Navy Fireman William Thompson Awarded NAM For Courageous Action
by U.S. Navy MC1 Brian T. Glunt
November 8, 2025

Fireman William Thompson, a U.S. Navy Sailor currently in training at Surface Warfare Engineering School Command (SWESC) Great Lakes’ Electrician’s Mate Schoolhouse on board Naval Station Great Lakes, assisted in rescuing a driver from a burning vehicle at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, Illinois on October 25, 2025.

For his heroic efforts, Fireman Thompson was awarded a Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal; as well as, a command challenge coin by the SWESC Great Lakes Commanding Officer Cmdr. Quentin Cooper on November 3, 2025.

“In the face of danger, Fireman Thompson made a split-second decision to put his own safety aside to help a civilian in dire need, while also making the scene safe for others,” said Cmdr. Cooper. “He exhibited the Navy’s core values of honor, courage, and commitment without hesitation. His conduct reflects great credit upon himself, SWESC Great Lakes, and the United States Navy and serves as a reminder of the impact our Sailors have both in and out of uniform – ordinary individuals doing extraordinary things when it matters most.”

Thompson, a native of Seale, Alabama and recent graduate of Recruit Training Command (RTC), was among several bystanders who responded when a car caught fire on the upper level of the mall’s parking garage.

“We had just gotten out of the car and were maybe 20 feet away when we heard a loud boom,” said Thompson. “It was less than 15 seconds before I was over there punching the window out.”

According to Thompson, the right side of the car had already been ignited in flames, which prompted him to run to the driver’s side.

“I thought it would be smarter if I would just go to the left side, at least to get the smoke out of the car because you die faster from smoke inhalation than you would from the fire,” added Thompson. “The people doing the firefighting showed up and I chose to get everyone away; I was begging people to move away. That was my part to play, what I was trained [at RTC] to do.”

Video provided by an eyewitness shows multiple people working to remove the driver as flames spread from the engine compartment. Thompson broke one of the car’s windows, which allowed bystanders to pull the driver from the vehicle.

Thompson, who joined the Navy in August 2025, said his boot camp training prepared him to react quickly.

“Instantly, it’s like my body moving on itself,” Thompson told ABC7 Chicago. “It’s like everything the Navy taught me, just instantly erupted inside of me.”

Thompson added that when the car exploded, his mother’s car and thousands of dollars’ worth of personal possessions inside were also lost.

“We lost a lot. It was a big sacrifice to be there,” said Thompson. “My mother would have had time to leave, but I made her stay and get away to safety because I didn’t want anything to happen to anybody.”

Thompson sustained minor cuts to his hands while breaking the glass to the vehicle but remained at the scene until first responders arrived.

SWESC is responsible for providing technical training to every surface Navy engineer, quartermaster, boatswain and deck seaman, preparing each Sailor to perform on U.S. Navy ships operating around the globe.

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