Ships
- USS Hoel (DD-533) Captain from 29 July 1943 · Screen commander, 25 October 1944
Commander William Dow Thomas commissioned Hoel on 29 July 1943. She was a Fletcher-class destroyer, built by Bethlehem at San Francisco.
By the morning of 25 October 1944, off Samar, Commander Leon S. Kintberger had the ship. Thomas was aboard as commander of the screen. The Japanese center force came out of the squall. Johnston turned toward them. Hoel went in with her. A salvo hit the bridge. Thomas and Kintberger were both wounded. Thomas lived. He was given the Navy Cross. The day he turned the ship over to Kintberger is not known.