 Thomas was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism and courage in combat at Midway.The name "Lloyd Thomas" was assigned first to the destroyer escort USS "Lloyd Thomas" (DE-312) and then to the destroyer escort USS "Lloyd Thomas" (DE-374), but both were canceled in 1944 before their construction was complete.In 1945, the destroyer USS "Lloyd Thomas" (DD-764), in commission from 1947 to 1972, was named in his honor.