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/Consolidation I Campaign (71)
From Month/Year
July / 1971
To Month/Year
December / 1971
Description This Campaign period was from 1 July to 30 November 1971. Confident of the coastal patrol's effectiveness, Commander Coastal Surveillance Force began early the Vietnamization of the Market Time effort. The ACTOV program of the Navy and the SCATTOR (Small Craft Assets, Training, and Turnover of Resources) plan of the Coast Guard entailed the phased transition of the Vietnamese Navy into complete control of the inshore barrier, then the high seas surface patrol, and finally a coastal radar network intended to replace the American air surveillance effort. Throughout 1971, the American naval command transferred seagoing ships, harbor control and mine craft, and logistic support craft of many types, including Coast Guard cutters Yakutat (WHEC 380), Bering Strait (WHEC 382), Castle Rock (WHEC 383), and Cook Inlet (WHEC 384), each equipped with 5-inch guns; radar escort picket Camp (DER 251); Garrett County, reconfigured as a small craft tender; and refrigerated storage craft YFR 889.
Despite the natural complications of a turnover process, the combined coastal patrol continued to perform successfully in 1971. Of the 11 Communist ships detected attempting infiltration during the year, only one delivered its cargo to the Viet Cong in An Xuyen Province, the usual destination of the trawlers. Another nine ships fled after being sighted by the allied patrol. The remaining vessel was tracked and sunk in coastal waters on 8 April through the coordinated effort of Coast Guard cutters Morgenthau (WHEC 722) and Rush (WHEC 723), the U.S. Navy's gunboat Antelope (PG 86) and air patrol units, and the Vietnamese Navy's motor gunboat Kien Vang (PGM 603).
An efficient logistic establishment was as important as a ready combat force to the future performance of the Vietnamese Navy. Soon after the turnover of combatant craft got underway, the U.S. Navy prepared its support establishment for eventual transfer to the allied naval service. Under ACTOVLOG (Accelerated Turnover to the Vietnamese, Logistics), Admiral Zumwalt oversaw not only the turnover of U.S. installations, but also the expansion of the Vietnamese base, transportation, maintenance and repair, supply, and personnel housing infrastructures to accommodate the planned doubling in size of the navy. The Americans modernized existing facilities and constructed new bases, coastal radar sites, and housing for Vietnamese sailors and their families.
