John Francis Delaney

Rear Admiral, U.S. Navy

John Francis Delaney was born on 7 September 1904 in Bradford, MA.

Delaney graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1925.

On 6 June 1942, Lieutenant Commander Delaney was the Engineering Officer on the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown, which was badly damaged by Japanese bombs at the Battle of Midway. For his actions that day, Delaney was awarded the Silver Star Medal.

Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Lieutenant Commander John Francis Delaney, Jr., United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving as Engineering Officer, on board the Aircraft Carrier U.S.S. YORKTOWN (CV-5), in action during the Battle of Midway, on 6 June 1942. After an enemy bomb exploded and extinguished the fires in all but one of the U.S.S. YORKTOWN's boilers during the Battle of Midway, through the efficient organization of his department and his competent direction of repair and engineering damage control Lieutenant Commander Delaney accelerated the speed of his engineering plant from 6 knots, the maximum speed of the damaged plant, to 23 knots in approximately an hour's time. His gallant actions and selfless devotion to duty, without regard for his own safety, were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

Unfortunately, due to a second Japanese attack, the Yorktown ultimately sank.

On 6 July 1943, Commander Delaney was assigned as the Commanding Officer of the Destroyer USS Hall (DD-583).

Delaney's character was portrayed in the 1976 war film movie "Midway" by former NFL great, Larry Csonka. The stars of the movie included Henry Fonda, Glenn Ford and Charleston Heston, among others.

Death and Burial

Rear Admiral John Francis Delaney died on 15 August 1968. He is buried at the U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery in Annapolis, MD.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr