Ralph U. Hyde
Encyclopedia
Captain Ralph Underhill Hyde (4 August 1894 – 12 May 1970) was a career Naval Officer who served in the United States Navy
during World War I
and World War II
.
, NY in 1894. He graduated from the Trinity School
in New York City in 1913, and the U.S. Naval Academy
in 1917, and served aboard the as Gun Division Officer, Signal Officer, and Assistant Navigator, Watch and Division Officer, for the duration of the first world war.
, the USS Rochester, and the USS Des Moines, before being selected as Aide and Flag Lieutenant to Rear Admiral Henry F. Bryan and later to Rear Admiral C. B. Morgan, Commanders of the Special Service Squadron
, aboard the USS Dolphin
. He later served aboard the USS Columbia
, and the USS Langley
when it was commissioned as the Navy's first aircraft carrier in March 1922.
In August, 1922, he was selected to serve aboard the presidential yacht, the USS Mayflower
for two years during the term of President Warren G. Harding
, as First Lieutenant, Watch and Division Officer, and Gunnery Officer.
Beginning in 1924, he served aboard the USS Arizona
as Communications Officer, followed by a tour as aide to Rear Admiral A. W. Willard, the Commandant of the Washington Navy Yard
. In 1928, as a Lieutenant Commander, he became Executive Officer and Navigator on the destroyer, USS McFarland. And in 1930, he became Aide and Flag Secretary to Admiral Harley H. Christy
on the .
After a stint as Officer in charge of Recruiting in Pittsburgh, he served at the Bureau of Navigation at the Navy Department under Admiral Frank B. Upham
until 1933, when he became the commanding officer of the USS Wickes
until 1936, with Lieutenant Milton E. Miles
as his Executive Officer, during which time his ship was commended with E's for torpedo, depth charges, and gunnery, while operating out of San Diego. During this time, the famous "What-the-Hell" Pennant was created.
After this command, Commander Hyde became Assistant to the Commandant of Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy
, where he also taught Seamanship and Navigation, and trained Reserve Naval Officers for duty in World War II.
as a liaison to the Office of Strategic Services
. In 1944, Captain Hyde traveled to Algiers, North Africa; Bari, Italy; Cairo, Egypt; New Delhi, India; Chungking, China; and Colombo, Ceylon to observe OSS activities and coordinate with Area Commanders, reporting back to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He remained in his post in Naval Intelligence as Secretary of the Joint Intelligence Committee for JCS until he retired in 1947.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Education and WWI Service
Hyde was born in New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, NY in 1894. He graduated from the Trinity School
Trinity School (New York City)
Trinity School is a private, preparatory, co-educational day school for grades K-12 located in New York City, USA, and a member of both the New York Interschool and the Ivy Preparatory School League...
in New York City in 1913, and the U.S. Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
in 1917, and served aboard the as Gun Division Officer, Signal Officer, and Assistant Navigator, Watch and Division Officer, for the duration of the first world war.
Interwar Service
Lieutenant Hyde later served aboard the USS ChicagoUSS Chicago (1885)
The first USS Chicago was a protected cruiser of the United States Navy, the largest of the original three authorized by Congress for the "New Navy"....
, the USS Rochester, and the USS Des Moines, before being selected as Aide and Flag Lieutenant to Rear Admiral Henry F. Bryan and later to Rear Admiral C. B. Morgan, Commanders of the Special Service Squadron
Special Service Squadron
The Special Service Squadron was a component of the United States Navy during the 1920s and 1930s.Under the United States Fleet, the squadron patrolled the Caribbean Sea as an instrument of gunboat diplomacy. It was headquartered in Balboa, Panama Canal Zone.-Commanders:* C.H. Hockson 1907 * Henry...
, aboard the USS Dolphin
USS Dolphin (PG-24)
USS Dolphin —a gunboat/dispatch vessel—was the fourth ship of the United States Navy to be named for the dolphin. Dolphins keel was laid down by John Roach & Sons of Chester, Pennsylvania. She was launched on 12 April 1884, with Captain George Dewey in command, and commissioned on 8 December 1885...
. He later served aboard the USS Columbia
USS Great Northern (AG-9)
USS Great Northern was a Great Northern-class cargo ship acquired by the United States Navy for use as a general cargo ship.Great Northern was built by William Cramp & Sons in 1915; acquired from her owners, Great Northern Pacific Steamship Co...
