Thomas, William Nathaniel, RADM

Deceased

Service Photo

Service Details

Last Rank
Rear Admiral Upper Half

Last Service Branch
Chaplain Christian

Last Primary NEC
410X-Chaplain Corps Officer

Last Rating/NEC Group
Staff Corps Officer

Primary Unit
1945-1949, 410X, Office of the Chief of Chaplains

Service Years
1918 - 1949

Last Photo

Personal Details

Home State

Mississippi

Year of Birth
1892

This Military Service Page was created/owned by Dorothy Thomas-Family to remember Thomas, William Nathaniel, RADM USN(Ret).

If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.

Contact Info

Home Town Piney Woods, MS	Last Address Lake Junaliska, NC
Date of Passing Apr 26, 1971
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia

Official Badges

Unofficial Badges

Additional Information

Last Known Activity:

7th Chief of Chaplins

For many years the authorship of The Midshipman Prayer was unknown. In 1938 Thomas wrote the prayer at the request of some Midshipmen. It is said to encompass much of his theology and his ideal of a Naval Officer. He never sought credit for the prayer. It has been used at Divine Service in the Naval Academy Chapel ever since. A bronze plaque of the prayer resides in the chapel.

Tributes from Members


	My Uncle Will5 posted by Thomas, Dorothy 7 -Family

Photo Album (More...)

Current Photo

Service Photo

Current Photo

Service Photo

1922-1924, 410X, USS Pennsylvania (BB-38)

From Month/Year February / 1922	To Month/Year July / 1924
Unit USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) Unit Page
Rank Lieutenant	NEC 410X-Chaplain Corps Officer
Base, Station or City Not Specified	State/Country Not Specified

Patch	USS Pennsylvania (BB-38) Details
	Pennsylvania Class Battleship: Displacement 31,400 Tons, Dimensions, 608' 6" (oa) x 97' 1" x 29' 10" (Max).Armament 12 x 14"/45 14 x 5"/51, 4 x 3"/50 2 x 21" tt. Armor, 13 1/2" Belt, 18" Turrets, 3" +2" Decks, 16" Conning Tower. Machinery, 31,500 SHP; Geared Turbines, 4 screws. Speed, 21 Knots, Crew 915. Operational and Building Data: Laid down by Newport News, Shipbuilding, Newport News, VA., October 27, 1913. Launched 16 March 1915. Commissioned June 12, 1916. Decommissioned August 29, 1946. Stricken February 19, 1948. Fate: Target During Atomic Bomb Tests, Bikini Atoll, Marshall Islands. Scuttled off Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, February 10, 1948.
	Type Surface Vessel
	Parent Unit Pennsylvania-class	Strength Battleship
	Created/Owned By Not Specified

Last Updated: Mar 23, 2019

Yearbook

My Photos For This Unit

No Available Photos

11 Members Also There at Same Time

USS Pennsylvania (BB-38)

Lawler, Robert James, CDR, (1917-1942)	OFF	210X	Lieutenant
Bryant, Carleton Fanton, VADM, (1914-1946)	OFF	00X	Lieutenant
Pratt, William Veazie, ADM, (1886-1933)			Rear Admiral Lower Half
Hewitt, Henry Kent, ADM, (1906-1949)	OFF		Commander
Pye, William Satterlee, VADM, (1901-1944)			Commander
Spore, James Sutherland T., CDR, (1904-1935)	OFF		Lieutenant Commander
Kiefer, Dixie, Cmdre, (1918-1945)	OFF		Lieutenant Junior Grade
Maher, Arthur, RDML, (1923-1953)			Ensign
Dalton, Nat, PO1, (1921-1955)			Seaman First Class
Hadley, Hugh William, CDR, (1922-1942)			Lieutenant Junior Grade
Espe, Carl Frederick, VADM, (1922-1962)			Ensign