John Hyland
Encyclopedia
John Joseph Hyland, Jr was an admiral
in the United States Navy
who commanded the U.S. Pacific Fleet from 1967-1970. A naval aviator
, he was a champion of the aircraft carrier
.
Hyland was born in 1912 in Philadelphia, the son of a naval officer. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1934 and completed naval aviation training in 1937. Posted to the Philippines
, he was located there when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor
to begin US involvement in World War II
. He participated in the defense of the Philippines, and the subsequent Allied withdrawal to Australia
, winning the Distinguished Flying Cross
for rescuing a British airman in the Molucca Sea
. He then became the personal pilot of Admiral Ernest King
, then Chief of Naval Operations
. Upon returning to the Pacific Theater
in 1943, he took command of an air squadron based on the USS Intrepid
. He participated in numerous operations, earning a Silver Star
for leading a ground attack against the Japanese at Kure
on March 19, 1945, and another Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal
for other missions against the Japanese.
After the war, he served stints as a test pilot
, then took command of the carrier USS Saratoga
in 1958. He later commanded Carrier Division Four
, then moved to a staff position at the Strategic Plans Division in Washington DC. In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson selected him ahead of 72 more senior rear admirals for promotion and command of the US Seventh Fleet, then operating off Vietnam
and heavily involved in US operations there
. Hyland commanded the fleet for nearly 2 years before being promoted again and taking command of the entire Pacific Fleet in 1967, a four star billet. He played a central role, not only in ongoing operations in Vietnam, but also in two major incidents during this time: the fallout of the capture of the USS Pueblo
by North Korea
, and the fatal accident and fire on the USS Enterprise.
Admiral Hyland retired in on January 1, 1971, in retirement he maintained an interest in naval aviation, served in business directorships, and settled in Honolulu. He was married to the former Florence Day Whiting, who died in 1991; they had four children: sons John J. Hyland III and Whiting Walker Hyland and daughters Nancy Arnold and Pamela Hyland.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
|bgcolor="silver" align="center"|Ribbon ||bgcolor="silver" align="center"|Description ||bgcolor="silver" align="center"|Notes
|-
|
|| Navy Distinguished Service Medal
|| with one gold award star
|-
|
|| Silver Star
||
|-
|
|| Distinguished Flying Cross
|| with 2 gold award stars
|-
|
|| Air Medal
|| with 4 gold award stars
|-
|
|| World War II Victory Medal
||
|-
|}
Admiral Hyland was also granted the John Paul Jones Award for leadership by the Navy League
in 1966.
Admiral
Admiral is the rank, or part of the name of the ranks, of the highest naval officers. It is usually considered a full admiral and above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet . It is usually abbreviated to "Adm" or "ADM"...
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...
who commanded the U.S. Pacific Fleet from 1967-1970. A naval aviator
Naval aviation
Naval aviation is the application of manned military air power by navies, including ships that embark fixed-wing aircraft or helicopters. In contrast, maritime aviation is the operation of aircraft in a maritime role under the command of non-naval forces such as the former RAF Coastal Command or a...
, he was a champion of the aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
.
Hyland was born in 1912 in Philadelphia, the son of a naval officer. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1934 and completed naval aviation training in 1937. Posted to the Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
, he was located there when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor
Attack on Pearl Harbor
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike conducted by the Imperial Japanese Navy against the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on the morning of December 7, 1941...
to begin US involvement in 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...
. He participated in the defense of the Philippines, and the subsequent Allied withdrawal to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, winning the Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
for rescuing a British airman in the Molucca Sea
Molucca Sea
The Molucca Sea is located in the western Pacific Ocean, within the country of Indonesia. The region is rich in coral and has many diving sites.-Location:...
. He then became the personal pilot of Admiral Ernest King
Ernest King
Fleet Admiral Ernest Joseph King was Commander in Chief, United States Fleet and Chief of Naval Operations during World War II. As COMINCH, he directed the United States Navy's operations, planning, and administration and was a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He was the U.S...
, then Chief of Naval Operations
Chief of Naval Operations
The Chief of Naval Operations is a statutory office held by a four-star admiral in the United States Navy, and is the most senior uniformed officer assigned to serve in the Department of the Navy. The office is a military adviser and deputy to the Secretary of the Navy...
