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.
Description The American Theater was a minor area of operations during World War II. This was mainly due to both North and South America's geographical separation from the central theaters of conflict in Europe and Asia. Thus, any threat by the Axis Powers to invade the mainland United States or other areas was considered negligible, allowing for American resources to be deployed in overseas theaters.
This article includes attacks on continental territory, extending 200 miles (320 km) into the ocean, which is today under the sovereignty of the United States, Canada, Mexico, and several other smaller states, but excludes military action involving the Danish territory of Greenland, the Hawaiian Islands, and the Aleutian Islands. The most well known battles in North America during World War II were the Attack on Pearl Harbor (the first attack on US soil since the Battle of Ambos Nogales), the Aleutian Islands Campaign, the Battle of the St. Lawrence, and the attacks on Newfoundland.