"Enlisted in the US Army (for 1 year) April 7, 1941.  He arrived in Hawaii in  August 1941 (Pearl Harbor survivor) and was transferred to the Fiji Islands May 1942.  He served in Guadalcanal until September of 1943 and was then transferred to Bougainvillea in December 1943.  While in the Fiji Islands he developed an abscess of the perineum.  It was incised and drained and he was rotated to the United States in November 1944.  He was transferred to a camp for demobilization on July 16, 1945.  X-ray examination showed possible tuberculosis.  He was hospitalized and the sputum examination was positive. His diagnosis was tuberculosis, chronic, reinfective type, pulmonary of the right upper lobe.  The records state that there was no previous family history of tuberculosis.  No none (sic) contact was made prior to his service.  He was in good physical health for about four years of military service.  An Extra Hazard  determination made in connection with waiver of premiums, and dated January 13, 1947 held that his pulmonary tuberculosis developed as a result of his military service.  The disease did not respond well to treatment and caused his death on April 18, 1952.  His death from pulmonary tuberculosis is held due to the extra hazards of service." [Source:  Official VA documents]

Last assignment:  Battery "A", 6th Coast Artillery.  Note:  A letter in my possession sent "home" immediately prior to December 7, 1941 indicates that the troops "knew" something  was about to happen.  Clair has a few days "bad time" on his record because he was PO'd that Roosevelt's 1 yr and out was not honored.  Clair went AWOL for 6 days until he was convinced by his brother Bernard James THOMPSON to return.  Clair paid for his insubordination by being a PFC for the duration of his service.

He was awarded the following ribbons:  Asiatic-Pacific Theater, American Defense with one bronze silver [ service ] star; Good Conduct Medal; World War II Victory; and American Theater.

Clair married Frances Mae HALBERSTADT, of Detroit, MI, January 20, 1945 at 
Washington, Washington Co., PA .  They went to the Moose Lodge for their wedding celebration with their best man and woman.......real fancy, huh?

Clair and Frances had three children:  Clair John "Bill" THOMPSON b. March 7, 1946; Tommy THOMPSON b. June 2, 1947; Donald Edward THOMPSON b. March 14, 1951.  After Clair's death, Frances removed to Detroit, MI area with her three small children to be near her family.

[Obit below is probably from Washington, PA "Observer-Reporter"]

Veteran Dies

[ Picture in W.W.II uniform ]

Clair John Thompson, 33, of 88 Buena Vista street, World War II veteran of the Solomons Campaign, died Friday afternoon [ April 18, 1952 ] in the Deshon Hospital, Butler.  He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John W. Thompson, and the husband of Frances Halperstadt [ Halberstadt ] Thompson, and the father of three children.

Local Veteran Of Pacific Dies After Illness [ TB contracted during WW II ]

    A Washington World War II Army veteran who participated in the North Solomons campaign died Friday [ April 18, 1952 ] at 3 p. m. in Deshon Hospital, Butler.
    A patient for the past 16 months, Clair John Thompson, 33, of 88 Buena 
Vista street, was the son of John W. and Clara Kelley Thompson, 154 Buena 
Vista street and the husband of Frances Halperstadt [Halberstadt] Thompson.
    Born April 1, 1919, in Washington, he attended Trinity High School, and was 
manager of the Marcus Restaurant, Detroit, Mich., prior to entering the service.
    He served in the Army from April 7, 1941 until June 14, 1946, when he was honorably discharged as a private first class.  More than three years of this time were spent overseas.
    He was awarded the following ribbons:  Asiatic-Pacific Theater, American Defense with one bronze silver [ service ] star; Good Conduct Medal; World War II Victory; and American Theater.
    Surviving besides his mother, father, and wife, are three children, Clair John [ Bill ] Jr. [ me, now C. J. Thompson, Sr.], Tommy, and Donald Edward, all at home.
    The following brothers and sisters also survive; Sylvia, wife of William Fagan, and Bernard, both of Detroit, Mich.; Raymond, Irvin, Armour, Roger, Rebecca, wife of Marion Smith; Clara, wife of John Aulicino; Geroldine, wife of Thomas Engle; [ Gerold, twin of Geroldine ], David, Irene, and Ada, wife of Edward Silvers, all of Washington.
     Military rites by the American Legion Edwin Scott Linton Post No. 175, will be held with burial Monday in Washington Cemetery [ Sec. 9 ].
    Friends will be received in the home after 7 o'clock tonight until services Monday at 2 p. m., in charge of the Rev. Glenn D. Hughes, pastor of the Free Methodist Church.