SP4 Thompson was born in Donnellson, Iowa on 20 June 1960 and was a lifelong resident of the community. He was a 1978 graduate of Marquette High School and a 1980 graduate of Muscatine Community College. In April 1982, he enlisted in the Army and came to the 160th shortly afterwards, where he was a member of Charlie Company, 158th Aviation Battalion.
SP4 Thompson was killed while serving as a crew chief of a UH-60A, #999, when it crashed in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Panama on 4 October 1983.