- Date Of Birth: February 1, 1919
- Date Of Death: November 29, 2020
- State: Idaho
Howard D. (Tommy) Thompson was born on Feb 1, 1919 to Henry and Olive Thompson, on the farm in Hanson County, Plano Township, Fulton, South Dakota. Tommy is the fourth child out of seven children. He passed November 29, 2020, 63 days short of his 102 birthday. Tommy attended Plano Consolidated High School in Mitchell South Dakota, graduating in 1937. In the fall of 1937, he came to Nampa to attend Northwest Nazarene College to begin his Freshman year. By 1941 he had completed his 3rd year of college and the Civil Aeronautics Program at NNC, earning his private pilot’s license. After his Junior year he worked in Alaska during the summer break constructing an airfield in preparation for war, returning then to NNC for the fall semester. December 7, 1941 brought many changes. Tommy returned home to South Dakota where after one week he went to Fort Snelling in Minneapolis Minnesota with friends to take the entrance exam for the Air Corp Reserve, Aviation Cadet. A couple of weeks later he went back to Fort Snelling for a physical exam then home again to wait. On April 23, 1942 he was officially enlisted. While training in the Mitchel B-25 Twin engine bomber, on his solo attempt, an engine failed, but he successfully brought the plane back without damage, difficult even for experienced pilots. He was deployed with the (Air Apaches) 500th Bombardment Squadron, 345th Bombardment Group. First Lieutenant Thompson flew the B-25 for 39 missions in the Pacific Theater as either the squadron leader’s wing man or first in command on low level bombing and strafing attacks. He survived and successfully returned two badly shot up airplanes one of which had over 200 bullet holes, a missing engine, one tail missing, hydraulics not functioning and no landing gear. His Squadron commented to us that he always had a New Testament in his pocket and prayed before each mission. Tommy received an Honorable Discharge Certificate Feb. 2, 1945.
Tommy returned to NNC in the fall of 1945 to finish a business degree, graduating in 1946. His Senior year he served as Dean of Men at the college. In his senior year he met Helen Yeend of Walla Walla, WA. and were married June 30, 1946. While living in Nampa, Idaho, their children Charley and Patty were born.
Tommy is survived by his Wife, Trude Conrad Thompson, Eagle; his son, Charles Thompson and his wife, Marietta, Eagle; his daughter, Patricia Thompson Hills and her husband, David, Nampa and; his step son, Kent Conrad and his wife Kay, Eagle. He is also survived by his grandchildren: Randae Hills Paul and Jeremy, Meridian, Jeff Hills and Ashley, Boston, Katherine Thompson Larson and Matthew, Boise, David Thompson, Eagle, and step grand daughter, Jennifer Conrad Galloway and Greg, Spokane. As well as his great grandchildren: Judah Paul, Sage Larson, Harrison Hills, River Larson, step great grandchildren: Karyn Galloway, Ben Galloway, Alyssa, Miles & Eden Paul. His 106 year old sister, Esther Michaelis, Nampa; .brothers, Raymond Thompson, Mitchell, South.Dakota and Donald Thompson, Albuquerque, New Mexico; as well as many nieces and nephews.
