BROOKLYN, NY, US
U.S. Marine Corps
LCPL, 3D BN 2D MAR, (II MEF FWD) 2D MAR DIV, CAMP LEJEUNE, NC
07/17/2011, LANDSTUHL, GERMANY
Marine Lance Corporal Jabari N. Thompson died on July 17, 2011 of wounds sustained July 13 in Helmand province, Afghanistan, while conducting combat operations as he worked to save one of his fellow Marines who was wounded. He was assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, 2nd Marine Division, II Marine Expeditionary Force, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He and his unit were supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. LCPL Thompson was a machine gunner and had joined the Marine Corps in January 2008 and was promoted to lance corporal in March, 2009. He was due to return in early August 2011.
The twenty-two year old was born in Florida, but moved to Brownsville, Brooklyn when he was twelve to live with an aunt after his mother died. He wanted to be with his mother’s family and go to school in the city. He graduated from South Shore High School and asked a Brooklyn girl to marry him. But while New York was his home, the Marines were his life. Being in the corps, he told his family, made him a man.
His military awards include the Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Jabari had always wanted to become a Marine because his father had been one. His warm, beautiful smile conveyed his love for his family and his father, big sister and his fiancée were by his side in Germany when he died. Jabari kept a special picture album that highlighted his life. He had asked his Auntie in New York to care for it and keep it safe because it contained his life; and she will honor her nephew by continuing to safeguard his keepsake photo album.