Former P.O.W. Dorothy Susie Davis Thompson-KF5IX-SK at 95
POW Dorothy Susie Davis Thompson-KF5IX
Dorothy Susie Davis Thompson’s path to a lifetime of service to her fellow man began with her birth. Born in Shanghai, China on October 26, 1917, where her grandparents toiled as missionaries. Her father, Alfred Davis, was an importer of electrical
equipment.
In 1937, at age 19 she left her home town of Shanghai and came stateside to New York City, where she entered the
Columbia University Nursing School. While at Columbia, the Japanese invaded China and her family managed to flea China for safety in the Philippines.
Despite a bout of rheumatic fever Dorothy graduated in 1940 from Columbia University - Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing. She then travelled to Manila, reunited with her parents and sister Eva, and began working at Steinberg General Hospital .
Following the fall of Manila to the Imperial Japanese Army, Dorothy and her family were captured in December 1941.. The 48 acre University of Santo Tomas was turned into a heavily guarded internment camp for American and European civilians. It was here that she and her family were held prisoner.
At the time, Dorothy was engaged to Lt. Don Childers, a Philippine Scout. He also was captured and perished when the Japanese ship he was being held captive on was torpedoed by the U.S. Navy.
The prisoners lived off little more than a bit of worm and bug infested wheat or rice. Men were housed in the gymnasium and education building. Women and children were
held in the main building, with 25-45 persons per classroom.
Dorothy was able to put together a 60 bed prison infirmary in an old engineering building. Here she used her training and skills caring for the captured, around the clock. Life was brutal in the camp and after 22 months of imprisonment Dorothy’s rheumatic fever returned and she was gravely ill. Dorothy, along with 3 others, was released by the
Japanese in a prisoner exchange. Because of the severity of her illness they sent her mother along.
Safely aboard the Swedish passenger ship “Gripsholm” and bound for medical care in New York, Dorothy held steadfast to the hope of her family being safely re-united.
General McArthur wasn’t the only person who vowed that they would return.
Mere months after her release and with gunfire hailing down, Dorothy …..now 2nd Lt U.S. Army Nurse Corps, returned as one of the liberators of the Santo Tomas POW camp. She was now reunited with her father and sister. During their imprisonment 456 civilians would die and another 4000 would have life long impairments.
Assigned to Ft. McKinley at the edge of Manila, Dorothy was close to her family. In the months that followed Dorothy would go on to win the Bronze Star for Gallantry and be
promoted to 1st Lieutenant. It was at this time that she met Lt. Jack Thompson. Within weeks they would be married. A marriage that would last 67 years, ending with Jacks death on April 6th of this year.
In 1945 Jack was transferred to Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio. Dorothy, now a Captain, resigned her commission and became a civilian nurse at Brookes Army Medical
Center.
In 1961 Dorothy and Jack relocated to San Antonio. Dorothy began work as the Head Nurse of the OBY/GYN department and Jack went to serve in Vietnam. Dorothy
later became part of the staff of the newly built Methodist Hospital. She retired as Director of Nurses at Methodist Hospital in 1982.
She and Jack (N5GTJ) became avid RV’ers and travelled the country extensively. During this time they embraced Amateur Radio and were extremely active with Red
Cross and the Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS).
On September 2nd, 2013 Captain Dorothy Susie Davis Thompson-KF5XI United States Army Nurse Corps, Ex-Prisoner Of War, Hero of the United States and of the Philippines, healer of the sick, and Amateur Radio Operator passed away at the age of 95.
She is survived by their children Jack H. Thompson Jr. (wife Jane), Marjorie S. Camp (husband Roger), and Peggy T. McCray (husband John) as well as numerous grand-children and great-grandchildren.
A Memorial Service will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1018 E. Grayson, on Friday, October 4, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Fort Sam Houston National
Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1018 E. Grayson St., San Antonio, TX, 78208 or to the charity of your choice.
John Bigley-N7UR
Editor
equipment.
In 1937, at age 19 she left her home town of Shanghai and came stateside to New York City, where she entered the
Columbia University Nursing School. While at Columbia, the Japanese invaded China and her family managed to flea China for safety in the Philippines.
Despite a bout of rheumatic fever Dorothy graduated in 1940 from Columbia University - Presbyterian Hospital School of Nursing. She then travelled to Manila, reunited with her parents and sister Eva, and began working at Steinberg General Hospital .
Following the fall of Manila to the Imperial Japanese Army, Dorothy and her family were captured in December 1941.. The 48 acre University of Santo Tomas was turned into a heavily guarded internment camp for American and European civilians. It was here that she and her family were held prisoner.
At the time, Dorothy was engaged to Lt. Don Childers, a Philippine Scout. He also was captured and perished when the Japanese ship he was being held captive on was torpedoed by the U.S. Navy.
The prisoners lived off little more than a bit of worm and bug infested wheat or rice. Men were housed in the gymnasium and education building. Women and children were
held in the main building, with 25-45 persons per classroom.
Dorothy was able to put together a 60 bed prison infirmary in an old engineering building. Here she used her training and skills caring for the captured, around the clock. Life was brutal in the camp and after 22 months of imprisonment Dorothy’s rheumatic fever returned and she was gravely ill. Dorothy, along with 3 others, was released by the
Japanese in a prisoner exchange. Because of the severity of her illness they sent her mother along.
Safely aboard the Swedish passenger ship “Gripsholm” and bound for medical care in New York, Dorothy held steadfast to the hope of her family being safely re-united.
General McArthur wasn’t the only person who vowed that they would return.
Mere months after her release and with gunfire hailing down, Dorothy …..now 2nd Lt U.S. Army Nurse Corps, returned as one of the liberators of the Santo Tomas POW camp. She was now reunited with her father and sister. During their imprisonment 456 civilians would die and another 4000 would have life long impairments.
Assigned to Ft. McKinley at the edge of Manila, Dorothy was close to her family. In the months that followed Dorothy would go on to win the Bronze Star for Gallantry and be
promoted to 1st Lieutenant. It was at this time that she met Lt. Jack Thompson. Within weeks they would be married. A marriage that would last 67 years, ending with Jacks death on April 6th of this year.
In 1945 Jack was transferred to Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio. Dorothy, now a Captain, resigned her commission and became a civilian nurse at Brookes Army Medical
Center.
In 1961 Dorothy and Jack relocated to San Antonio. Dorothy began work as the Head Nurse of the OBY/GYN department and Jack went to serve in Vietnam. Dorothy
later became part of the staff of the newly built Methodist Hospital. She retired as Director of Nurses at Methodist Hospital in 1982.
She and Jack (N5GTJ) became avid RV’ers and travelled the country extensively. During this time they embraced Amateur Radio and were extremely active with Red
Cross and the Military Affiliate Radio System (MARS).
On September 2nd, 2013 Captain Dorothy Susie Davis Thompson-KF5XI United States Army Nurse Corps, Ex-Prisoner Of War, Hero of the United States and of the Philippines, healer of the sick, and Amateur Radio Operator passed away at the age of 95.
She is survived by their children Jack H. Thompson Jr. (wife Jane), Marjorie S. Camp (husband Roger), and Peggy T. McCray (husband John) as well as numerous grand-children and great-grandchildren.
A Memorial Service will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1018 E. Grayson, on Friday, October 4, 2013, at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Fort Sam Houston National
Cemetery. Memorials may be made to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1018 E. Grayson St., San Antonio, TX, 78208 or to the charity of your choice.
John Bigley-N7UR
Editor