World War II James Laurence Kauffman (18 April 1887 – 21 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 USS Jenkins (DD-42) during World War I and received the Navy Cross, the United States second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat.

[1][2] Kauffman rose to flag rank during World War II and held several important assignments in both European and Pacific theaters.

[1] 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 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.

[1][2] 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.

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.

[1][5] Upon the Armistice, Kauffman returned to the United States in March 1919 and assumed command of newly commissioned destroyer USS Barney at Philadelphia Navy Yard.

Kauffman then conducted patrol cruises along the Atlantic coast of the United States and later in the Caribbean, before he was ordered to Washington, D.C. for duty at the Bureau of Engineering in January 1921.

[1] Kauffman served in the Engineering's Radio Division until June 1923, when he assumed duty as Aide and Flag Secretary on the staff of Admiral Samuel S. Robison, Commander-in-Chief, Battle Fleet.

Kauffman then took part in the patrol cruises with the Pacific Fleet and was ordered to the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island in June 1933.

He remained at Mare Island until January 1940, when he was appointed commander of Destroyer Squadron 36 located at San Diego, California.

[3][1] With the outbreak of the World War II, Kauffman assumed additional duty as Commander Destroyers, Support Force, Atlantic Fleet and participated in convoying troops and ships to Newfoundland and Iceland during intensive U-Boot activity from March to September 1941.

he was responsible for the Allied effort to fight German U-boats in the area stretching from Jacksonville, Florida, to the Mexican coast, including the entire Gulf of Mexico and its strategic entrances.

During the early days of the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944, Kauffman served as Senior Officer Present Afloat.

He also held additional duty as chairman of the board of the Eastern Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute and remained in both positions until the end of June 1959.

Kauffman was decorated with Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit "Carlos J. Finlay" by the Government of Cuba during his tenure at Jefferson Medical College.