Maurice David Jester (1889 - 1957)

Born 13 May 1889 in Chincoteague, Accomack, Virginia

Ancestors

Died 31 Aug 1957 at age 68 in Chincoteague, Accomack, Virginia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Lynette Jester [send private message]

Biography

Courtesy of the United States Coast Guard:

Date of Action: 9 May 1942

USCG Units Involved: USS Icarus, CG

Sinking/Capture/Assist: Sinking

Location: 34.21N x 76.35W

Credit by U.S. Navy: Yes

Enemy Warship's Commanding Officer: Kapitänleutnant Hellmut Rathke

Enemy Casualties: 15 killed in action; 33 survivors

USCG Casualties: None

Misc: First German prisoners of war taken by the United States after the declaration of war with Germany; fourth U-boat sunk by U.S.

The Coast Guard recently released the names of the newest Fast Response Cutters to be commissioned. Each FRC is named after a Coast Guard hero. One such Coast Guardsman is Maurice Jester. In late 2017 it was announced that a new Sentinel-class fast response cutter USCGC Maurice Jester (WPC-1152) would bear his name

Lt. Maurice D. Jester was the first of six US Coast Guardmen to receive the Navy Cross.

JESTER, MAURICE D.
Citation:
The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Maurice D. Jester, Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Coast Guard, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. ICARUS (WPC-110) during a successful action on 9 May 1942, with an enemy German submarine. The conduct of Lieutenant Commander Jester throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 304 (July 1942)

“He is an action type, a good ship keeper, stern, humane and just, a fine man. He should be a chief boatswain one of these days.” – Lt. Cmdr. Earl Rose, letter to Coast Guard Headquarters, Oct. 29, 1931

Maurice came from a line of Jesters who had salt in their marrow, a long line of watermen, fishermen, and oystermen. Not making a satisfactory living as a fisherman, he joined the Coast Guard in 1917, and worked his way up through the ranks.

In January 1942, a month after receiving his commission, 52-year-old Jester took command of the cutter Icarus, a 165-foot “B”-Class cutter. Germany had been sinking ships in what would be called Torpedo Alley between Cape Lookout and Cape Hatteras. During the course of the war, 400-600 Allied ships had been sunk.

About 25 miles offshore of Cape Lookout, Icarus’s sonar operator picked up a “mushy” contact 2,000 yards off the cutter’s port bow in about 120 feet of water. The officer-on-deck called Jester to the bridge.

"Ten minutes after the sonarman heard the underwater contact, an explosion rocked the cutter about 200 yards off its port side. The explosion appeared to be a torpedo, sending Icarus’s crew to battle stations. Jester ordered the cutter to steam toward the sonar contact. After calculating the contact’s course, he ordered Icarus to drop five depth charges in a diamond pattern with one charge in the center. Two more charges were dropped in a “V” pattern at a point leading the contact’s underwater course. As roiling water from the explosions subsided, large bubbles were observed on the surface, so Jester ordered a single charge dropped on the spot where the air bubbles had surfaced. Six minutes later, he ordered a second charge dropped in the same place."

The U-Boat 352 surfaced and faced fire from Icarus machine guns and cannon, then sank again. Jester ordered more depth charges and left the area to radio for further instructions on the survivors.

There were no standing orders on what to do with survivors, until this time no US Warship had captured enemy combatants. Jester returned to the area and picked up 33 survivors including the Captain.

“Contacted submarine Destroyed same. Lat 34°12 ½” Long 76° 35″. Have 33 of her crew members on board. Proceeding Charleston with survivors.” The survivors thanked the crew of the Icarus for their treatment as they departed the ship.

“The performance of the entire crew . . . deserves the highest praise. All stations were manned promptly, and without confusion. Their conduct throughout was manifested with enthusiasm, alertness, and devotion to duty.” - Lt. Maurice D. Jester

The Icarus was the first Coast Guard ship to sink an enemy submarine and only the second US Warship to do so.

Also See

http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/mdjester.htm

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/USDHSCG/bulletins/1c6c844

http://coastguard.dodlive.mil/2018/01/the-long-blue-line-maurice-jester/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_D._Jester

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USCGC_Icarus_(WPC-110)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_Happy_Time

http://www.j6x2.com/2008/05/the-sinking-of-the-u-352/

"Virginia Births and Christenings, 1584-1917", Accomack, Virginia Delayed Certificates of Birth^[1]

Name: Maria D. Jester

Event Type:Birth

Event Date: 13 May 1889

Event Place (Original): Accomack, Accomack, Virginia, United States

Sex: Female

Father's Name: Elijah Jester

Mother's Name: Elizabeth

"United States Census, 1900," Chincoteague Island, Accomack, Virginia^[2]

Elijah Jester Head Male 31 Virginia

Elizabeth A Jester Wife Female 28 Virginia

Norris D Jester Son Male 11 Virginia

Cecil R Jester Son Male 9 Virginia

Ralph Jester Son Male 6 Virginia

Edwin H Jester Son Male 4 Virginia

Elijah W Jester Son Male 0 Virginia

"United States Census, 1910," Chincoteague, Accomack, Virginia^[3]

Morris Jester Head Male 21 Virginia

Nora Jester Wife Female 19 Virginia

"United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," Maurice David Jester, Fa DOB 13 May 1889 POB Chincoteague, VA^[4]

"United States Census, 1930," Medford, Middlesex, Massachusetts^[5]

Maurice Jester Head Male 40 Virginia Boatswaim Mate

Nora Jester Wife Female 39 Virginia

Franklin Jester Son Male 18 Virginia

Floyd Jester Son Male 17 Virginia

Elizabeth Jester Daughter Female 13 Virginia

Baynard Jester Son Male 10 Delaware

Pansy Jester Daughter Female 8 Delaware

"United States Census, 1940," Richmond, New York City, Richmond 345 Victory Blvd^[6]

Maurice D Jester Head Male 51 Virginia

Nora Jester Wife Female 48 Virginia

Marcia Jester Daughter Female 18 Delaware

Milton Lourney Grandson Male 4 New Jersey

Find A Grave: Memorial #36611447

Sources

1. ↑ FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X5F4-Y89 : 28 January 2020), Maria D. Jester, 1889. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-8928-3SGC
2. ↑ FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMFN-53D : accessed 12 May 2021), Norris D Jester in household of Elijah Jester, The Islands District Chuncoteague Island, Accomack, Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 14, sheet 17B, family 378, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,241,697.
3. ↑ FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MP21-H2H : accessed 30 October 2018), Morris Jester, Chincoteague, Accomack, Virginia, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 4, sheet 14B, family 325, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 1619; FHL microfilm 1,375,632.
4. ↑ FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6CR-YN7 : 13 March 2018), Maurice David Jester, 1917-1918; citing Accomac County, Virginia, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,984,203.
5. ↑ FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQPD-KYN : accessed 30 October 2018), Maurice Jester, Medford, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 325, sheet 3B, line 69, family 53, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 924; FHL microfilm 2,340,659.
6. ↑ FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQY2-Q9K : 15 March 2018), Maurice D Jester, Assembly District 1, Richmond, New York City, Richmond, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 43-56, sheet 2A, line 19, family 26, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 2761.