By 1943, Tommy was serving aboard the USS LCI (L) 69, near Banika Island in the South Pacific Ocean, under the command of Frazelle L. O'Leary, U.S.N.R. He had risen from the rank of Seaman Recruit to Boatswain's Mate, 1st Class, when he met his death by drowning in the Solomon Sea on Sunday, May 30, 1943, at 6:30 p.m. Here is an account of the details surrounding his death, as written by Rear Admiral Randall Jacobs in a letter to Tommy's mother:

"At approximately 6:30 in the evening on 30 May 1943, the ship on which your son was a member of the crew noticed that a ship ahead in column had stopped, turned on a searchlight, and showed a man overboard. Your son's ship was maneuvered into a position alongside the man overboard. The man overboard was a passenger soldier, who was found to have a broken arm, and was unable to utilize any of the life saving aids thrown to him. Then your son went over the side of the ship (held by three other enlisted men). During the endeavor to bring the soldier aboard, the heavy seas and strong current swept him from the grasp of his mates and both men were swept away from the ship. Stanborough had given his life jacket to the injured soldier. Although he did have hold of a life ring, he let that go in order to go to the aid of the soldier. After both men had been picked out again by the searchlight, your son drifted away before the ship could be maneuvered to pick him up. An extensive search was made to no avail, and it is presumed that your son's death occurred by drowning."

Greater love hath no man than that he gives up his life for a friend.

A followup letter arrived informing Tommy's parents that he was recommended posthumously for a citation for his heroic actions; however, no award was ever forthcoming. Tommy is memorialized on the Wall of the Missing at Fort McKinley in Manila, the Philippines, and also in the Louisiana Memorial Plaza at the U.S.S. Kidd Veterans Memorial Museum in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. After the war, the Veterans of Foreign Wars established the Thomas W. Stanborough Post No. 4275 in Metairie, but it is no longer in operation.

Thomas William Stanborough