Sponsored by:

Navy Federal Credit Union
William
Augustus
Maguire
December 1, 1890

–

September 13, 1953

Cemetery:

Holy Cross Cemetery

William Maguire received his B.A. from Seton Hall College in Orange, New Jersey, in 1910, and received his M.A. from Catholic University in Washington, Massachusetts, in 1911. In 1915, he completed his theological studies at the University of Louvain in Belgium, and was ordained a Roman Catholic priest on July 15, 1915. His first assignment was as assistant pastor of Immaculate Conception Church in Montclair, New Jersey, until 1917. In 1917 he entered military service in the U.S. Navy, serving as Acting Chaplain aboard the U.S.S. Maine, and then in early 1918 aboard the U.S.S. Texas. He served on the U.S.S. Prometheus (1919) the U.S.S. Idaho (1927), and then at the Naval Training Station at Great Lakes. He returned to sea service in 1923 aboard a succession of ships: U.S.S. Trinity, U.S.S. Bridge, U.S.S. McCormick (1924), and the U.S.S. Arkansas and U.S.S. Black in 1929. Largely a sea-service chaplain, he served on the U.S.S. Mississippi (1933), U.S.S. Indianapolis (1940), and then the U.S.S. San Francisco. He was promoted to Captain in 1941, and during World War II served as Chaplain of the Pacific Fleet, the most senior Naval chaplain. His photograph appeared on the cover of “Life Magazine” on November 2, 1942. He retired in 1946 as a U.S. Navy Rear Admiral.

Awards Received

  • Navy Cross

    Service:

    United States Navy

    Rank:

    Lieutenant (ChC)

    Division:

    U.S.S. Christabel

    Action Date:

    April 17, 1918

    The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant (ChC) William Augustus Maguire, United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism as an officer in a boat sent out from the U.S.S. CHRISTABEL to the rescue of men from the S.S. FLORENCE “H”, which vessel, loaded with explosives, was burned in the harbor of Quiberon on the night of the 17th of April, 1918. Almost immediately after the outbreak of fire the water in the vicinity of FLORENCE “H” was covered with burning powder boxes, many of which exploded, scattering flames throughout the wreckage. The officers and crews of the CHRISTABEL’s boats drove their boats into the burning mass and succeeded in saving the lives of many men, who, but for the help so promptly and heroically extended, must have perished in the wreckage.