Floyd James Thompson American soldier, former prisoner of war Date of Birth: 08.07.1933 Country: USA

1. Biography of Floyd James Thompson
2. Early Life and Military Career
3. Surviving a Plane Crash and Capture
4. Torturous Years in Captivity
5. Return to the United States
6. Legacy

Biography of Floyd James Thompson

Floyd James "Jim" Thompson was an American military veteran who spent a long nine years as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. This record-breaking term made Thompson the longest-held prisoner of war. However, the most remarkable aspect of Thompson's life story is not just how long he was held captive, but rather the fact that he repeatedly challenged death and emerged victorious each time.

Early Life and Military Career

Floyd James "Jim" Thompson was born in 1933 in Bergenfield, New Jersey, USA. His father worked as a bus driver, and Jim started working in a grocery store even before finishing school. In 1951, he graduated from Bergenfield High School and soon after married his girlfriend Alyce DeVries. In 1956, he was drafted into the army and quickly became a lieutenant after attending officer school. After serving in Korea, Thompson joined the Special Forces, becoming one of the Green Berets. In 1964, he was sent to South Vietnam, where he led a reconnaissance team of 12 soldiers.

Surviving a Plane Crash and Capture

In March 1964, during a flight to the Khe Sanh base, Thompson asked the pilot to lower the plane so he could observe something. It was at that moment that the plane was shot down. The pilot, Captain Richard L. Whitesides, died in the crash, but Captain Thompson survived. This was the first time he managed to cheat death, but little did he know that his trials were just beginning. Thompson suffered a broken spine and a bullet wound to his face, and in that state, in excruciating pain and bleeding, he was captured by the Vietnamese. Later, he recalled waking up to find people attempting to remove a ring with a ruby from his finger using a knife. The Viet Cong forced Thompson to sign a document stating that he considered the conditions of his captivity satisfactory. He remained in captivity with the Viet Cong for some time until being transferred to the Hanoi prison in 1968.

Torturous Years in Captivity

Thompson endured unimaginable suffering during his time in the "Hanoi Hilton" prison. He was subjected to hunger, torture, and isolation, but he never lost hope. Meanwhile, back in the United States, his pregnant wife received news that her husband was missing in action after the plane crash. On the same evening, she gave birth to their son, forever altering the course of their family's life. Years passed, but Thompson remained in the Vietnamese prison. It was only after seven or eight months of captivity that a neighbor informed Thompson's wife that he was alive and being held prisoner. From that moment on, she never lost hope. Nevertheless, she eventually started a new relationship.

Return to the United States

After nine long years, Thompson was finally released in 1973 and returned to the United States. He was welcomed as a hero and promoted to lieutenant colonel, receiving the Purple Heart, Silver Star, and other military awards. However, Thompson did not feel happy. He believed that he had spent his best years in captivity. His wife had moved on with someone else, his relationship with his son was irreparably damaged, and he had missed out on pursuing a career. The only thing he knew, the army, had changed significantly during his time in captivity. Thompson began to drink heavily, which led to his discharge from the military. He divorced his first wife in 1973, and his second marriage also ended in failure. These were difficult years for Thompson, and he suffered from severe depression. In 1981, he survived a massive heart attack followed by a serious stroke that left him paralyzed on one side of his body and unable to speak properly. He moved to Key West, Florida.

Legacy

On July 8, 2002, Thompson celebrated his 69th birthday, quoting General Douglas MacArthur, "Old soldiers never die; they just fade away." Eight days later, on July 16, 2002, Thompson passed away. His body was cremated, and his ashes were scattered over the sea off the coast of Florida. Senator John McCain wrote of Thompson, "This man sacrificed far more than most Americans would dare to imagine."