Master Sergeant, US Army and beloved instructor at the US Military Academy. An Irish immigrant born in Ballycrine, County Tipperary, Ireland, he came to the United States in 1896 and worked for two years as a waiter and busboy in the Dining Facility at the US Military Academy at West Point before he decided to join the Army. Enlisting as a Private in 1898 during the Spanish American War, he was noted early in his military career as a scaper and fighter, and was invited to join the instruction faculty teaching boxing. Shortly afterwards, he was assigned to instruct cadets on swimming, where he continued teaching swimming for nearly fifty years. Affectionately known as Marty, he remained on the instructor staff at West Point, he became a revered and beloved member of the West Point staff, helping the cadets mature into good officers and soldiers. In 1928, Maher retired from the Army in the rank of Master Sergeant, and remained as a West Point instructor by joining as a civil service employee in their athletic department. He eventually retired from the civil service in 1946, completing fifty years at West Point. As a result of the many cadets that he instructed and helped, he was made an honorary cadet of the classes of 1912, 1926 and 1928. He wrote his autobiography, "Bringing up the Brass: My 55 years at West Point." He married Mary O'Donnell, an Irish immigrant that he met at West Point, who had come to the academy to work as a cook for one of the faculty officers' families. In 1955, the film "The Long Gray Line" was made, in which his role was played by actor Tyrone Power.
Master Sergeant, US Army and beloved instructor at the US Military Academy. An Irish immigrant born in Ballycrine, County Tipperary, Ireland, he came to the United States in 1896 and worked for two years as a waiter and busboy in the Dining Facility at the US Military Academy at West Point before he decided to join the Army. Enlisting as a Private in 1898 during the Spanish American War, he was noted early in his military career as a scaper and fighter, and was invited to join the instruction faculty teaching boxing. Shortly afterwards, he was assigned to instruct cadets on swimming, where he continued teaching swimming for nearly fifty years. Affectionately known as Marty, he remained on the instructor staff at West Point, he became a revered and beloved member of the West Point staff, helping the cadets mature into good officers and soldiers. In 1928, Maher retired from the Army in the rank of Master Sergeant, and remained as a West Point instructor by joining as a civil service employee in their athletic department. He eventually retired from the civil service in 1946, completing fifty years at West Point. As a result of the many cadets that he instructed and helped, he was made an honorary cadet of the classes of 1912, 1926 and 1928. He wrote his autobiography, "Bringing up the Brass: My 55 years at West Point." He married Mary O'Donnell, an Irish immigrant that he met at West Point, who had come to the academy to work as a cook for one of the faculty officers' families. In 1955, the film "The Long Gray Line" was made, in which his role was played by actor Tyrone Power.
Bio by: Kit and Morgan Benson
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