The Importance of Execution in the Military

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He was promoted to Warden and stayed in Arkansas for five years before interviewing for a job in 1994 as the superintendent of the Oregon State Penitentiary. "Without hesitation, I told them that I'm a good soldier. I can do my job," he said about being asked if he could carry out his duties.Oregon had not had an execution in over 32 years.

Not long into his job as prison superintendent, Frank Thompson was asked to write the manual on lethal injection for the state of Oregon. Capital punishment had not been implemented in more than 30 years, and no one knew how to do it. Frank had to travel around the country learning how other states do it, and he asked his staff to practice. They simulated every step, including seating witnesses in the gallery, interacting with the press, and strapping each other to the gurney.

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