COMMANDER RECEIVES HONORS FROM ADMIRAL
Cresco—Mrs. Mary Malanaphy of Cresco has received the news that her son, Cmdr. Michael J. Malanaphy, has received honors tendered him by Admiral C. W. Nimitz in recognition of his outstanding service in action during the early part of 1944, in the Navy.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, July 26, 1944
Cresco Man Wins Navy’s Merit Medal
Cresco—Commander Michael J. Malanaphy of Cresco, who has been in the Navy for several years, recently received additional honors when presented with the legion of merit medal for outstanding service as commander of a flotilla of close-in fire support ships during the assault and capture of 2 enemy held islands in June and July, 1944, according to information from R. K. Turner, Vice Admiral.
Commander Malanaphy is a son of Mrs. Mary Malanaphy and brother of Mrs. Abby Peter, both of Cresco.
Source: Mason City Globe-Gazette, November 24, 1944
IOWA in News Briefs
By the Associated Press
Washington, D.C. (AP) – Captain Michael J. Malanaphy, Cresco, Ia., commander of LCI (G) Flotilla 3, yesterday accepted the navy unit commendation for his flotilla’s action in the Pacific in a ceremony at the Navy department.
Source: Carroll Times Herald, September 6, 1945
NATIVE SON OF CRESCO ACHIEVED NAVY RATING OF ADMIRAL; HAS LONG RECORD
Rear Admiral Michael J. Malanaphy, one of Cresco’s famous Navy men, spent 35 years in the Navy.
Michael J. Malanaphy was born in Cresco, the son of Michael J. and Mary Malanaphy. He was graduated from Cresco high school in 1917. In 1918 he entered the U. S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, and was graduated in 1922, commissioned as an ensign.
During the first 18 months of World War II, he was assigned to the passenger liner, “SS America,” which had been taken over by the Navy and converted to the “U.S.S. West Point.” He was later a flotilla commander of LCI’s in action at Kwajalein, Enewitck, Saipan, Taiwan, Guam, Peleliu, Iwo Jima and Okinawa.
Mr. Malanaphy was commissioned a Rear Admiral after World War II.
Admiral Malanaphy’s awards and decorations include the Navy Cross, Legion of Merit with combat device, Bronze Star with gold star and combat device, Commendation Ribbon with combat device, Presidential Unit Citation for LCI (G) Flotilla Three – group 8, Navy Unit Citation of LCI (8) Flotilla Three.
Admiral Malanaphy retired in 1953 after 35 years of service in the Navy. He and his wife are now living in Montvale, New Jersey. Mrs. Ernest Peter of Cresco is the sister of Admiral Malanaphy.
Source: The Times-Plain Dealer (Centennial Edition), Wednesday, June 15, 1966 (photo included)
Michael Joseph Malanaphy was born Aug. 19, 1899 to Michael and Mary Elizabeth Foley Malanaphy. He died Feb. 18, 1990 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA.
Rear Admiral Malanaphy served with the U.S. Navy in World War I, World War II and Korea.
Source: ancestry.com
