Col. Burt Thompson |
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
By MORRIS STEPHENSON - Staff Writer
U.S.ﾠArmy Col. Burdett (Burt) K. Thompson, a former Franklin County resident, was presented the 2009 Ferrum College Distinguished Alumni Award during a recent meeting of the association.
Dr. Francis Amos of Rocky Mount, who encouraged Thompson to attend Ferrum, accepted the award on Thompson's behalf. Alumnus Donnie Brown presented the honor.
Thompson just completed a 12-month deployment for Operation Iraqi Freedom in Diyala Providence, Iraq.
While in Iraq, he was in charge of eight battalions with 6,300 men. He also was in charge of the Coalition Forces, consisting of 26,000 soldiers.
During his tour, only 12 soldiers and a K-9 dog were killed out of his brigade of 4,200 men.
Thompson was hand-picked to be the executive officer and advisor by the Under Secretary of the Army and will begin his new duties inﾠWashington, D.C., on Nov. 30.
He and his wife, Kala, have four children, Hunter, Hanna, Heather and Heath. The family has been living in Fairbanks, Alaska, since his deployment.
The Franklin County High School graduate received his associate of arts degree from Ferrum in 1982. As an Army Reserve Officer Training (ROTC) cadet, he was the first cadet colonel in the Ferrum College ROTC program.
The Iron Battalion at Ferrum was under the leadership of the late Col. Bud Skeens. Thompson was the featured speaker at the opening of the Bud Skeens Alumni Conference Center in 2006.
After his sophomore year at Ferrum, Thompson transferred to Norwich University in Northfield, Vt. He earned a bachelor's degree in military science and history. Following graduation, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the infantry.
Thompson's initial assignment was with the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry in the Republic of Korea as mechanized infantry platoon leader and company executive officer.
Along the way, he served as battalion assistant operations officer in the 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, N.C.
He participated in Operation Just Cause and commanded Delta Company (anti-tank), 1st Battalion, 504th parachute Infantry Regiment. He commanded Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 504th PIR during Operation Desert Storm in Southwest Asia.
In 1990, he was selected as the United States Army Forces commander, Gen. Douglas MacArthur Leadership award winner and served as the aide-de-camp to the commanding general of the 82nd Airborne Division.
In 1992, Thompson was selected as a Joint Chiefs of Staff intern in strategic plans and policy, performing duties as a planner for the Western Hemisphere and United Nations divisions. He then served as an analyst for the Battle Command Training Directorate at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, completing a master's degree in administration from Central Michigan University. He also graduated from the Command and General Staff College and attended the School of Advanced Military Studies, where he earned a master's of military arts and sciences.
In 1997, he served as battalion operations officer of the 1st Battalion, 327th Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne where he participated in a multinational force and observers mission in Sinai, Egypt.
Thompson next commanded the 2nd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii.
He graduated from the Army War College in Carlisle, Penn. He completed the Advanced Strategic Arts Program where he earned a master's degree in strategic studies. Later, he served as a strategic planner on the Joint Staff for the War on Terror from June 2004 until July 2006.
He commanded the 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, before his tour in Iraq.
Thompson's military decorations include Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, two Defense Meritorious Service medals, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Arrowhead Device, Southwest Asia-Kuwait Liberation Medal, Southwest Asia Service metal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Joint Staff Identification Badge, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Ranger Tab, Master Parachutist Badge with Bronze Star for a combat jump, Air Assault Badge and Pathfinder Badge among others. |
