Francis Pugh Thomas, Jr. (SN O-165470) was born 5 August 1920 in San Diego, California. His parents were Rear Admiral Francis Pugh Thomas (1891-1953) and Marguerite M. Muller (1895-1983). He was raised in a Navy family, and therefore lived in many locations including San Diego, California, Norfolk, Virginia, Chevy Chase, Maryland, Honolulu, Hawaii, and Newport, Rhode Island. He had a younger brother Philip Farrington Thomas, who later served in the US Marine Corps.

He was appointed to the US Naval Academy and joined the Class of 1943 on 9 June 1939. At the Naval Academy he was active in varsity swimming and coached the plebe swimming team. Upon graduation on 19 Jun 1942, Ensign Thomas was ordered to the cruiser USS San Diego (CL-53). The San Diego had been commissioned in January 1942. In early August 1942, San Diego participated in the first American offensive effort of the war—the invasion of the Solomons at Guadalcanal. San Diego provided antiaircraft support to USS Enterprise (CV-6) during the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal from 12–15 November. After several months battling the Japanese in the dangerous waters of the Solomons, San Diego steamed to Auckland, New Zealand, for replenishment.

Frank was detached from USS San Diego in February 1943 to attend Submarine School, New London, Connecticut. Upon completion of his training, he reported to the commissioning crew of the submarine USS Dace (SS-247) in July 1943. Departing New London, Connecticut on 7 September 1943, Dace arrived at Pearl Harbor on 3 October, and 17 days later sailed on her first war patrol, bound for the southeast coast of Honshū and the approaches to Nagoya. He served on Dace for four war patrols. In August 1944, Frank reported to Commander, Submarine Division 182 as relief crew. On 9 October he was ordered to report to USS Growler (SS-215), which was commanded by CDR Thomas B. Oakley, Jr.

The USS Growler was a Gato-class fleet submarine built in Groton Connecticut by the Electric Boat Company. It was commissioned on 20 March 1942. After completing shakedown trials, Growler was underway for Pacific waters in early May 1942, arriving at Pearl Harbor on 31 May.

Soon after Frank reported, Growler departed Fremantle on 20 October 1944 on her eleventh and final war patrol. The Growler was a member of a wolfpack of three submarines and detected an enemy convoy in the South China Sea. On 8 November 1944 Growler closed in for the kill while USS Hake (SS-256) and USS Hardhead (SS-365) flanked the convoy. CDR Oakley directed the wolf pack to attack, but that was the last communication ever heard from Growler. A short time later, Hake noted in her war diary that she heard two explosions of “undetermined character,” and almost simultaneously, the convoy zig-zagged away from Growler’s position. Hardhead heard what sounded like a torpedo explosion followed by three depth charges on the opposite side of the convoy. Hake and Hardhead continued to attack the convoy, sinking the 5,300-ton tanker Manei Maru. Hake endured 16 hours of enemy attacks with some 150 depth charges exploding around her during the battle. After the engagement was complete, Hake and Hardhead attempted to contact Growler continuously for three days, but to no avail. The likely culprits of Growler’s demise were later identified as Japanese destroyer Shigure and escort vessel Chiburi, or another Japanese vessel in the convoy. The possibility also exists, however unlikely, that one of Growler’s own torpedoes made a premature or circular run.

The Growler was reported missing on 2 December 1944. On 1 February 1945, Navy Department Communique No. 572 stated, “Growler is overdue from patrol and presumed lost, cause unknown” and the next-of-kin of her officers and crew were notified. All hands, 86 crewmembers including CDR Oakley, were lost. Over the course of World War II, Growler sank 15 enemy vessels for a total of 74,900 tons and damaged seven other vessels for 34,100 tons on her 11 war patrols. Frank’s Naval Academy classmate LT Norman W. Naylor was also lost onboard Growler on 8 November 1944. In addition, Frank’s classmate ENS William W. Williams had been lost onboard Growler on an earlier patrol on 7 February 1943, before Frank reported aboard.

There is a memorial for the crew of the Growler at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines, which is in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City, Metro Manila, within the boundaries of the former Fort William McKinley.

LT Thomas received the Purple Heart, American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp, American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with five bronze stars, and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon.

He was survived by his parents, Captain and Mrs. Frank Pugh Thomas, USN, of Annapolis, MD. Captain Thomas was a 1914 graduate of the US Naval Academy, and early in his career served on submarines. Captain F.P. Thomas received the Legion of Merit for his conduct as Commanding Officer of the battleship USS North Carolina in 1943. When he received the award, his son was listed as missing in action. Following this command, Captain Thomas served on the staff of Admiral Ernest King. He and his wife are buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Sources:

FindAGrave Memorial ID 56774196 (Lt Francis Pugh Thomas Jr. (1921-1944) - Find a Grave Memorial)

California Birth Index, 1905-1995 (California Birth Index, 1905-1995 - Ancestry.com)

1930 and 1940 US Federal Census

U.S., Navy and Marine Corps Registers (U.S., Navy and Marine Corps Registries, 1814-1992 - Ancestry.com)

On Eternal Patrol (On Eternal Patrol - Francis Pugh Thomas)

U.S. Naval Academy Virtual Memorial Wall (VMH: FRANCIS P. THOMAS, LT, USN (usnamemorialhall.org))

Silent Victory: The U.S. Submarine War Against Japan, Clay Blair, Jr., J.B. Lippincott Company, 1975.

Newspapers.com

· The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, MD) Sunday, 31 May 1942, Page 16.

· The Evening Sun (Baltimore, MD) Saturday, 23 May 1942, Page 10.

· The Evening Star (Washington DC) Friday, 19 may 1942, Page 18.

· The Jackson Sun (Jackson, TN) Tuesday, 8 May 1945, Page 6.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen saved on Together We Served and Fold3. Can you help write these stories? These stories will be accessible via smartphone app at any war memorial or cemetery. If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact me at lplisco@gmail.com.

LT Francis Pugh Thomas, USN