Thompson entered in the United States Army in November 1944 and advanced to the grade of staff sergeant before being commissioned a second lieutenant.

He served first at Fort Hamilton and then was assigned to Japan, where he performed duties as the Army Exchange Officer at Kokura.

[2] From September 1959 to May 1960, Thompson attended the Quartermaster Officer Advanced Course at Fort Lee, Virginia, and from there was assigned to Korea, serving until August 1961 as S-4, 321st U.S. Army Security Agency Battalion at Camp Red Cloud.

In April 1970, Thompson served as Commander of the United States Army Inventory Control Center in South Vietnam.

Returning from overseas, he was assigned as Commander of the Defense Logistics Service Center, Battle Creek, Michigan, until July 1973.