This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Daniel L Arnes, CMDCM
to remember
Thomson, James William M., LT.
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James W. M. Thomson, 59, of Merritt Island, FL, died Tuesday, March 7, 2006. Jim was born in White Plains, New York, to James Brown and Kathryn Elizabeth Thomson on October 22, 1946.
He was a responsible, loving son to his parents and honored them completely during his short life. He grew up admiring the commitments shown to him by his father and his grandfather, Archie Edgar Konecheck in their dedicated service to country and family. James followed in his father's footsteps by earning an appointment to the United States Naval Academy, after graduating from Seminole High School in 1964. Upon earning his commission in 1968, he hurried to complete flight training so he could begin his dream. Lt. James W.M. Thomson, U.S. Navy served his country overseas in time of war, acting as a search and rescue pilot among other notable challenges in Vietnam. He was immensely proud of his work and his choice to serve his nation through military service like that of those before him.
Jim was married to Weji (Wanda Gregory) for thirty-three years. This special union gave Jim the opportunity to introduce another of his loves, football, to his sons Johnny Ray and Robert Eugene Thomson. He was always present at all of their games and there was never a need for a megaphone while cheering his sons on. On September 20, 1975 Jim was blessed with his pride and joy, Kathryn Marie. Together they discovered life and built a bond that was truly blessed. Jim proved to be a loving giving man with the addition of his last born son, Nathan James Chad, born January 15, 1996. Jim shared his thoughts and inspirations with Nathan, always encouraging him to be the best he could and to take pride in his future accomplishments. Jim loved sports, books, television, space travel and life.
Jim was a dedicated Naval Officer in the United States Navy, before joining the engineering group for NASA in 1979. He served the United States at NASA until his retirement in January 2006 before being called home to be with the Lord. He is survived by his parents, his wife Weji, two sons, a daughter, two brothers, Scott and Craig, seven grandchildren. A memorial service was held March 11th, at Patrick Air Force Base.
Jim was cremated and ashes given to Wife.
Vietnam War/Counteroffensive Phase VII Campaign (70-71)
From Month/Year
July / 1970
To Month/Year
June / 1971
Description This Campaign was from 1 July 1970 to 30 June 1971. In July the Vietnamese Navy assumed sole responsibility f or the Ready Deck operation, which was given a Tran Hung Dao designator like the other former SEALORDS areas. Also in July, the U.S. Navy ceased its combat activity on I Corp's Cua Viet and Hue Rivers. The Americans then transferred the last combatant vessels of Task Force Clearwater to the Vietnamese. A final turnover of river craft at the end of 1970 enabled the Vietnamese Navy to take charge of the Search Turn, Barrier Reef, and Breezy Cove efforts deep in the Mekong Delta. Except for continued support by HAL-3 and VAL-4 aircraft and SEAL detachments, the U.S. Navy's role in the SEALORDS campaign ended in April 1971 when Solid Anchor (previously Sea Float and now based ashore at Nam Can) became a Vietnamese responsibility.
The Vietnamese Navy, which grew from 18,000 men in the fall of 1968 to 32,000 men at the end of 1970, instituted organizational changes to accommodate the new personnel, material, and operational responsibilities. The Vietnamese grouped their riverine assault craft in riverine assault interdiction divisions (RAID) and their PBRs into river interdiction divisions (RID) and river patrol groups (RPG). They also augmented the existing RAGs and coastal groups, the latter now consolidated into 20 units for lack of sufficient patrol junks.
This dramatic change in the nature of the allied war effort reflected the rapid but measured withdrawal from South Vietnam of U.S. naval forces. NAVFORV strength dropped from a peak of 38,083 personnel in September 1968 to 16,757 at the end of 1970. As Admiral Zumwalt transferred resources to the Vietnamese Navy, he disestablished U.S. naval commands and airlifted personnel home. With the redeployment of the Army's 9th Infantry Division and the turnover of 64 riverine assault craft in June 1969, the joint Mobile Riverine Force halted operations. When the Riverine Assault Force (Task Force 117) stood down on 25 August 1969, it became the first major naval command deactivated in Vietnam. By December 1970, COMNAVFORV had transferred to Vietnam the remaining river combatant craft in his command, which included 293 PBRs and 224 riverine assault craft. That month, the River Patrol Force was disestablished and the Task Force 116 designator reassigned to Commander Delta Naval Forces, a new headquarters controlling SEAL and naval aircraft units still in-country.
