Dade County FlArchives Biographies.....Thompson, Walter W. 1875 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Nancy Rayburn http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00025.html#0006128 February 5, 2016, 7:55 pm

Source: Vol. II  pg.168-169  The Lewis Publishing Co. 1923
Author: History of Florida, Past and Present 

	WALTER WILLARD THOMPSON, Lieutenant commander of the United States Navy
now on the reserve list, was the organizer and trainer of that famous unit
known as the Miami Naval Militia for the World war, and both in war and peace
has earned distinction in Florida, which is his native state.
	Commander Thompson was born at Key West in 1875. His father CALEB 
THOMPSON was of English ancestry, and as a sea-faring man established his home 
at Key West. He lost his life at sea. Commander Thompson was reared and 
educated at Key West, and for over twenty years was publisher and editor of the 
Key West Citizen, having organized that paper in 1899. During the Spanish-American
war he had joined the Navy at Key West, and was promoted eventually to lieutenant
commander of the Naval Militia. For several years Commander Thompson owned and
operated a lumber mill at Homestead in Dade County, and from there removed to Miami
and became a member of the staff of the Miami Herald.
	In January, 1917 about three months before America entered the World war, Mr.
Thompson at the suggestion of Admiral Ross retired, U. S. Navy, whose home is at
Coconut Grove, began the organization of the Miami Naval Militia, a unit in the
Seventh Naval District. He recruited and trained 131 men for this unit at Miami,
spending about four months in this work. Miami had the honor of having the only sub
American war he had joined the Navy at Key West, and was promoted eventually to
lieutenant commander of the Naval Militia. For several years Commander Thompson
owned and operated a lumber mill at Homestead in Dade County, and from there
removed to Miami and became a member of the staff of the Miami Herald.
	In January, 1917 about three months before America entered the World 
war, Mr. Thompson at the suggestion of Admiral Ross retired, U. S. Navy, whose 
home is at Coconut Grove, began the organization of the Miami Naval Militia, a 
unit in the Seventh Naval District. He recruited and trained 131 men for this 
unit at Miami, spending about four months in this work. Miami had the honor of 
having the only sub-training station in the country. Commander Thompson was
commander of this station. He took the Miami unit to Charleston, and was there
assigned duty at the Navy yards, being placed in command of the training camp
with 6,000 men. Before the war ended he had recruited, organized and trained
50,000 men for service in the United States Navy.
	It is a source of pride to Miami, and of much credit to Commander
Thompson, that the Miami contingent of 131 men comprised one of the finest
organizations in the naval operations in the war, and received a distinctive
tribute from the Navy Department on that score.
	Including his service before, during and after the active period of the
war, Commander Thompson was on duty in the Navy with the rank of lieutenant
commander, for five years and four months. He was relieved of active duty in
July 1922, received his formal discharge on the first of August, though
retained on the reserve list of officers, and then returned to Miami to take up
the business program which was interrupted by the war.
	Commander Thompson married Miss CATHERINE LOWE of Key West. They have
four daughters, CELESTE, MARY, ANNA and ELIZABETH.


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