Francis J. Thomas

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Francis J. Thomas, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for distinguished service in the line of his profession when, as senior surviving officer aboard, he took command of the Battleship U.S.S. NEVADA (BB-36), during the Japanese attack on the United States Pacific Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, on 7 December 1941, and despite severe enemy bombing and strafing at the time, handled it in an outstanding manner. Although the U.S.S. NEVADA had been torpedoed and bombed, he displayed excellent judgment in promptly getting the U.S.S. NEVADA underway and moving her from the proximity of the U.S.S. ARIZONA which was surrounded by burning oil and was afire from stem to stern. Furthermore, when the entire forward part of his ship was afire and it appeared that she might sink, as a result of further bombing, he ran her aground in order to save her. The conduct of Lieutenant Commander Thomas throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.