Jack Maginnis was born in Duluth Minnesota,
February 2, 1904, son of John Stanley and Grace Cyrilla (O'Heron) Maginnis. He
attended Oakland (California) High School, prior to his appointment to the U. S. Naval
Academy in 1923. As a Midshipman he participated in football and lacrosse, winning his
"N" with star in the latter sport. Graduated and commissioned Ensign on June 2,
1927, he subsequently advanced in rank, attaining that of Captain on March 20, 1945.
Following graduation from the Naval Academy in 1927, he was ordered to the American
Boveri Brown Electric Corporation plant, Camden, New Jersey, to assist in the fitting out
of the USS Saratoga. He joined that aircraft carrier upon her commissioning,
November 16, 1927 to serve until December 1930, when he reported aboard the USS Parrott,
operating with Destroyer Division 14, Asiatic Fleet. For his service as Gunnery
Officer of the Parrott in connection with that destroyer placing first in the
gunnery competition for the year 1932-1933, he received a commendatory letter from the
Secretary of Navy. In December 1933 he transferred to the frigate Constitution for
duty until June 1934.
He attended a course in aerological engineering at the Postgraduate School, Annapolis,
Maryland, and subsequently had further instruction at the Naval Air Station, Lakehurst,
New Jersey, and the California Institute of Technology at Pasadena, from which he received
the degree of Master of Science in 1937. He next served as aerological Officer with Patrol
Wing ONE, aboard the USS Wright, and in July 1940 reported for similar duty at
the Naval Air Station, Anacostia, DC. Between February and July 1941 he was Assistant
Naval AttachŽ for Air at the American Embassy, London, England, after which he had
duty as Secretary to the Meteorological Committee for the Joint Chiefs of Staff,
Washington, DC.
Returning to service afloat he assumed command in May 1943, of the USS Black. "For
excellent service... (in that command) from November 1943 to March 1944..." he
received a Letter of Commendation, with authorization to wear the Commendation Ribbon,
from the Commander in Chief, U. S. Pacific Fleet. The citation continues in part:
"The Black spent this period on patrol and escort duty picking up twenty-two
survivors of Patrol Squadron 72 dangerously close to an enemy held base. The Black
took part in the Tarawa and Marshall Islands campaign as a unit of an antisubmarine
patrol..."
He Served as First Lieutenant from April to December 1944, as Executive Officer until
January 1946 and finally as Commanding Officer of the USS Minneapolis. While
attached to that cruiser he participated in action at Kwajalein, Hollandia, Saipan, Battle
of the Philippine Sea, Guam, Peleliu, Leyte, Surigao Strait, Lingayon, Corregidor
(entrance to Manila Bay), Okinawa, the surrender of Korea and the opening of Wei Hai Wei
and Chinwangtoo. Detached from command of the Minneapolis in March 1946, he was
assigned to the Bureau of Naval Personnel, Navy Department, Washington, D. C, as Director
of the Corrective Services Division, where he remained until November 1949.
In December 1949 he assumed command of the USS Winston and for "meritorious
achievement...(in that capacity) during operations against the enemy in the Korean Theater
from August 15 to September 21, 1950..."he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. The
citation further states in part: "An unusually high degree of readiness for war
service was demonstrated by his command when he covered a 10,000 mile voyage at or near
full power in the shortest possible time landing troops, equipment and supplies at Inchon
where the need for them was acute..."
Returning to the United States in July 1951 he was again assigned to the Bureau of
Naval Personnel, Navy Department, Washington, DC, where he served as Head of the Officer
Performance Branch until February, 1953. The next month he assumed command Of Destroyer
Squadron 24, with additional duty as Commander Destroyer Division 241,
operating in the Korean Area. "For exceptionally meritorious conduct...as Commander Destroyer
Squadron 24 and Commander Wonsan Defense and Patrol Unit during operations against
enemy aggressor forces in Korea from May 9 to July 8, 1953..." he was awarded the
Legion of Merit with Combat "V." The citation further states in part:
" . . . Captain Maginnis discharged his many responsibilities with exceptional
skill and leadership and effectively directed the ships and units under his command in
defending the friendly occupied islands in Wonsan Harbor and along the enemy held east
coast of Korea...He displayed outstanding tactical ability while engaging enemy heavy
shore batteries, enabling his ships to effectively silence many hostile guns and afford
maximum protection to the friendly occupied islands. Under his excellent direction, gun
strikes were conducted against the enemy which resulted in widespread destruction of enemy
vehicles, troop concentrations and vital military installations...Captain Maginnis
contributed in large measure to the success of the vessels under his command and to the
success of friendly forces against the enemy..."
He was wounded by Communist shell fire off Songjin while aboard the USS Irwin
and from July 1953 to January 1954 was hospitalized, after which he served for a year in
the Military Personnel Security Division, Bureau Of Naval Personnel. In January 1955 he
became Commanding Officer of the USS Salem, flagship of Commander SIXTH Fleet, and
in October 1955 was ordered to the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, Navy
Department, where he served as Assistant Director for Joint Chiefs of Staff Matters,
Logistic Plans Division. He retired July 1, 1957.
In addition to the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal and the
Commendation Ribbon, each with Combat V, Captain Maginnis was awarded the Yangtze
Service Medal; the American Defense Service Medal, (Fleet Clasp); the American Campaign
Medal; the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign medal; the World War II Victory Medal; the China
Service Medal; the National Defense Service Medal; the Korean Service Medal; the United
Nations Service Medal; and the Philippine Liberation Ribbon. He also received the Korean
Presidential Unit Citation Badge. Captain Maginnis died, February 2, 1977.
