Maintenance, repair, and operations or maintenance, repair, and overhaul involves fixing any sort of mechanical or electrical device should it become out of order or broken...
for the Navajo Nation
Navajo Nation
The Navajo Nation is a semi-autonomous Native American-governed territory covering , occupying all of northeastern Arizona, the southeastern portion of Utah, and northwestern New Mexico...
in Fort Defiance, Arizona, for 37½ years until his retirement in 1991.
He was awarded the Congressional Silver Medal
Congressional Silver Medal
A Congressional Silver Medal is a commemorative award authorized by the United States Congress to recognize citizens for noteworthy actions. The medal is then specially minted by the United States Treasury....
for his service as a code talker
Code talker
Code talkers was a term used to describe people who talk using a coded language. It is frequently used to describe 400 Native American Marines who served in the United States Marine Corps whose primary job was the transmission of secret tactical messages...
in 2001.
Frank Thompson died of natural causes at the age of 87 on June 2, 2008, in Breadsprings, New Mexico.
Navajo Nation President Joe Shirley Jr ordered that all American flags in the Navajo Nation be lowered to half staff from June 4 until June 7, 2008, in honor of Thompson. Shirley also issued a proclamation
Proclamation
A proclamation is an official declaration.-England and Wales:In English law, a proclamation is a formal announcement , made under the great seal, of some matter which the King in Council or Queen in Council desires to make known to his or her subjects: e.g., the declaration of war, or state of...
saying that Thompson "served the United States of America and the Navajo Nation with courage
Courage
Courage is the ability to confront fear, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation...
, honor and distinction
Distinction
*Distinction may refer to:* Distinction is a social force that places different values on different individuals....
." His funeral
Funeral
A funeral is a ceremony for celebrating, sanctifying, or remembering the life of a person who has died. Funerary customs comprise the complex of beliefs and practices used by a culture to remember the dead, from interment itself, to various monuments, prayers, and rituals undertaken in their honor...
was held at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Gallup, New Mexico
Gallup, New Mexico
- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there were 20,209 people, 6,810 households, and 4,869 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,513.7 people per square mile...
, and he was buried in Hillcrest Cemetery.
Thompson was survived by his wife, Janet B. Thompson, his children Janice Thompson, Cassandra Bloedel, Floyd Thompson, Frankie Thompson, Terry Thompson, Francine Thompson and Valeri Llopis, and seven grandchildren.