Cpl. Lance Thompson, U.S.M.C. (KIA)

Marine remembered for service to country

UPLAND, Ind. (NLI) - A service for Marine Corps Corporal Lance Thompson, 21, was held Monday at Upland United Methodist Church. Thompson was killed on Monday, November 15, 2004, by an explosion in Ramadi, Iraq.

"He was a dedicated Marine serving his country proudly, doing a job that he and his fellow Marines felt had to be done in Iraq," Thompson's father Gred said.

Lance Thompson graduated from Eastbrook High School in 2001. In September of 2001, he joined the U.S. Marine Corp. and reported for duty at the training center in San Diego.

Thompson was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, First Marine Expeditionary Force out of Camp Pendleton in California.

This was his second tour of duty in Iraq. He was previously in Iraq in March of 2003.

"He made a comment to me in an email in October," Greg Thompson said. "It was better to be fighting terrorists in a foreign land than in the streets of New York or Chicago."

Tears and sniffles filled the church while the song "My Immortal" by the pop band Evanescence played in the back ground. Thompson's brother Phillip and step-brother Matt Dalton dedicated the song to him.

Dalton said his brother Lance died living out his life long dream and knows Lance is looking down on him.

"When I'm working the streets, patrolling as a Deputy Sheriff and as a firefighter, I know he's going to be my guardian angel," Dalton said.

U.S. Navy Chaplain Ron May had advice for mourners. He told everyone to continue loving, even though it may be painful.

"Love is not the easy way, it's the hard way," May said. "Deep down we know that love is too precious of a gift not to invest, even when it means having to experience sorrow and pain."

Chaplain Ron May thanked Lance his "courage, bravery, and willingness."

One fellow Marine, who shared a tent with Lance while in Iraq, talked about how positive of a person Lance was.

"When we went to the field, he never complained, he'd take radio watch, and have no problem with it, but no matter what we went through, he had no problem with it," the Marine said.

Lance was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.

He leaves behind a wife, Dawn Case of Van Buren. Case, who lives in California, and Lance married in 2002.

Corporal Thompson was laid to rest at Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.