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Honoring American TroopsMedal of Honor Archive

Lieutenant Commander · U.S. Naval Reserve Force

James Jonas Madison

Lieutenant Commander James Jonas Madison, Navy, received the Medal of Honor for actions on October 4, 1918 at Sea during World War I.

World War I October 4, 1918

Serving as a sailor in the U.S. Naval Reserve Force, Lieutenant Commander James Jonas Madison received the Medal of Honor for his actions on October 4, 1918 at Sea during World War I. At the time he was serving with U.S.S. Ticonderoga. Madison was 34 years old.

3 other service members also received the Medal of Honor for actions on the same day.

Madison was born on May 20, 1884 in Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey. His Medal of Honor is credited to Mississippi. Madison died on December 25, 1922, at the age of 38. He is buried at Fairview Cemetery in Fairview, New Jersey.

Madison is one of 132 Medal of Honor recipients from World War I and one of 18 credited to Mississippi.

Official Medal of Honor 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, one of the two forward guns of the Ticonderoga being disabled by the second shot. The fire was returned and the fight continued for nearly two 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.

Citation text: U.S. Government, public domain.

Wounds and injuries

What the citation records about his wounds:

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.
  • Age at death: 38
  • Resting place: Fairview Cemetery

Battles and campaigns

Also served in: World War I.

Places

  • Born: Jersey City — map
  • Died: Brooklyn — map
  • Buried: Fairview Cemetery — map

Veteran resources, cemeteries and meeting places in Mississippi →

Timeline

  1. May 20, 1884
    Born in Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey
  2. October 4, 1918
    Act of valor — at Sea
    Age 34. U.S.S. Ticonderoga
  3. December 25, 1922
    Died
    Age 38.
  4. Resting place
    Fairview Cemetery
    Fairview, New Jersey

Biography

Commander James Jonas Madison, USNRF (May 20, 1889 – December 25, 1922) was an officer in the United States Naval Reserve and a World War I recipient of the Medal of Honor.

From the Wikipedia article “James Jonas Madison”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the full article →

Named in his honor

Also honored for actions on October 4, 1918

Benjamin Kaufman First Sergeant · Army World War I · 1918 SM Sterling Lewis Morelock Private · Army World War I · 1918 Harold W. Roberts Corporal · Army World War I · 1918 ✦

Same unit

RB Richard Binder Sergeant · Marine Corps Civil War · 1865 EB Edward R. Bowman Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1865 WC William Campbell Boatswain's Mate · Navy Civil War · 1865 Isaac N. Fry Orderly Sergeant · Marine Corps Civil War · 1865 JH Joseph B. Hayden Quartermaster · Navy Civil War · 1865 TJ Thomas Jones Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1865 GP George Prance Captain of the Main Top · Navy Civil War · 1864 WS William Shipman Coxswain · Navy Civil War · 1865
Sources. Service and award details compiled from the recipient record of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society, Wikidata and Wikipedia. The narrative summary is generated from these records. Spotted an error? Send a correction.