Specialist Four Richard J. Thompson was born on 20 June 1960 in Donnellson, Iowa, and was a lifelong resident of the community. He was a 1978 graduate of Marquette High School and a 1980 graduate of Muscatine Community College. In April 1982, he volunteered for service in the U.S. Army and came to the Task Force shortly afterwards, where he was a member of Charlie Company, 158th Aviation Battalion.

SP4 Thompson died while serving as a crew chief of a UH-60A Black Hawk helicopter, #999, when it crashed in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Panama on 4 October 1983.

SP4 Thompson is survived by his mother, Florence; his three brothers, Steve, Gary, and Daryl; and his sister, Lora. He is laid to rest in Houghton, Iowa, at St. John’s Cemetery, Section 4, Row 4.