Willford Hyman
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Commander Willford Milton Hyman (16 August 1901 – 7 May 1942) was an officer in the United States Navy
during World War II
.
Born in Pueblo, Colorado
, Hyman graduated from the United States Naval Academy
in 1924. He first served in battleship
, and in the years before World War II, was assigned to many ships and a variety of shore stations, including the Office of Naval Operations. He assumed command of destroyer 6 October 1941. After convoy escort duty in the Atlantic, Sims moved to the Pacific in early 1942.
In May, as the Japan
ese attempted to extend their conquest to Port Moresby
, the ship was operating with oiler in a fueling group for Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher
's aircraft carrier
s. While the carrier fleets maneuvered for position, Japanese planes found Neosho and Sims in the Coral Sea
; and, thinking they were carrier and escort, attacked in strength. After Lt. Comdr. Hyman fought his ship through 2 air raids with great skill, 36 Japanese planes attacked the 2 ships. Sims took three 500-lb. bomb hits in this third attack. From the time the first bomb that hit the Sim's had exploded to the time she was sunk was a total of 48 seconds, leaving only 13 survivors. The sacrifice of his ship and Neosho had much to do with saving the Navy's carriers in the widely separated engagements known as the Battle of the Coral Sea
. The Japanese blunder in mistaking the Sims for a cruiser and the flat top Neosho as an American carrier, diverted much needed air power and other resources from the Battle of Midway, just a few days away. As the Sims was sinking, with all but the forward 5" gun submerged, the Sims continued to fire her gun even though the gun crew knew they were about to die. The actions of Commander Hyman and his crew were upholding the finest traditions of the U.S. Navy. Lieutenant Commander Hyman received the Navy Cross for his heroic service.
USS Hyman (DD-732)
was named for him.
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 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...
.
Born in Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo, Colorado
Pueblo is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and the most populous city of Pueblo County, Colorado, United States. The population was 106,595 in 2010 census, making it the 246th most populous city in the United States....
, Hyman graduated from the United States 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 1924. He first served in battleship
Battleship
A battleship is a large armored warship with a main battery consisting of heavy caliber guns. Battleships were larger, better armed and armored than cruisers and destroyers. As the largest armed ships in a fleet, battleships were used to attain command of the sea and represented the apex of a...
, and in the years before World War II, was assigned to many ships and a variety of shore stations, including the Office of Naval Operations. He assumed command of destroyer 6 October 1941. After convoy escort duty in the Atlantic, Sims moved to the Pacific in early 1942.
In May, as the Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese attempted to extend their conquest to Port Moresby
Port Moresby
Port Moresby , or Pot Mosbi in Tok Pisin, is the capital and largest city of Papua New Guinea . It is located on the shores of the Gulf of Papua, on the southeastern coast of the island of New Guinea, which made it a prime objective for conquest by the Imperial Japanese forces during 1942–43...
, the ship was operating with oiler in a fueling group for Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher
Frank Jack Fletcher
Frank Jack Fletcher was an admiral in the United States Navy during World War II. Fletcher was the operational commander at the pivotal Battles of Coral Sea and of Midway. He was the nephew of Admiral Frank Friday Fletcher.-Early life and early Navy career:Fletcher was born in Marshalltown, Iowa...
's 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...
s. While the carrier fleets maneuvered for position, Japanese planes found Neosho and Sims in the Coral Sea
Coral Sea
The Coral Sea is a marginal sea off the northeast coast of Australia. It is bounded in the west by the east coast of Queensland, thereby including the Great Barrier Reef, in the east by Vanuatu and by New Caledonia, and in the north approximately by the southern extremity of the Solomon Islands...
; and, thinking they were carrier and escort, attacked in strength. After Lt. Comdr. Hyman fought his ship through 2 air raids with great skill, 36 Japanese planes attacked the 2 ships. Sims took three 500-lb. bomb hits in this third attack. From the time the first bomb that hit the Sim's had exploded to the time she was sunk was a total of 48 seconds, leaving only 13 survivors. The sacrifice of his ship and Neosho had much to do with saving the Navy's carriers in the widely separated engagements known as the Battle of the Coral Sea
Battle of the Coral Sea
The Battle of the Coral Sea, fought from 4–8 May 1942, was a major naval battle in the Pacific Theater of World War II between the Imperial Japanese Navy and Allied naval and air forces from the United States and Australia. The battle was the first fleet action in which aircraft carriers engaged...
. The Japanese blunder in mistaking the Sims for a cruiser and the flat top Neosho as an American carrier, diverted much needed air power and other resources from the Battle of Midway, just a few days away. As the Sims was sinking, with all but the forward 5" gun submerged, the Sims continued to fire her gun even though the gun crew knew they were about to die. The actions of Commander Hyman and his crew were upholding the finest traditions of the U.S. Navy. Lieutenant Commander Hyman received the Navy Cross for his heroic service.
USS Hyman (DD-732)
USS Hyman (DD-732)
USS Hyman , an , is a ship of the United States Navy named for Lieutenant Commander Willford Milton Hyman, who commanded the during the Battle of the Coral Sea. During the battle, the Sims was lost and Hyman went down with his ship. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross...
was named for him.