Click On Image For Full Size Image	Size	Image Description		Contributed By And/Or Copyright
0620301	129k	Clyde A. Thomason was born on 23 May 1914 at Atlanta, Ga. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on 28 December 1934. He served in China and on board USS Augusta (CA 31) before being discharged on 23 December 1940. Sergeant Thomason reenlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on 8 January 1942 and joined "A" Company, 2d Marine Raider Battalion, the following month. Sergeant Thomason was killed in action at Makin Island on 17 August 1942 when the battalion raided that island. He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. His citation reads in part: "Leading the advance element of the assault echelon, Sergeant Thomason disposed his men with keen judgment and discrimination and by his exemplary leadership and great personal valor, exhorted them to like fearless efforts. On one occasion, he dauntlessly walked up to a, house which concealed an enemy Japanese sniper, forced in the door and shot the man before he could resist. Later in the action, while leading an assault on an enemy position, he gallantly gave up his life in the service of his country. His courage and loyal devotion to duty in the face of grave peril were in keeping with the finest traditions of the United States Naval Service." USS Thomason (DE 203) (1943-1946) was the first ship to be named in his honor. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo from the USMC History Division)		Bill Gonyo Downey, Cal. Assoc. Researcher Navsource
0620302	49k	keel laying plaque		Jules James III grandson of Admiral James, via Bob Hall
0620306	381k	23 August 1943: Charleton, S.C. - USS Jordan (DE 204) on the left, and USS Thomason (DE 203) on the right, await launching at the Charleston Navy Yard		S. Dale Hargrave Newport News, Va.
0620307	272k	23 August 1943: Charleton, S.C. - The Launching Party for Thomason. L to R: Lt. H.M. Thomason, USMC, brother of the ship's namesake, Miss Sara Jeanette Thomason, sister and ship's Sponsor, Capt. A. M. Penn, Industrial Manager of the Charleston Navy Yard, Mrs. Thomason, mother of Sgt. Thomason and Mrs. J. T. Thomason, sister-in-law and Matron of Honor
0620308	234k	23 August 1943: Charleton, S.C. - Thomason is christened by Miss Sara Thomason with the traditional bottle of champagne.
0620309	269k	23 August 1943: Charleton, S.C. - Another view at the moment of christening.
0620310	197k	undated: Charleton, S.C. - A view of Thomason, in commission and underway.
0620312	267k	17 February 1944: Charleston, S.C. - The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Thomason (DE 203) approaching and passing under the John P. Grace Memorial Bridge over the Cooper River at Charleston, South Carolina. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 16D. From 07 to 16 February Thomason had been in the Charleston Navy Yard for repairs. She got underway on the 17th and headed for lower Cahrleston Harbor to run the degaussing range and calibrate her compasses. She anchored for the night there and on the 18th got underway in company with USS Evans (DD 552) for Davisville, R.I. (U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships photo #BS60778 and BS60777 courtesy of the late C. Lee Johnson (USNDazzle.com), from the National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Md.)		Bob Hurst Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England, United Kingdom
0620313	138k
0620305	33k	undated wartime image		Nick Tiberio Shelton, Conn.
0620303	78k	undated wartime image		Richard Kusmierz son of crewmember Edward Kusmierz
0620304	266k	page from Edward Kusmierz's scrapbook
0620311	260k	undated wartime image		Darryl Baker PNCM, USNR (ret.) Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum

Thomason Memorabilia
Commemorative Postal Cover Courtesy of Jon Burdett	Launch Program Courtesy of Jon Burdett

Contact information is compiled from various sources over a period of time and may, or may not, be correct. Every effort has
been made to list the newest contact. However, our entry is only as good as the latest information that's been sent to us. We list
only a contact for the ship if one has been sent to us. We do NOT have crew lists, rosters, or deck logs available. Please see the
Frequently Asked Questions section on NavSource's Main Page for that information.

Additional Resources

---

Tin Can Sailors
The U.S. Navy Memorial
The Destroyer Escort Historical Museum
The Destroyer History Foundation

---

To The DE, FF, LCS Photo Index Page

Back To The Main Photo Index

Comments, Suggestions, E-mail: Webmaster.

This Page Created And Maintained By Mike Smolinski by Paul R. Yarnall, All Rights Reserved. Page Last Updated: 07 December 2023