James Jonas Madison

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For other people named James Madison, including another recipient of the Medal of Honor, see James Madison (disambiguation).

James Jonas Madison
May 20, 1884(1884-05-20) – December 25, 1922 (aged 38)

Place of birth	Jersey City, New Jersey
Place of death	Brooklyn, New York
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Navy
Rank	Commander
Commands held	USS Ticonderoga
Battles/wars	World War I
Awards	Medal of Honor

Commander James Jonas Madison (20 May 1888 – 25 December 1922) was an officer in the United States Navy and a World War I recipient of the Medal of Honor.

1 Biography
2 Medal of Honor citation
3 Namesake
4 See also
5 References

[edit] Biography

Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, Madison was appointed lieutenant in the Naval Reserve on 8 May 1917. He was the commanding officer of the cargo steamship USS Ticonderoga, when on 30 September 1918, she was attacked and sunk by the German submarine U152, Commander Madison, in spite of severe wounds which later necessitated the amputation of a leg, continued to direct and maneuver the ship until forced to order her abandoned.

He died in Brooklyn, New York on 25 December 1922.

[edit] Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Naval Reserve Force. Born: 20 May 1884, Jersey City, N.J. Appointed from: Mississippi.

Citation:

For exceptionally heroic service in a position of great responsibility as commanding officer of the U.S.S. Ticonderoga, when, on 4 October 1918, that vessel was attacked by an enemy submarine and was sunk after a prolonged and gallant resistance. The submarine opened fire at a range of 500 yards, the first shots taking effect on the bridge and forecastle, 1 of the 2 forward guns of the Ticonderoga being disabled by the second shot. The fire was returned and the fight continued for nearly 2 hours. Lt. Comdr. Madison was severely wounded early in the fight, but caused himself to be placed in a chair on the bridge and continued to direct the fire and to maneuver the ship. When the order was finally given to abandon the sinking ship, he became unconscious from loss of blood, but was lowered into a lifeboat and was saved, with 31 others, out of a total number of 236 on board.