John E. Tompkins

John E. Tompkins

Army

JOHN
E.
TOMPKINS

Mar 6, 1920 - Nov 6, 2008
BIRTHPLACE: Coldwater, Michigan

SOLDIER DETAILS

HIGHEST RANK: Private First Class
DIVISION:
Army
,
Company A - 2830th Engineer Combat Battalion
THEATER OF OPERATION:
European
SERVED: May 1, 1942 -
Oct 7, 1945
BATTLE: Operation Torch
Operation Husky
Operation Dragoon
MILITARY HONORS: Purple Heart
Good Conduct Medal
African Middle Eastern service Medal with 6 Bronze stars
HONORED BY: George & Diane Tompkins, John & Judy Sherman, Elizabeth & Jerry McLain

BIOGRAPHY

John grew up in Michigan and remembered hearing about the bombing of Pearl Harbor on the Radio. He was in "shock and disbelief" and wondered what was going to happen. In 1942, at age 21, John signed up for the Army. He did basic training in Camp Crowder. John served in North Africa, France, Sicily and Germany. While in Sicily, John was wounded but returned to his unit. View the attached biography and interview for details.