Reckoning: Vietnam and America's Cold War Experience, 1945-1991
Neal F. Thompson entered the United States Army as a warrant officer candidate in August 1970, two months after graduation from high school. He completed flight school at Ft. Rucker, Alabama in November 1971 and served a one-year tour of duty in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot in Troop F, 8th US Cavalry, 1st Aviation Brigade. He logged nearly 600 hours of combat time and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (1 oak leaf cluster) and the Purple Heart.   Following his discharge in 1974, he attended Triton Junior College in River Grove, Illinois, from which he graduated with high honors in 1976, and the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he was a Lincoln Scholar, receiving a B.A. in history with high honors in 1978. He completed his education at Northwestern University Law School, from which he graduated cum laude in 1981. After ten years of private practice, he became a prosecutor in DuPage County, Illinois, where he remained for the next thirteen years, being appointed Supervisor of the Financial Crimes and Public Integrity Unit in 1996. He taught legal writing at DePaul University Law School and lectured at both the state and the national level on trial practice, reckless homicide prosecution and forensic evidence.  Mr. Thompson joined the Illinois National Guard as a helicopter pilot in 1975 and served for 28½ years, retiring in January 2003. He practices law today in Chicago and lives in Naperville, Illinois, with his wife Jaime and their children, Nick, Zack and Cate.