USS Herbert J. Thomas

Herbert J. Thomas was born 8 February 1918 in Columbus, Ohio. From July to October 1941, he had enlisted service with the Army Air Corps. Sergeant Thomas enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve 3 March 1942 at Charleston, W. Va., and after basic training was assigned to the 2d Marine Brigade. He was killed while serving with the 3d Marine Division during the battle at the Koromokina River, Bougainville, Solomon Islands, 7 November 1943. Discovering a gun emplacement difficult to approach, he carefully placed his men around him in strategic positions from which they were to charge after he had thrown a grenade into the emplacement. When the grenade struck vines and fell back into the midst of his group, Sergeant Thomas deliberately flung himself upon it to smother the explosion, valiantly sacrificing his life for his comrades. For his heroic conduct he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Herbert J. Thomas (DD-833) was launched 25 March 1945 by Bath Iron Works Corp.; sponsored by Miss Audrey Irene Thomas, sister of Sergeant Thomas; and commissioned 29 May 1945, Comdr. Robert T. S. Keith in command.

After shakedown along the East Coast and in the Caribbean Herbert J. Thomas transited the Panama Canal and joined the Western Pacific Forces supporting the occupation of Japan and Korea at war's end.

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From the Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, compiled by the Naval History and Heritage Command (Herbert J. Thomas (DD-833)). A work of the United States Government, in the public domain.