, and the USS Langley
USS Langley (CV-1)
USS Langley was the United States Navy's first aircraft carrier, converted in 1920 from the collier USS Jupiter , and also the U.S. Navy's first electrically propelled ship...
when it was commissioned as the Navy's first aircraft carrier in March 1922.
In August, 1922, he was selected to serve aboard the presidential yacht, the USS Mayflower
USS Mayflower (PY-1)
USS Mayflower was the second ship in the United States Navy to have that name. Mayflower — a luxurious steam yacht built in 1896 by J. and G. Thompson, Clydebank, Scotland — was purchased by the Navy from the estate of Ogden Goelet and commissioned at New York Navy Yard on 24 March 1898,...
for two years during the term of President Warren G. Harding
Warren G. Harding
Warren Gamaliel Harding was the 29th President of the United States . A Republican from Ohio, Harding was an influential self-made newspaper publisher. He served in the Ohio Senate , as the 28th Lieutenant Governor of Ohio and as a U.S. Senator...
, as First Lieutenant, Watch and Division Officer, and Gunnery Officer.
Beginning in 1924, he served aboard the USS Arizona
USS Arizona (BB-39)
USS Arizona, a , was built for the United States Navy in the mid-1910s. Named in honor of the 48th state's recent admission into the union, the ship was the second and last of the Pennsylvania class of "super-dreadnought" battleships. Although commissioned in 1916, the ship remained stateside...
as Communications Officer, followed by a tour as aide to Rear Admiral A. W. Willard, the Commandant of the Washington Navy Yard
Washington Navy Yard
The Washington Navy Yard is the former shipyard and ordnance plant of the United States Navy in Southeast Washington, D.C. It is the oldest shore establishment of the U.S. Navy...
. In 1928, as a Lieutenant Commander, he became Executive Officer and Navigator on the destroyer, USS McFarland. And in 1930, he became Aide and Flag Secretary to Admiral Harley H. Christy
Harley H. Christy
Vice Admiral Harley Hannibal Christy served in the United States Navy during the Spanish-American War and World War I.-Biography:Christy was born in Circleville, Ohio. He graduated from the U.S...
on the .
After a stint as Officer in charge of Recruiting in Pittsburgh, he served at the Bureau of Navigation at the Navy Department under Admiral Frank B. Upham
Frank B. Upham
Frank Brooks Upham was an admiral in the United States Navy during the Spanish American War and World War I.-Biography:...
until 1933, when he became the commanding officer of the USS Wickes
USS Wickes (DD-75)
The first USS Wickes was the lead ship of her class of destroyers in the United States Navy during the World War I, later transferred to the Royal Navy as HMS Montgomery...
until 1936, with Lieutenant Milton E. Miles
Milton E. Miles
Milton E. Miles was a Vice Admiral in the United States Navy, who served in World War II as head of Naval Intelligence operations in China, and later, second-in-command of the Sino-American Special Technical Cooperative Organization .-Biography:Miles was born in Jerome, Arizona, the son of Lewis E...
as his Executive Officer, during which time his ship was commended with E's for torpedo, depth charges, and gunnery, while operating out of San Diego. During this time, the famous "What-the-Hell" Pennant was created.
After this command, Commander Hyde became Assistant to the Commandant of Midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
, where he also taught Seamanship and Navigation, and trained Reserve Naval Officers for duty in World War II.
World War II Service
In 1943, he was transferred to the Office of the Commander in Chief at the Pentagon for duty with the Joint Secretariat of the Joint Chiefs of StaffJoint Chiefs of Staff
The Joint Chiefs of Staff is a body of senior uniformed leaders in the United States Department of Defense who advise the Secretary of Defense, the Homeland Security Council, the National Security Council and the President on military matters...
as a liaison to the Office of Strategic Services
Office of Strategic Services
The Office of Strategic Services was a United States intelligence agency formed during World War II. It was the wartime intelligence agency, and it was a predecessor of the Central Intelligence Agency...
. In 1944, Captain Hyde traveled to Algiers, North Africa; Bari, Italy; Cairo, Egypt; New Delhi, India; Chungking, China; and Colombo, Ceylon to observe OSS activities and coordinate with Area Commanders, reporting back to the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He remained in his post in Naval Intelligence as Secretary of the Joint Intelligence Committee for JCS until he retired in 1947.