William F. Tompkins

Major General William Frazer Tompkins (22 September 1892 – 26 October 1969) was a United States Army officer who was a graduate of the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York in the famous class of 1915, also known as the class the stars fell on, and as such was a classmate of Dwight D. Eisenhower and Omar Bradley, among many others who ultimately became general officers. During World War II he served on the War Department General Staff, where his responsibility was in planning for post-war demobilization.

Early life William Frazer Tompkins was born in Richmond, Virginia, on 22 September 1892, the son of Dr. Christopher Tompkins, a professor of anatomy and obstetrics at the Medical College of Virginia, and dean of the medical faculty there, and his wife Bessie McCaw. His grandfather, Captain Christopher Quarles Tompkins, was a graduate of the United States Military Academy (USMA) at West Point, New York in the class of 1836 and half brother of Sally Louisa Tompkins.

World War I Tompkins entered West Point on 14 June 1911, and graduated on 12 June 1915, ranked 16th in the class of 1915, which also included Dwight D. Eisenhower and Omar Bradley. The class became known as the class the stars fell on because so many of its members eventually wore the stars of a general officer. Tompkins played polo on the academy team. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Army Corps of Engineers, and was sent to the United States Army Engineer School at Washington Barracks, DC, as a student, and performed additional duty as junior military aide at the White House, Tompkins was New Orleans District Engineer from 15 June 1936 to 15 July 1940.

World War II Tompkins returned to duty with the Office of the Chief of Engineers, and was promoted to colonel in the Army of the United States (AUS) on 26 June 1941.

On 30 July 1945, Tompkins went to Manila as the Deputy Commander and Chief of Staff of the Army Service Command. After war ended the command moved to Yokohama. For his services he was awarded the Legion of Merit.

Dates of rank