USS Leland E. Thomas (DE-420)

USS Leland E. Thomas (DE-420) was a John C. Butler-class destroyer escort acquired by the U.S. Navy during World War II. The primary purpose of the destroyer escort was to escort and protect ships in convoy, in addition to other tasks as assigned, such as patrol or radar picket. Post-war, after her service in the Pacific Ocean war zone, her crew members returned home proudly with one battle star to their credit.

Leland E. Thomas (DE-420) was named in honor of Leland Evan Thomas who contributed to the sinking of a Japanese cruiser and a destroyer and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Leland E. Thomas (DE-420) was laid down 21 January 1944 by Brown Shipbuilding Co., Houston, Texas; launched 28 February 1944; sponsored by Mrs. Benjamin E. Thomas, mother of Lieutenant Thomas; and commissioned 19 June 1944, Lt. Comdr. Leslie E. Rosenberg in command.

History
Following fitting out and tests at Galveston, Texas, and shakedown off Bermuda, Leland E. Thomas got underway for Massachusetts 11 August, arriving Boston the 13th. After completing availability at the Boston Navy Yard, the destroyer escort headed for Norfolk, Virginia, arriving 25 August. Two days later she began hunter-killer operations along the U.S. East Coast until she headed for Maine 5 September, arriving at Casco Bay the 6th. She operated along the Atlantic coast until she sailed for Italy 20 September, escorting a convoy into Naples, Italy, 4 October.

The destroyer escort sailed for the United States 10 October, escorting a convoy to New York 23 October. She got underway 10 November escorting store ship Polaris (AF-11) to the Panama Canal Zone, arriving Cristobal 16 November.

Leland E. Thomas, with other ships of Escort Division 76, proceeded to the southwest Pacific 17 November, arriving at Manus 20 December. From 1 January to 19 February 1945, she escorted convoys between Leyte Gulf, Manus, and Hollandia. The DE was busy defending Mangarin Bay, Mindoro, and patrolling lanes in the Sulu Sea, Mindoro Strait, and western approaches to Luzon until 17 March. On 4 March, while she was investigating a possible submarine sighting south of San Jose de Buenavista, Panay, her lookouts spotted enemy planes on a nearby airstrip. Immediately the ship requested fighter-bombers which soon effectively bombed the airstrip. From 18 March to 28 April, she escorted ships and convoys within the Philippine sea frontier.

From 29 April to 9 June 1945, she protected Polloc Harbor, Mindanao, and operated with the Davao Gulf 3d Resupply Echelon and the Davao Gulf Attack Unit. Leland E. Thomas bombarded Falisay Point area, north of Cape San Augustan, Davao Gulf 19 May and on 1 June with destroyer Flusser (DD-368) shelled Luayan Point. The same task unit participated in the landing on Balut Island, Sarangani Group. The DE headed for Borneo escorting Chepachet (AO-78) to a fueling rendezvous with the task group which bombarded Balikpapan, Borneo. Later she patrolled the outer anchorage area in Balikpapan during the initial landings. On 20 July she set course for Subic Bay, arriving 28 July. Leland E. Thomas was busy escorting convoys between Subic Bay and Okinawa when the war ended 15 August, and continued on this duty, touching at Manila and other Philippine Islands ports until 28 November.

Fate
She got underway from Samar, Philippine Islands for home via Eniwetok and Pearl Harbor, arriving San Pedro, California, 17 December 1945. She decommissioned 3 May 1946 and entered the Pacific Reserve Fleet Group at San Diego, California. On 1 September 1972 she was struck from the Navy list, and, on 11 September 1973, she was sold for scrapping.

Awards
Leland E. Thomas received one battle star for World War II service.