. Upon returning to the Pacific Theater
Pacific Ocean theater of World War II
The Pacific Ocean theatre was one of four major naval theatres of war of World War II, which pitted the forces of Japan against those of the United States, the British Commonwealth, the Netherlands and France....
in 1943, he took command of an air squadron based on the USS Intrepid
USS Intrepid
USS Intrepid may refer to:, an armed ketch captured as a prize by the US Navy on 23 December 1803 and later exploded in the harbor of Tripoli 4 September 1804, an experimental steam torpedo ram commissioned 31 July 1874 and sold 9 May 1892, a training and receiving ship launched 8 October 1904 and...
. He participated in numerous operations, earning a Silver Star
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
for leading a ground attack against the Japanese at Kure
Kure
Kure can refer to:*KURE, a radio station in Ames, Iowa*Kure Software Koubou, Japanese video game development company*Kure, Hiroshima , a city in Hiroshima prefecture, Japan**Kure Line, a rail line in the city...
on March 19, 1945, and another Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
for other missions against the Japanese.
Test pilot
A test pilot is an aviator who flies new and modified aircraft in specific maneuvers, known as flight test techniques or FTTs, allowing the results to be measured and the design to be evaluated....
, then took command of the carrier USS Saratoga
USS Saratoga
USS Saratoga may refer to:* One of several United States Navy ships named after the Battle of Saratoga in the American Revolutionary War:** , a 18-gun sloop launched in 1780; lost at sea the following year...
in 1958. He later commanded Carrier Division Four
Commander Strike Force Training Atlantic
Commander, Strike Force Training Atlantic is the U.S. Fleet Forces Command formation charged with training and certifying Atlantic Fleet Carrier Strike Groups, Amphibious Ready Groups, and independently deploying surface ships...
, then moved to a staff position at the Strategic Plans Division in Washington DC. In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson selected him ahead of 72 more senior rear admirals for promotion and command of the US Seventh Fleet, then operating off Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
and heavily involved in US operations there
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. Hyland commanded the fleet for nearly 2 years before being promoted again and taking command of the entire Pacific Fleet in 1967, a four star billet. He played a central role, not only in ongoing operations in Vietnam, but also in two major incidents during this time: the fallout of the capture of the USS Pueblo
USS Pueblo
USS Pueblo may refer to:*USS Colorado , an armored cruiser, was renamed Pueblo , and served from 1905 until 1927*USS Pueblo , was a Tacoma-class frigate, that served from 1944 until 1947...
by North Korea
North Korea
The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea , , is a country in East Asia, occupying the northern half of the Korean Peninsula. Its capital and largest city is Pyongyang. The Korean Demilitarized Zone serves as the buffer zone between North Korea and South Korea...
, and the fatal accident and fire on the USS Enterprise.
Admiral Hyland retired in on January 1, 1971, in retirement he maintained an interest in naval aviation, served in business directorships, and settled in Honolulu. He was married to the former Florence Day Whiting, who died in 1991; they had four children: sons John J. Hyland III and Whiting Walker Hyland and daughters Nancy Arnold and Pamela Hyland.
Awards
A non-exhaustive list of military awards is as follows:{| class="wikitable"
|-
|bgcolor="silver" align="center"|Ribbon ||bgcolor="silver" align="center"|Description ||bgcolor="silver" align="center"|Notes
|-
|
|| Navy Distinguished Service Medal
Navy Distinguished Service Medal
The Navy Distinguished Service Medal is a military award of the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps which was first created in 1919. The decoration is the Navy and Marine Corps equivalent to the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, and the Coast...
|| with one gold award star
Award star
An award star is a decoration issued to personnel of the United States Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard in lieu of multiple awards of the same award. An award star is very similar to an oak leaf cluster, which serves the same purpose in the United States Army and United States Air Force...
|-
|
Silver Star
The Silver Star is the third-highest combat military decoration that can be awarded to a member of any branch of the United States armed forces for valor in the face of the enemy....
||
|-
|
|| Distinguished Flying Cross
Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in support of operations by "heroism or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight, subsequent to November 11, 1918." The...
|| with 2 gold award stars
|-
|
|| Air Medal
Air Medal
The Air Medal is a military decoration of the United States. The award was created in 1942, and is awarded for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight.-Criteria:...
|| with 4 gold award stars
|-
|
World War II Victory Medal
The World War II Victory Medal is a decoration of the United States military which was created by an act of Congress in July 1945. The decoration commemorates military service during World War II and is awarded to any member of the United States military, including members of the armed forces of...
||
|-
|}
Admiral Hyland was also granted the John Paul Jones Award for leadership by the Navy League
Navy League of the United States
The Navy League of the United States, commonly referred to as The Navy League, is a national association made up of former members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, the United States Coast Guard and the United States Merchant Marine, and civilians interested in supporting the...
in 1966.