Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
Thompson
Cummings
MIA (Korea) KIA
1930-01-19

–

1953-07-24

Born:

Pittsburgh

, 

Pennsylvania

Home:

Pittsburgh

, 

Pennsylvania

Buried: 

Honolulu

, 

Hawaii

Cemetery:

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Courts of the Missing)

Thompson Cummings graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, Class of 1952. He was listed as Missing In Action following a mission in Korean little more than a year after graduation. His remains have never been recovered.

Awards Received

  • Silver Star

    Service:

    United States Army

    Rank:

    First Lieutenant (Infantry)

    Batallion:

    1st Battalion

    Regiment:

    223d Infantry Regiment

    Division:

    40th Infantry Division

    Action Date:

    July 24, 1953
    Headquarters, 40th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 412 (1953) & 499 (1953)

    The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Infantry) Thompson Cummings (ASN: 0-66577), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving as a Platoon Leader with Company A, 1st Battalion, 223d Infantry Regiment, 40th Infantry Division, in action against the enemy in North Korea, on 24 July 1953. While leading a patrol at Heartbreak Ridge, First Lieutenant Cummings and his patrol were fired upon by enemy machine guns, mortars, and small arms. He ordered the patrol to withdraw and, while one automatic rifleman covered the withdrawal, he exposed himself to intense enemy fire. His heroic and resolute actions enabled the patrol to return to friendly positions and thus saved the lives of several men. The great courage and outstanding devotion to duty displayed by First Lieutenant Cummings won for him the admiration of his superiors and subordinates alike, reflecting great credit upon himself and the United States Army.