Laurent,
A destroyer (DE-420) was named after Lt. Leland E. Thomas.
Interestingly the accompanying bio on Lt Thomas on history.navy.mil gives this version surrounding the circumstances of his death:
Lieutenant Thomas was killed in action at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, 18 September 1942 while launching an aggressive attack on enemy warships.
See
http://www.history.navy.mil/danfs/l5...d_e_thomas.htm
Regards,
Leendert