James Edward Maher
Born: October 27, 1892 at Cortland, New York
Home Town: New London, Connecticut
Navy Cross
World War II
U.S. Navy
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to James Edward Maher, Captain, U.S. Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of this profession as Commanding Officer of the Light Cruiser U.S.S. SAN JUAN (CL-54), during the engagement with enemy Japanese forces north of the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October 1942. While his Task Force was being subjected to intense and sustained air attack, Captain Maher valiantly fought his ship, maintaining her assigned station and enabling her to provide effective protection for an aircraft carrier. Captain Maher’s inspiring leadership and the valiant devotion to duty of his command contributed in large measure to the outstanding success of these vital missions and reflect great credit upon the United States Naval Service.
Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 315 (June 1943)