Thatcher was a Fletcher-class destroyer, DD-514. Bath Iron Works laid her down on 20 June 1942, launched her on 6 December 1942, and commissioned her on 10 February 1943. Lieutenant Commander Leland Ralph Lampman was her captain.
On the night of 1–2 November 1943 she was in Austin's rear division off Empress Augusta Bay, between Spence and Converse, with Foote astern. She was slightly damaged. She was not sunk.
The cruisers sank Sendai. That fire is not credited to one ship. Myoko collided with Hatsukaze and cut off her bow. Thatcher was among the American destroyers that finished Hatsukaze, with Claxton, Spence, and Stanly. Not one of them is credited alone.
On 19 July 1945 a kamikaze heavily damaged her off Okinawa. She was not sunk. She was not repaired for more fighting. She was decommissioned on 18 November 1945 and sold for scrap on 23 January 1948.