BIO
Vern Edward Maher was born in Cass Township, Cedar County, on Nov 20, 1911, son of John Martin and Kathryn (Leahy) Maher.
In December of 1941, Vern was living and farming with his brother Harold and family in Cedar County, IA. However, on December 7, 1941, when Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese Imperial Fleet, Vern, at the age of thirty, did not hesitate to step up to serve his country in what would be deemed World War II. On February 3, 1942, he was inducted into the U.S. Navy. Soon after, he began his basic training at the Navy’s only Boot Camp, the Naval Service Training Command in Great Lakes, IL. At that time, there were 68,000 Sailors training at Great Lakes.
From there, he traveled to a Navy Receiving Station at the Fargo Barracks in Boston, Massachusetts on April 5, 1942, to continue his training. On September 5, 1942, he boarded the USS Massachusetts (BB-59) and it soon began to sail.
The young Seaman had been on board the U.S.S. Massachusetts, “The Mighty Mass”, for just a little over a month when he witnessed his ship engage in action. On November 8, 1942, the “Mighty Mass” participated in the bombardment of Casablanca and the French Morocco. A month later, it was a member of a Task Force which helped bombard Nauru Island.
During Vern’s time on the Massachusetts, the ship continued to be actively engaged in action. The ship, constantly repelling repeated enemy air strikes also played a key role in covering during raids and our own air attacks. During Vern’s time on the U.S.S. Massachusetts (BB-59), his ship was credited with the firing of the first and last American 16 inch shells during World War II. The first was in November 1942 when she was covering as flagship for Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa. The last was fired at the Japanese island of Honshu in 1945. In between, she participated in numerous operations throughout the Pacific.
Seaman Maher received his Certificate of Completion for the Navy’s Training Course for Ship’s Cook second class and first class on November 9, 1943.
Vern would laugh when he would tell his family the story about how the Navy had wanted him to be a spotter to watch for enemy air planes. Because his eye sight warranted him to wear thick glasses, the ship’s Chaplin even agreed that wouldn’t be a good idea, so he continued his role as Ship Cook.
One night, while he was sleeping, Vern was thrown out of his bunk which was four bunks high. Thinking it was due to rough water; he climbed back up and went to sleep. The next morning, he learned the ship had been hit by a torpedo three decks below him, puncturing the hull and killing three of their men. Fortunately, the bomb did not detonate.
Another time, Vern was helping his fellow seamen load shells while they were under attack. One of the shells fell and it split his thumb open, disfiguring his thumb nail for life.
Vern was fascinated with the experience of sailing through the Panama Canal. He remembers there was only six inches of room on each side of the ship. Every crewmember stood on deck, shoulder to shoulder to watch the close encounter.
Vern’s tour of duty continued into 1945. The “Mighty Mass” continued to participate in support as Japan surrendered on August 14, 1945. During this time, she was engaged in the second bombardment of Kamaishi, Island of Honshu. Before operations ceased, the Ship continued to provide heavy support including strikes on Tokyo. The ship and crew returned to shore on September 14, 1945. On September 30, 1945, Seaman Maher was honorably discharged from the USN Personnel Separation Center in Minneapolis, MN.
While away at sea, Vern had been corresponding with a young lady back in Iowa by the name of Rosella Kelley. He and Rosella had met during a blind date, before he had left for his Navy service. Less than a month after returning home, and before he could totally re-gain his “land legs”, he and Rosella were married in Cedar Rapids, IA on October 13, 1945. He and Rosella had three children, Rosemary (Younce), Jacqueline (Barta) and Vernon Jr. The family farmed near Nolan Settlement until 1968. At that time they moved to Iowa City.
Vernon E Maher passed away on November 14, 1980 and is buried at St. Bridget’s Cemetery, Nolan Settlement, Solon, Iowa.
Biography written & submitted by daughter-in-law, Cindy Booth Maher
