World War II Veterans Return to HHS

Side Button from Sailor pants, WWII

World War II Veterans Return to HHS and Complete High School

Donor: Rich (Dick) Thompson, Class of 1947

Author: Amy Thompson Leigh, Class of 1982

Story Contributor: Rich (Dick) Thompson, Class of 1947

Web Page Designer: Brayden Moeves, Class of 2024

When the USA entered World War II, every large and small town was affected, including Fort Thomas. Fathers, uncles, and sons (even some military women) were sent overseas to fight in the war. Those who remained had to pitch in to “do their part.”

Fort Thomas residents were encouraged to plant “Victory Gardens,” growing their own vegetables to help sustain themselves. Children from all over town had to add “gardening” to their list of daily chores.

Advertisement reminding citizens to "Do your part"

One such student, Dick (Rich) Thompson, shares his accounts of life as a Highlands student during WWII. His memories give an interesting look into Fort Thomas life during the 1940's…

Each Fort Thomas neighborhood had to practice air raid drills, in case the US would be bombed. When the sirens went off, people had to run inside. If it was nighttime, they had to turn off all their lights so a bomber plane would not be able to detect the houses below as targets.

Many adults and a few students, such as Dick Thompson (a student at Highlands Junior High who lived on Tower Place), took on the job of “neighborhood watch,” riding his bike down his own street to make sure all the lights were off in the homes. If Dick noticed a light on, he had to knock on that door to alert the homeowner of the problem. Once the entire street was dark, Dick rode his bike to North Crescent Avenue, to report, “Tower Place is secure,” to the neighborhood warden. He recalled one night, his sweet neighbor, Mrs. Hall, had her arms stretched wide trying to hold a dark blanket in her front window. The Hall’s had a fire roaring in their fireplace, and she didn’t want the light to show through the window.

A few years later, when Dick was 17 years old, he knew he would be drafted when he turned 18. In hopes of having a skill that would be useable in the war effort, he and a few other Highlands boys his age enrolled in “Radio Communication” school on Saturdays through Kenton County Vocational School, in addition to attending regular Highlands classes during the week. This simple little card is in Dick’s permanent HHS Records as the official record that he completed 160 hours in radio-communications training and 18 hours in industrial electricity.

Official record showing Richard Thompson completed training in radio and industrial electricity, 1945

One month before his 18th birthday, Dick’s mom reluctantly went with him to the Naval Office in Covington and signed for him to enter the US Navy. If a boy waited until he was officially 18, he was drafted (automatically sent to the army), without being able to choose his branch of the military.

As a seventeen-year-old, Dick left Fort Thomas (and student life at Highlands High School) to serve in the Pacific on an LST (Landing Ship Tank).

Hug for Momma

Here we see Richard Thompson, 17-year-old HHS student, hugging his mom “Goodbye,”on the front steps of their home, 33 Tower Place, before leaving for WWII, with the US Navy. The featured button (in the museum display case - also seen at the top of this article) came from a pair of these navy seaman pants.

Soon after Dick entered the navy, WWII was over. Thus, his ship traveled between Korea, China, Philippines, and all over the China Seas. Their main mission was to return displaced soldiers to their home countries. Some soldiers they picked up weren't even aware the war was over, as they had no radio contact. The soldiers they transported were happy to go home, and the countries where they were stationed were happy to get rid of them.

WWII LST 201 (Landing Ship Tank) – US Navy https://www.flickr.com/photos/upnorthmemories/7209467718

Dick worked in the engine room, where they could only work 15-minute shifts (due to the extremely high temperatures). So, he and another sailor would rotate shifts spending 15 minutes working down in the engine room, and 15 minutes above hydrating and cooling off, back and forth for their assigned duty. This learning experience was a world away from his HHS classmates.

While Dick was in the Navy, his commander sent the letter (below) to Highlands High School asking for approval to take certain classes with the US Navy for high school credit. Also shown is the response from Highlands High School to the US Navy.

Letter from US Navy to HHS principal

Response from HHS principal to US Navy

After serving in WWII, Dick and several other WWII veterans returned to finish high school at Highlands, after which they each could attend college on the GI Bill. Upon returning to Highlands, Dick received the nickname, “Vet,” from his buddies in his new class, the class of 1947 (since his original classmates had already graduated).

Highlands Students (WWII veterans) swap stories in the HHS library once returning to complete high school, 1946-47. (Veterans: Becker - standing, Quehl, Schneider, Thompson- standing, Adams)