Commander James Jonas Madison, USNRF (May 20, 1889 – December 25, 1922)[1][2][3] was an officer in the United States Naval Reserve and a World War I recipient of the Medal of Honor.

After loading at Norfolk from September 5–19, 1918, for what would be her fourth voyage, Ticonderoga steamed to New York where she joined a convoy bound for Europe.

The U-boat's gunners opened fire at a range of 500 yards, targeting Ticonderoga’s bridge and forecastle, quickly putting the cargo vessel’s forward gun out of action.

Commander Madison, in spite of severe wounds, continued to direct and maneuver the ship until forced to order her abandoned.

After the order was finally given to abandon the sinking ship, Madison, who had lapsed into unconsciousness from loss of blood, was lowered into a lifeboat.

Madison was severely wounded early in the fight, but caused himself to be placed in a chair on the bridge and continued to direct the fire and to maneuver the ship.

When the order was finally given to abandon the sinking ship, he became unconscious from loss of blood, but was lowered into a lifeboat and was saved, with 31 others, out of a total number of 236 on board.