Dougal Cameron Thomson
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Navy
THOMSON, Dougal Cameron
Dougal Cameron Thomson was born on October 11th 1916 to Colin & Alice (Borg) Thomson in Duluth, Minnesota.
Mr. Thomson entered the Navy (Seabees) in March 1942. He served as a Carpenter’s Mate First Class with the Sixth Naval Construction Battalion in the Pacific Theater.
“We were Naval construction, all highly trained men, all enlisted, 85% from AFL Union halls, average age: 31 years. My wife Doris was pregnant when I enlisted and I saw my son when he was 2-1/2 years old.
"Sailed 30 days to Espirito Santo Island aboard USS Wharten. Great! Transferred to SS President Polk (Merchant Marine) for one week. Food terrible — some spoiled.
"Espirito Santo: two weeks, drove truck for ‘sister’ Seventh Battalion building airfield. Guadalcanal four months as surveyor and construction. We built Henderson Field and kept in operation by our 6th Battalion during hostilities while Marines held off Japs — great people, great cooperation.
"Seabees and Marines were great partners. New Zealand: 1-1/2 months, 1943; New Caledonia: 1-1/2 years building roads, airfields, warehouse areas, buildings. We had little equipment when first in Pacific, little food, ate lots of Jap rice. No shoes for field work — took from dead Marines.
"Returned to Oakland, Calif., then to Camp Endicott, Rhode Island, goofed off, missed going overseas again by one day (atomic bomb). Bless President Truman!
"Back to Duluth October 15 on points. Home Friday, back to work Monday: no marching, no parades, no bands, no hoopla. We did our job.
Our battalion received the: Marine Corps Medal, Presidential Unit Citation with one gold star, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three battle stars.”
Mr. Thomson died on January 16th 2006 in Silver Bay, Minnesota at 89 years of age. He is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Duluth, Minnesota.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, 322.
Ancestry.com - U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
Page 92 US Navy Support Books - Fold3
Dougal Cameron Thomson (1916-2006) - Find A Grave Memorial
