William Gay Thrash (September 17, 1916 – July 4, 2011) was a United States Marine Corps three-star general and highly decorated Naval Aviator. He retired from active duty on June 30, 1972, after more than 30 years of distinguished service. Thrash earned the Silver Star and the Legion of Merit during the Korean War, and a Gold Star in lieu of a second Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct as senior United Nations officer in a Chinese Communist prisoner of war camp.