11/11/2024
Today, on Veteran’s Day, I honor Jack Thompson—a trailblazer, a dedicated serviceman, and part of an all-Black battalion of military police officers chosen after the 1947 Roswell Incident. Jack and his fellow officers, who scored high on entrance exams, were entrusted with the prestigious role of enforcing military law at Walker Air Force Base in Roswell, New Mexico.
Jack’s story holds resilience and persistence. After sustaining injuries, he spent 28 days in Walker Air Force Base hospital, but due to a fire that destroyed his medical records, he spent his life fighting for recognition and justice. Despite the efforts of our family, with my mother as a politician and myself as a lawyer, our appeals to Congress went unheard. Yet, his legacy and the contributions of all Black military police officers at Walker Air Force Base will never be forgotten.
Thank you, Dad, and all those who served alongside you. Today and always, we remember you.