Sergeant Major Lawrence E. Thompson enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve in March 1976.  After recruit training at MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina, Private Thompson was meritoriously promoted to Private First Class and transferred to 1^st Bn, 10^th Marines to attend the basic field artillery canonneer's course.  Graduating first in his class, he was meritoriously promoted to Lance Corporal in July 1976 and reported to the 14^th Marine Regiment, Jackson, Mississippi in August for duty in the Marine Corps Reserve.   In September 1976, Lance Corporal Thompson re-enlisted and returned to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina for duty with Battery “B”, 1^st Bn 10^th Marines.  He was meritoriously promoted to Corporal in March 1977, Sergeant in December 1977 and remained with Battery “B” for the remainder on his first enlistment.

 

          Re-enlisting for a lateral move in October 1979, Sergeant Thompson was transferred to Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina where he remained until February 1980.  Transferring to Naval Air Station Millington, Tennessee to retrain as an Aviation Structure Mechanic, he was subsequently transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina for duty with Headquarters & Maintenance Squadron 31.  He was promoted to Staff Sergeant in December 1981 and remained at Headquarters & Maintenance Squadron 31 until March 1982.

 

           Staff Sergeant Thompson reported to MCRD Parris Island, South Carolina for Drill Instructor's duty with Company “D”, 2^nd Recruit Training Battalion where he worked as an assistant drill instructor, senior drill instructor, series chief drill instructor and company first sergeant.  He was meritoriously promoted to Gunnery Sergeant in February 1984 and transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, SC in February 1985.

 

           Gunnery Sergeant Thompson remained at Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, South Carolina until March 1986 and after an unaccompanied tour with Headquarters & Maintenance Squadron 15, Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, he was transferred to Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina for duty with VMGR-252. Gunnery Sergeant Thompson was re-assigned to Station Operations and Engineering Squadron in October 1988 where he flew as crew chief for the C9-B.  He remained with the squadron flying missions throughout the world including support/re-supply missions for Desert Shield/Storm until his selection for First Sergeant.

 

          First Sergeant Thompson was re-assigned to VMAQ-2 in June 1991 where he served as a detachment First Sergeant until May 1992.  Re-assigned to 3^rd Light Anti-Aircraft Missile Battalion, he served as a First Sergeant, Battery “A” until de-activation of the battalion in August 1994.  First Sergeant Thompson was transferred to 2^nd Maintenance Battalion in August 1994 where he served as First Sergeant, General Support Maintenance Company, 2^nd Force Service Support Group, Combat Service Support Detachment 66 and Combat Service Support Detachment 61 to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba and Norway.  He made several other small deployments while at 2^nd Maintenance Battalion and was selected to Sergeant Major.

 

          Sergeant Major Thompson was re-assigned at Sergeant Major, 3^rd Battalion, 10^th Marines in March 1996 serving until January 1998.   He made several deployments locally to Fort Bragg and also deployed to 29 Palms, Ca with the Marines of 3/10.  In January 1998 he was transferred to 4^th Supply Battalion for Inspector Instructor duty.   After a very challenging tour with the Reserve Force, he received orders and was transferred to 2^nd Marine Aircraft Wing for duty.  He was posted as Sergeant Major, Marine Air Support Squadron 1 in June of 2000.  Sergeant Major Thompson was selected and assigned as Group SgtMaj from February 2001 to March 2002 Marine Wing Support Group 27, 2D Marine Aircraft Wing Cherry Point, North Carolina.

 

          Sergeant Major Thompson’s awards include the Meritorious Service Medal, with Gold Star, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal, Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal with One Gold Star, the Navy Unit Commendation, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Good Conduct Medal 8^th award, the Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, the Southwest Asia Service Medal, the Kuwait Liberation Medal, and the Kuwait Liberation Medal (Kuwait).