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Contact Info
Home Town Washington DC
Date of Passing Jun 14, 2009
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
JOHN HOWARD MAURER Navy Cross
Rear Admiral, USN (Ret)
UNITED STATES PACIFIC FLEET
Flagship of the Commander-in-Chief
In the name of the President of the United States, The Commander-in-Chief
United States Pacific Fleet, takes pleasure in presenting the NAVY CROSS to:
COMMANDER JOHN H. MAURER
UNITED STATES NAVY
for service as net forth in the following CITATION: The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to John H. Maurer, Commander, U.S. Navy, for gallantry and intrepidity and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. ATULE (SS-403), on the FIRST War Patrol of that submarine during the period 9 October 1944 to 11 December 1944, in enemy controlled waters of the Luzon Strait of the Philippine Islands. With cool aggressiveness, sound judgment and skill, Commander Maurer launched well-planned attacks which resulted in sinking enemy ships totaling over 25,000 tons. Through his experience and sound judgment Commander Maurer brought his ship safely back to port. His conduct throughout was an inspiration to his officers and men and in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
C. W. NIMITZ
Fleet Admiral, U.S. Navy
Other Comments:
RADM John Maurer (“Jason” to many friends), 97, passed away peacefully in Tavares, Florida, on June 14th, 2009.
Admiral Maurer was born in Washington, DC, to Robert A. and Roberta H. Maurer on April 28th, 1912. He attended school in Washington and entered the United States Naval Academy, graduating with the Class of 1935. His initial duty upon graduation was aboard the battleship USS Colorado, where he participated in the search for Amelia Earhart.
On December 11th, 1937, Admiral Maurer married the former Billie Byrd in Norfolk. He then attended Submarine School in Connecticut.
After Submarine School and during World War II, he served on USS Pickerel, USS Tarpon, and as Executive Officer of USS Harder. During his tour on Harder, Admiral Maurer was awarded a Silver Star for personal valor. Leaving Harder, Admiral Maurer assumed command of USS Atule, then being built at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. Admiral Maurer commanded Atule for three years, including four war patrols, and was awarded the Navy Cross and a second Silver Star.
After the War, Admiral Maurer served on various submarine and nuclear weapons billets in Washington, New Mexico and Hawaii. He attended the National War College and served as a Submarine Division Commander, and later as a Submarine Squadron Commander. He commanded the USS Hassayampa (a fleet oiler) and the cruiser USS Saint Paul and was Chief of Staff for both the Pacific and (later) the Atlantic Submarine Forces. He was promoted to Rear Admiral in 1963.
As a Flag Officer, Admiral Maurer served as the Commander Middle East Force in Bahrain and as the Commander of Pacific Fleet Submarines in Pearl Harbor. After Hawaii, Admiral Maurer was the Chief of Staff for the Strike Command in Tampa. His final assignment was as Commander of Naval Forces in Key West. The Admiral retired in 1974 and made his home in the Florida Keys.
Admiral Maurer’s wife, Billie, passed away in 1992. The Admiral is survived by two sons (John, Jr., and Peter), his daughter (Anne), five grandchildren, and ten great-grandchildren.
A Memorial Mass and burial with military honors was held at Arlington National Cemetery.
Leyte Campaign (1944)/Battle of Leyte Gulf
From Month/Year
October / 1944
To Month/Year
October / 1944
Description The Battle of Leyte Gulf, also called the Battles for Leyte Gulf, and formerly known as the Second Battle of the Philippine Sea, is generally considered to be the largest naval battle of World War II and, by some criteria, possibly the largest naval battle in history.
It was fought in waters near the Philippine islands of Leyte, Samar and Luzon from 23–26 October 1944, between combined US and Australian forces and the Imperial Japanese Navy. On 20 October, United States troops invaded the island of Leyte as part of a strategy aimed at isolating Japan from the countries it had occupied in Southeast Asia, and in particular depriving its forces and industry of vital oil supplies. The Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) mobilized nearly all of its remaining major naval vessels in an attempt to defeat the Allied invasion, but was repulsed by the US Navy's 3rd and 7th Fleets. The IJN failed to achieve its objective, suffered very heavy losses, and never afterwards sailed to battle in comparable force. The majority of its surviving heavy ships, deprived of fuel, remained in their bases for the rest of the Pacific War.
The Battle of Leyte Gulf consisted of four separate engagements between the opposing forces: the Battle of the Sibuyan Sea, the Battle of Surigao Strait, the Battle of Cape Engaño and the Battle off Samar, as well as other actions.
It was the first battle in which Japanese aircraft carried out organized kamikaze attacks. By the time of the battle, Japan had fewer aircraft than the Allied forces had sea vessels, demonstrating the difference in power of the two sides at this point of the war.
My Participation in This Battle or Operation
From Month/Year
October / 1944
To Month/Year
October / 1944
Last Updated: Mar 16, 2020
Personal Memories
Memories Participated in operations at Leyte, Iwo Jima, Okinawa-Gunto, and in the Third Fleet operations against Japan.
