MacDonald Thompson graduated from the US Naval Academy in 1937. While there at the Naval Academy he was on the boxing team. Upon graduation he was stationed on the USS Idaho BB-42. He then went on to the aircraft carriers in 1940. He flew the TBD-TBF-TBM Avengers in VT-3; VT-7 and in the Buzzard Brigade VT-10. His service was on the USS Saratoga CV-3 out of N.A.S. North Island in San Diego,California. Then he served on the U.S.S. Hancock and the U.S.S. Enterprise CV-6. He was indeed an officer and a gentleman!