James Laurence Kauffman (18 April 188721 October 1963) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Navy with the rank of Vice Admiral. He distinguished himself as Commanding officer of destroyer during World War I and received the Navy Cross, the United States second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat.
Kauffman rose to the flag rank during World War II and held several important assignments in both, European and Pacific theaters. He retired as Commandant Fourth Naval District with headquarters in Philadelphia in 1949. His son, Draper Kauffman, also served in the Navy and retired as Rear Admiral in 1970s. The were both the namesakes of .
Early career
James L. Kauffman was born in Ohio on 18 April 1887 in Miamisburg, Ohio, the son of John A. Kauffman and Laura Hunt. He attended public school in Miamisburg and graduated from the Steele High School in Dayton, Ohio. Kauffman then attended Pennsylvania Military College in Chester, Pennsylvania for one year, before receiving an appointment to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland on 29 June 1904. While at the Academy, he reached the rank of Cadet Ensign and was nicknamed "Reggie" by his classmates.
Among his classmates were several future admirals including: Harry A. Badt, Paul H. Bastedo, John R. Beardall, Abel T. Bidwell, Joseph J. Broshek, Arthur S. Carpender, Jules James, Walter K. Kilpatrick, Thomas C. Kinkaid, Willis A. Lee Jr., William R. Munroe, William R. Purnell, Francis W. Rockwell, John F. Shafroth Jr. and Richmond K. Turner.
He graduated with Bachelor of Science degree on 15 June 1908 and served successively as Passed Midshipman aboard the protected cruiser USS Milwaukee and armored cruiser USS Tennessee with the Pacific Fleet. While aboard Tennessee Kauffman visited the Philippines, China, and Japan and returned to the United States in March 1910.
Kauffman was assigned to the destroyer USS Hopkins under Lieutenant Harold G. Bowen, stationed at Mare Island Navy Yard following a Boiler explosion. He was commissioned Ensign on 6 June 1910, after completing two years of service at sea then required by law. After a period of Hopkins repairs and service with the Reserve Fleet, he was appointed commanding officer of the Hopkins in November 1912. Kauffman was promoted to Lieutenant (junior grade) on 6 June 1913 and commanded his ship until January 1914, when he was relieved by new commanding officer more senior in rank and transferred to the capacity of ship's executive officer. He participated with the Hopkins in the naval operations in Mexican waters during Veracruz Expedition in summer 1914 and was detached in November that year.
He was subsequently ordered to the Engineering Experiment Station at the Naval Academy, where he assumed duty as Assistant Manager. Kauffman participated in the testing of gasoline motors and other experimental work in the development of aviation and was promoted to Lieutenant on 29 August 1916. He was transferred to the battleship USS Texas at New York Navy Yard in November 1916 and served aboard that ship until March the following year, when he was transferred to the receiving ship at Norfolk Navy Yard.
World War I
Following the United States' entry into World War I, Kauffman was assigned to the transport ship USS Tenadores and served as ship's executive officer during her first wartime voyage with the troops and supplies to Europe. He was detached one month later and returned to the United States for service as Commanding officer of USS Rainier in July 1917 at Mare Island Navy Yard, California. The Rainer was originally a civilian schooner and Kauffman commanded that vessel just for one month, before returned to Mare Island for duty in connection with the fitting out of newly commissioned destroyer USS Caldwell under lieutenant commander Byron McCandless.
Kauffman served as executive officer under McCandless and sailed again to the European waters, where he took part in the anti-submarine patrols off the coast of Queenstown, Ireland. He was promoted to the temporary rank of Lieutenant commander on 1 January 1918 and assumed command of destroyer USS Jenkins in June that year. Kauffman engaged in the exacting and hazardous duty of patrolling the waters infested with enemy submarines and mines, and escorting and protecting convoys of troops and supplies.
For his service with destroyer Jenkins, Kauffman was decorated with the Navy Cross, the United States second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat. He was also appointed Officer of the Order of Leopold II by the King of Belgium, Albert I.