[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 44 (Wednesday, April 20, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 20, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                   TRIBUTE TO COL. JERALD L. THOMPSON

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Rhode Island [Mr. Reed] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to pay tribute to the 
brave American men and women who were lost over the skies of Iraq 
several days ago by friendly fire, and in particular to my West Point 
classmate, Col. Jerry Thompson, who was killed in that friendly fire 
incident.
  Back in July 1967, when the class of 1971 at West Point arrived, we 
were mostly high school kids, many who had not been away from home for 
any length of time, but among our midst there was one individual who 
had already distinguished himself as a splendid soldier; indeed, a 
hero.
  Jerry Thompson joined the U.S. Army in 1964. He went through OCS. He 
went to Vietnam. He commanded an infantry platoon in the First 
Division, the Big Red One, and won the Silver Star for bravery. He gave 
that up to start as a plebe at West Point in the summer of 1967.
  Other people with that type of demonstrated record of courage and 
skill and achievement might have lorded it over us high school kids, 
but he did not. He was a classmate in the truest sense of the word. He 
shared with us all the trails and tribulations of cadet life, with a 
magnanimous heart, with a cheerful personality, always trying to use 
his special expertise and skill to help his classmates.
  I did not know Jerry very well, but you did not have to know Jerry 
Thompson well to admire him, his courage, his competence, his 
compassion, his patriotism, his love of his country, and his love of 
the Army.
  Jerry graduated. He went on to a distinguished career as an foreign 
country officer in the U.S. Army. He commanded platoons and companies. 
He was a Special Forces officer. He was decorated many times. He served 
in Desert Storm. He was the epitome of a professional military officer: 
Highly skilled, completely dedicated, a man of unquestioned integrity, 
a man dedicated to his country, to his Army, and to his family.
  Sadly, Mr. Speaker, and tragically, along with his comrades, he lost 
his life doing his duty, outside the glare of publicity, doing the job 
that soldiers do every day to protect their country across the world, 
risking their lives so we can live freely here.
  To his family, his wife and his two children, of course, we extend 
our sincerest and humblest condolences. I hope his life and his 
sacrifice reminds us of our great duty to our country, reminds us to 
bear our responsibilities wisely and well, to maintain our country 
strong, proud, and free.
  We at West Point take great pride in our motto; duty, honor, country, 
because these are not to us just words, because these are the lives of 
men like Jerry Thompson, whose sacrifice gave meaning to duty, to 
honor, and to country.
  The final verse of our alma mater goes like this: ``And when our work 
is done, our course on earth is run, may it be said, well done, be at 
peace.''
  To Jerry Thompson, colonel, U.S. Army, foreign country, West Point 
class of 1971, well done, be at peace.

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