About Chris Thompson

Chris Thompson "The Doc" — Petty Officer 3rd Class Christopher Thompson died October 21, 2005 while serving in Iraq when an IED struck the armored vehicle he was riding in. He was 25 and had served four and a half years of duty. Chris was a Navy Medical Corpsman and the lead corpsman for his company in the 2nd Marine Division, 2nd Marine Expeditionary Force. Navy Medical Corpsman are comparable to medics in the Army and assigned to Marine units. Chris joined the Navy when he was 21 and finished basic training three days after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

While he was home from his first combat tour, someone asked the question ‘how can you manage to insert an IV in a soldier’s arm on a battlefield while bullets are crackling by and bombs exploding’? He said, “All I can tell you is I haven’t missed yet. When you’ve got somebody dying you’ve just got to do what you can.”

During his first tour, March 2004 to October 2004, Chris used his knowledge he had learned to help four Marines seriously hurt from the result of a bomb that had exploded. One man was blinded, one lost his right leg and another lost his right arm while another had a head injury. Chris attended to each of these and held a fifth Marine, his best friend, who died in his arms. When the fighting was over, they found two bullets inside Chris’ medical pack. He was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with valor for his actions.

“He was a ‘Doc’ and he was one of our best.” - Rear Admiral Thomas R. Cullison - Medical Officer, US Marine Corps

Son, Brother, Student, Sailor, Athlete, Friend — One of Chris Thompson’s closest friends and mentor once said, “Whatever you do, do it with passion. Passion is what makes life matter.” And that is exactly how Chris Thompson lived his life. He approached every aspect of his life with enthusiasm, zeal, and optimism. He was fun loving, very personable and strived to make a difference in everything he set out to do. Chris grew up in the Mulberry community and was the son of Larry and Geraldine Thompson. Chris’ presence in North Wilkes’ football concession stand began very early in his young life. When Chris was two weeks old, he attended his first Viking football game.

Larry and Geraldine Thompson have worked relentlessly for many years as North Wilkes Booster Club members. Larry Thompson served in the Army during the Vietnam War in 1967-68. The Thompsons’ have two other sons, Jimmy Epley and David Thompson, also a Navy hospital corpsman assigned to the Marines. Chris graduated from North Wilkes High School in 1999 and while at North Wilkes, he was in the Junior ROTC. He was also a standout Viking athlete as a member of the football, baseball and wrestling team.

After graduation, Chris served as an assistant coach for the football and wrestling teams at North Wilkes and as a youth league football coach for the elementary school program. Chris planned to become a teacher and coach after his military career.

“I had the privilege to baptize Chris. What I think of him always is that big smile. He was always happy. He was always optimistic.” - Reverend Tim Pruitt, Peace Haven Baptist Church

Thompson's Station at Raner Wiles Stadium