Harley H. Christy
Encyclopedia
Vice Admiral
Harley Hannibal Christy (18 September 1870 – 4 June 1950) served in the United States Navy
during the Spanish-American War
and World War I
.
. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy
in 1891.
s during 1902, and was the Executive Officer of the armored cruiser
in 1910.
Christy was promoted from lieutenant commander
to commander
on 3 July 1911, and was commanding officer of the , , and between the years 1912-1915.
Christy commanded the , the station ship at Annapolis, Maryland, when he was placed in charge of vessels for the Army Transport, at the Naval Academy, between 9 September 1915 and 5 July 1917.
from 7 July to 17 August. Two days later, on 19 August, Christy was placed in command of the armored cruiser
, engaged in transporting and escorting troops and supplies to European ports.
At 11:05 on the morning of 19 June 1918 San Diego hit a mine
laid by the German U-boat off Fire Island, New York
. The crew abandoned ship, and the San Diego rolled over and sank within half an hour. Six men were killed and three injured.
After the loss of the San Diego Christy commanded the from 29 September 1918 to 22 September 1919 during North Sea
operations with the British Grand Fleet as part of Battleship Division Nine
.
Christy was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal
for his service while in command of San Diego and Wyoming.
, Florida, where he was station Commander. He was detached from that duty on 23 May 1923 and replaced Captain Lucius A. Bostwick as commander of the battleship .
On 2 December 1924 Christy was promoted to Rear Admiral. Christy subsequently held several flag commands ashore and afloat, as well as serving at the Naval War College
and with the General Board
and other Navy boards in Washington D.C.
Christy retired from active duty in October 1934, and in January 1950 was advanced to the rank of Vice Admiral on the Retired List in honor of his combat awards.
Christy died on 4 June 1950, and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
.
Vice admiral (United States)
In the United States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps, and the United States Maritime Service, vice admiral is a three-star flag officer, with the pay grade of...
Harley Hannibal Christy (18 September 1870 – 4 June 1950) served in the United States Navy
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 the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...
and 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...
.
Biography
Christy was born in Circleville, OhioCircleville, Ohio
Circleville is a city in and the county seat of Pickaway County, Ohio, United States, along the Scioto River. The population was 13,485 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. He graduated from 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 1891.
Early career
Christy was in command of two small gunboatGunboat
A gunboat is a naval watercraft designed for the express purpose of carrying one or more guns to bombard coastal targets, as opposed to those military craft designed for naval warfare, or for ferrying troops or supplies.-History:...
s during 1902, and was the Executive Officer of the armored cruiser
Armored cruiser
The armored cruiser was a type of warship of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Like other types of cruiser, the armored cruiser was a long-range, independent warship, capable of defeating any ship apart from a battleship, and fast enough to outrun any battleships it encountered.The first...
in 1910.
Christy was promoted from lieutenant commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
to commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
on 3 July 1911, and was commanding officer of the , , and between the years 1912-1915.
Christy commanded the , the station ship at Annapolis, Maryland, when he was placed in charge of vessels for the Army Transport, at the Naval Academy, between 9 September 1915 and 5 July 1917.
World War I
Christy was promoted to captain on 23 May 1917, and commanded the protected cruiserProtected cruiser
The protected cruiser is a type of naval cruiser of the late 19th century, so known because its armoured deck offered protection for vital machine spaces from shrapnel caused by exploding shells above...
from 7 July to 17 August. Two days later, on 19 August, Christy was placed in command of the armored cruiser
Armored cruiser
The armored cruiser was a type of warship of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Like other types of cruiser, the armored cruiser was a long-range, independent warship, capable of defeating any ship apart from a battleship, and fast enough to outrun any battleships it encountered.The first...
, engaged in transporting and escorting troops and supplies to European ports.
At 11:05 on the morning of 19 June 1918 San Diego hit a mine
Naval mine
A naval mine is a self-contained explosive device placed in water to destroy surface ships or submarines. Unlike depth charges, mines are deposited and left to wait until they are triggered by the approach of, or contact with, an enemy vessel...
laid by the German U-boat off Fire Island, New York
Fire Island, New York
Fire Island is one of the outer barrier islands adjacent to the south shore of Long Island, New York. It is approximately long and varies between broad. Fire Island is part of Suffolk County. It comprises a number of hamlets, census-designated places , and villages, all of which lie within the...
. The crew abandoned ship, and the San Diego rolled over and sank within half an hour. Six men were killed and three injured.
After the loss of the San Diego Christy commanded the from 29 September 1918 to 22 September 1919 during North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
operations with the British Grand Fleet as part of Battleship Division Nine
United States Battleship Division Nine (World War I)
United States Battleship Division Nine was a division of four, later five, dreadnought battleships of the United States Navy's Atlantic Fleet that constituted the American contribution to the British Grand Fleet during World War I. Although the U.S. entered the war on 6 April 1917, hesitation among...
.
Christy was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal
Distinguished Service Medal (United States)
The Distinguished Service Medal is the highest non-valorous military and civilian decoration of the United States military which is issued for exceptionally meritorious service to the government of the United States in either a senior government service position or as a senior officer of the United...
for his service while in command of San Diego and Wyoming.
Post-war
In 1920 Christy was stationed at the Naval Air Station PensacolaNaval Air Station Pensacola
Naval Air Station Pensacola or NAS Pensacola , "The Cradle of Naval Aviation", is a United States Navy base located next to Warrington, Florida, a community southwest of the Pensacola city limits...
, Florida, where he was station Commander. He was detached from that duty on 23 May 1923 and replaced Captain Lucius A. Bostwick as commander of the battleship .
On 2 December 1924 Christy was promoted to Rear Admiral. Christy subsequently held several flag commands ashore and afloat, as well as serving at the Naval War College
Naval War College
The Naval War College is an education and research institution of the United States Navy that specializes in developing ideas for naval warfare and passing them along to officers of the Navy. The college is located on the grounds of Naval Station Newport in Newport, Rhode Island...
and with the General Board
General Board of the United States Navy
The General Board of the United States Navy was an advisory body of the United States Navy, effectively a naval general staff. The General Board was established by general order 544, issued on March 13, 1900 by John Davis Long. The order was officially recognized by Congress in 1916...
and other Navy boards in Washington D.C.
Christy retired from active duty in October 1934, and in January 1950 was advanced to the rank of Vice Admiral on the Retired List in honor of his combat awards.
Christy died on 4 June 1950, and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington County, Virginia, is a military cemetery in the United States of America, established during the American Civil War on the grounds of Arlington House, formerly the estate of the family of Confederate general Robert E. Lee's wife Mary Anna Lee, a great...
.