Lloyd Thomas (DDE 764) - Naval Cruise Book

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4 . a . .Slain 5 uM5i0l g HISTORY OF U.S.S. LLOYD THOMAS QDDE-7645 Lloyd Thomas, after whom this ship was named, received the Navy Cross For extraordi- nary heroism and courageous devotion to duty while piloting an airplane of Torpedo Squadron Six based on the U.S.S. Enterprise in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Battle of Midway on June 4, 1942. The unprecedented conditions under which his squadron launched its offensive were so exceptional that it is highly improbable the occasion may ever recur where other pilots of the service will be called upon to demonstrate an equal degree of gallantry and fortitude. His extreme disregard of personal safety contributed materially to t-he success of our forces and his loyal conduct was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service. So reads the citation of Lieu- tenant Lloyd Thomas. In honor of Lloyd Thomas this ship was commissioned on March 21, 1947 at the Beth- lehem Steel Company Yard in San Francisco, California. After shakedown training in San Diego, Cali- fornia the Lloyd Thomas joined the Pacific Fleet and in October 1947 cruised to Pearl Harbor, Hawaiian Islands, with Task Force 38 conducting training exercises. On january 16, 1948 the Lloyd Thomas in company with the destroyers William C. Lawe, William M. Wood, and Keppler, and the aircraft carrier Valley Forge, began a world cruise for training and good will purposes. The Task Force made stops at Sydney, Australiag Hong Kong, China, and Tsingtao, China. Leaving Tsingtao, the ships separated, and the Lloyd Thomas, Lawe and Valley Forge proceeded west to Singapore, Trincomalee, Ceylong Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia, and then through the Suez Canal and the Straits of Gibraltar. The Thomas finally arrived home at San Diego, California, on June 12, 1948, after steaming 46,168 miles in live months. ' In January, 1949 the Lloyd Thomas entered the Naval Shipyard at San Francisco for con- version into the Hunter-Killer type destroyer. Mfhen the work was finished, the ship proceeded to San Diego for underway training. Upon completion of the competitive year 1949, the Lloyd Thomas received the E for battle elli- ciency. The Lloyd Thomas was assigned to the At- lantic Fleet in October 1949, and immediately cruised from San Diego to Newport, Rhode Island, via the Panama Canal. She left N'ewport