BRIEF HISTORY

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, West Virginia and after basic training was assigned to the 2nd Marine Brigade.  He was killed while serving with the 3rd Marine Division during the battle at the Koromokina River, Bougainvillea, 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 the grenade 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, Cdr. 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.

After operation with the 7th Fleet out of Japan during most of 1946 and patrol duty in Korean waters, she sailed in late November via Guam and Pearl Harbor, arriving San Diego 21 December.  Herbert J. Thomas sailed 6 January, 1947 via the Canal Zone arriving Newport, Rhode Island, 6 February.  Between February 1947 and 22 May, 1950 she conducted operations along the East Coast and in the Caribbean and made three deployments with the 6th Fleet to the Mediterranean.  During the latter part of 1948 she was assigned duty as a Naval Academy practice ship, giving 6-day antisubmarine indoctrinations.

Herbert J. Thomas had just returned from the Mediterranean and was in Cartagena, Columbia, when hostilities broke out in Korea in June, 1950. She immediately proceeded to Pearl Harbor and joined the Pacific Fleet.  In July she joined Task Force 77 (7th Fleet Striking Force) operating off the coast often in the Yellow Sea, effectively checking the enemy.  A month later Herbert J. Thomas was assigned to the blockading force on Korea's east coast, and rendering highly effective gunfire support missions for our forces at Pohang, inflicting much damage on the enemy.  While operating with the blockading forces, she furnished interdiction fire all along the eastern coast and fired a diversionary mission for British commandos who landed from the submarine Perch to destroy a vital railroad.

At 13:29 on the afternoon of 4 September, Herbert J. Thomas was on picket duty about 60 miles north of Admiral Ewen's main force when she made radar contact on unidentified aircraft and reported this to Valley Forge planes passing overhead.  A division of Corsairs which was orbiting northeast of the force was vectored out.  The raid was now estimated on course 106 degrees, speed 180 knots.  As the fighters turned to meet it, it separated into two parts, one retiring in the direction whence it came.  Sighting the fighters, the bogey nosed down, increased speed and flew westward toward China.  The division leader flew over him in attempt to identify and reported a twin-engine bomber with red star markings.  The intruder opened fire and was subsequently shot down.  Herbert J. Thomas proceeded to the spot where the plane splashed down and recovered the body of a Russian aviator.  Artificial respiration continued for an hour but brought no sign of life.

For the next 3 months she was assigned patrol duty and operations with Task Force 77.  Departing 24 January, 1951, Herbert J. Thomas arrived in San Diego 12 February and spent the remainder of the year operating in that area.  Returning to Korea 25 January 1952 she joined Task Force 77 for 1 month and spent 2 weeks on the bombline performing vital gunfire support and screening duties.  Late February Herbert J. Thomas took up patrol duty in the Formosa Straits and in April was assigned duty in the Songjin area.  In this she coordinated the operations of several ships in the Songjin-Chongjin area.

After a brief period with the 7th Fleet Striking Force she joined the Blockading and Escort Force off the east coast of Korea.  On 11 May she dueled with shore batteries in Wonson Harbor where she received one hit with no casualties and slight damage.  Quick to retaliate, Herbert J. Thomas dealt severely with the enemy, inflicting much damage.  The remainder of the month was spent on patrol, bombing and furnishing fire support for minesweeping operations in the Sensan, Songjin and Chogjin areas.

Retiring to Yokosuka, Herbert J. Thomas sailed 8 June for San Diego,  arriving the 26th.  Assigned to the new home-port of Long Beach, she operated in that area until departing 2 February, 1953 for duty with the Far Eastern Naval Forces, arriving Yokosuka 27 February. Herbert J. Thomas joined the 7th Fleet Striking Force and screened the carriers launching strikes on North Korea.  From 4 April to 19 May she was assigned electronics countermeasures duties in addition to calling fire missions on gun replacements and radar stations, effectively checking the enemy.

Herbert J. Thomas joined Task Force 72, 12 June and operated out Kaoshiung, Formosa, enforcing the blockade between Formosa and the Communist China mainland.  Sailing from Yokosuka 14 August she reached Long Beach 30 August for overhaul and armament conversion.

Herbert J. Thomas departed 5 May, 1954 for her fourth tour in the Far East.  After operating in the Philippines and out of the Yokosuka, she proceeded 23 July to Kaoshiung, Formosa, to take up patrol duty.  Returning to Long Beach 5 December, she spent the next 5 1/2 months operating with carrier Kearsarge in that area.

From 14 June, 1955 to March 1958 Herbert J. Thomas made three more deployments to the Far East.  During these tours she operated with fast carrier task forces and had duty on the Taiwan Patrol, helping to stabilize the Chinese situation and protect vital American interests.

On 25 October, 1958, Herbert J. Thomas deployed again with other units of the 7th Fleet to the Far East, serving with pride as a goodwill ambassador for the United States.  She trained with Japanese destroyers in antisubmarine exercise and operated again with fast carrier groups.

"Thomas" deployed regularly to the Far East until 9 July, 1963, when she entered Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Vallejo, California, and remained in commission in reserve for a 12 1/2 month modernization overhaul which gave her protection against biological, chemical, and atomic warfare agents.  Returning to full commission 31 July, Herbert J. Thomas completed her FRAM I conversion 30 August and operated along the West Coast until sailing for the Far East 14 September 1966.  Arriving Yankee Station off South Vietnam 16 October, she jointed CTG 77.7 in screening Franklin D. Roosevelt(CVA-42) during strikes against Communist Targets Ashore.  She retired toward the Philippines 16 November, arriving Subic Bay 3 days later en route to Kaoshiung, Taiwan, for patrol duty in the Strait of Formosa 24 November through 16 December.  Back off Vietnam 19 December, Herbert J. Thomas aided ground forces with naval gunfire support.  In the ensuing fortnight, her guns killed at least 9 Viet Cong; destroyed 90 buildings, 12 bunkers, and damaged 90 buildings, 6 bunkers, as well as several bridges and sophisticated trench systems.  Her mission accomplished, she headed for Hong Kong 3 January 1967 to prepare for future action.

Herbert J. Thomas (DD-833) received six battle stars for Korean War service.

The Herbert J. Thomas (DD-833) was transferred 6 May, 1974 to Taiwan and is now know as Hang Yang No 915

The following are the Officers and Directors of the USS Herbert J. Thomas Association and serve through December 31, 2002.

Francis (Fritz) Hall - Executive Director
3009 Bay Springs Trail
Deland, FL 32724
Tele: (904) 736-1955
E-mail: Hall8108@aol.com

John Wenderoth - Secretary and Treasurer
4108 Mangalore Drive
#103 Annandale, VA 22003
Tele: (703) 256-5426
E-mail: WENDE@aol.com

Directors:
John Wenderoth
Fritz Hall
Dick Blankenbicker
Don Clem - Newsletter Editor
Hughie Callaly (deceased)
Anthony Tague

Honorary Association Members:
Ms. Audrey Thomas
William Daly
Mrs. Rose Davis
 

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