Harry M. P. Huse
Encyclopedia
Harry McLaren Pinckney Huse (December 8, 1858 – May 14, 1942) was a United States Navy
Vice-Admiral and a recipient of America's highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor
— for his actions during the U.S. intervention at Veracruz, Mexico
.
, West Point, New York, where his Army
officer father, Caleb Huse was then stationed. He was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy
in September 1874 and graduated in June 1878. He had extensive service at sea over the next decade, plus duty ashore, notably at the Naval Academy, where he would have several staff tours in the course of his career. During the 1898 Spanish-American War
Lieutenant Huse was Executive Officer
of the gunboat , taking part in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba
and leading a party ashore that first raised the U.S. flag over Puerto Rico
. In the early 1900s Lieutenant Commander Huse was stationed in the Philippines, where he commanded the gunboat . This was followed by nearly five years at the Naval Academy as, among other things, instructor of mathematics
.
Promoted to the rank of Commander in 1907, Huse was commanding officer of the monitor
and later of the supply ship . After his next promotion, to Captain late in 1909, he was Captain of the Yard at the Philadelphia Navy Yard
, commanded the battleship and, in 1914-1915, was Chief of Staff to Rear Admiral Frank Friday Fletcher
. He attended the Naval War College
, graduating in 1915.
Huse reached the rank of Rear Admiral in mid-1916, while at the War College. He held Navy Department
positions through the World War I
years, followed in 1919 by command of the Atlantic Training Fleet. From late 1919 to early 1921 he served abroad, initially as senior U.S. Navy representative on the Inter-Allied Naval Armistice Commission and the Naval Inter-Allied Commission of Control, then as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces in European Waters, with the temporary rank of Vice Admiral. After returning to the United States he was Commandant of the Third Naval District, headquartered at New York City
, and as a member of the Navy's General Board
. Rear Admiral Huse left active duty in December 1922, later receiving the retirement rank of Vice Admiral.
Huse was a Washington, D.C.
, resident for the rest of his life. He co-authored a book on genealogy
entitled The Descendants of Abel Huse of Newbury (1602–1690), published in 1935. Harry Huse died at Bethesda Naval Hospital
, in suburban Maryland
, on May 14, 1942. He is buried with his wife, Mary Sheward Whitelock, in Arlington National Cemetery
, Arlington County
, Virginia
.
, Mexico
, in April 1914, Captain Huse was awarded the Medal of Honor. His official Medal of Honor citation reads:
His first name was given as Henry on the citation.
Citation:
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...
Vice-Admiral and a recipient of America's highest military decoration — the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
— for his actions during the U.S. intervention at Veracruz, Mexico
United States occupation of Veracruz, 1914
The United States occupation of Veracruz, which began with the Battle of Veracruz, lasted for six months and was a response to the Tampico Affair of April 9, 1914...
.
Biography
Harry Huse was born at the U.S. Military AcademyUnited States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
, West Point, New York, where his Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
officer father, Caleb Huse was then stationed. He was appointed to 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 September 1874 and graduated in June 1878. He had extensive service at sea over the next decade, plus duty ashore, notably at the Naval Academy, where he would have several staff tours in the course of his career. During the 1898 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...
Lieutenant Huse was Executive Officer
Executive officer
An executive officer is generally a person responsible for running an organization, although the exact nature of the role varies depending on the organization.-Administrative law:...
of the gunboat , taking part in the Battle of Santiago de Cuba
Battle of Santiago de Cuba
The Battle of Santiago de Cuba, fought between Spain and the United States on 3 July 1898, was the largest naval engagement of the Spanish-American War and resulted in the destruction of the Spanish Navy's Caribbean Squadron.-Spanish Fleet:...
and leading a party ashore that first raised the U.S. flag over Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
. In the early 1900s Lieutenant Commander Huse was stationed in the Philippines, where he commanded the gunboat . This was followed by nearly five years at the Naval Academy as, among other things, instructor of mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
.
Monitor (warship)
A monitor was a class of relatively small warship which was neither fast nor strongly armoured but carried disproportionately large guns. They were used by some navies from the 1860s until the end of World War II, and saw their final use by the United States Navy during the Vietnam War.The monitors...
and later of the supply ship . After his next promotion, to Captain late in 1909, he was Captain of the Yard at the Philadelphia Navy Yard
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard
The Philadelphia Naval Business Center, formerly known as the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard and Philadelphia Navy Yard, was the first naval shipyard of the United States. The U.S. Navy reduced its activities there in the 1990s, and ended most of them on September 30, 1995...
, commanded the battleship and, in 1914-1915, was Chief of Staff to Rear Admiral Frank Friday Fletcher
Frank Friday Fletcher
Frank Friday Fletcher was an United States Navy admiral who served in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was awarded the U.S. military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions as commander of Navy forces at the Battle of Veracruz, Mexico.-Biography:Fletcher was born on...
. He attended 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...
, graduating in 1915.
Huse reached the rank of Rear Admiral in mid-1916, while at the War College. He held Navy Department
United States Department of the Navy
The Department of the Navy of the United States of America was established by an Act of Congress on 30 April 1798, to provide a government organizational structure to the United States Navy and, from 1834 onwards, for the United States Marine Corps, and when directed by the President, of the...
positions through the 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...
years, followed in 1919 by command of the Atlantic Training Fleet. From late 1919 to early 1921 he served abroad, initially as senior U.S. Navy representative on the Inter-Allied Naval Armistice Commission and the Naval Inter-Allied Commission of Control, then as Commander, U.S. Naval Forces in European Waters, with the temporary rank of Vice Admiral. After returning to the United States he was Commandant of the Third Naval District, headquartered at New York City
New 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...
, and as a member of the Navy's 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...
. Rear Admiral Huse left active duty in December 1922, later receiving the retirement rank of Vice Admiral.
Huse was a Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, resident for the rest of his life. He co-authored a book on genealogy
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
entitled The Descendants of Abel Huse of Newbury (1602–1690), published in 1935. Harry Huse died at Bethesda Naval Hospital
National Naval Medical Center
The National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, USA — commonly known as the Bethesda Naval Hospital — was for decades the flagship of the United States Navy's system of medical centers. A federal institution, it conducted medical and dental research as well as providing health care for...
, in suburban Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
, on May 14, 1942. He is buried with his wife, Mary Sheward Whitelock, 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...
, Arlington County
Arlington County, Virginia
Arlington County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The land that became Arlington was originally donated by Virginia to the United States government to form part of the new federal capital district. On February 27, 1801, the United States Congress organized the area as a subdivision of...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
.
Medal of Honor citation
As a result of his conduct during the landings at Vera CruzVeracruz, Veracruz
Veracruz, officially known as Heroica Veracruz, is a major port city and municipality on the Gulf of Mexico in the Mexican state of Veracruz. The city is located in the central part of the state. It is located along Federal Highway 140 from the state capital Xalapa, and is the state's most...
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, in April 1914, Captain Huse was awarded the Medal of Honor. His official Medal of Honor citation reads:
His first name was given as Henry on the citation.
Citation:
- For distinguished conduct in battle, engagements of Vera Cruz, 21 and 22 April 1914. Under fire, Captain Huse was eminent and conspicuous in the performance of his duties; was indefatigable in his labors of a most important character, both with the division commander in directing affairs and in his efforts on shore to get in communication with the Mexican authorities to avoid needlessly prolonging the conflict.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients (Veracruz)