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Contact Info
Home Town Circleville, Ohio
Last Address Bethesda, Maryland
Date of Passing Jun 04, 1950
Location of Interment U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery and Columbarium (VLM) - Annapolis, Maryland
US Navy Vice Admiral. Born in Circleville, Ohio, he graduated from the US Naval Academy Annapolis, Maryland, in 1891. He served in a variety of warship and educational assignments and was in command of two small gunboats in 1902 and as Executive Officer on the USS North Carolina in 1910. Promoted Commander in 1915, he was in command of station ships at Annapolis, Maryland, when he was placed in charge of vessels for the Army Transport, at the Naval Academy, (1915-17). In May 1917, he was promoted Captain in command of the Armored Cruiser USS San Diego engaged in important duty of transporting and escorting troops and supplies to European ports. During World War I, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for distinguished service while in command of USS San Diego which was sunk by a German mine on July 19, 1918. After the war, he was stationed at the Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, where he was station Commander. In 1924, he was promoted Rear Admiral, held several flag commands ashore and afloat, as well as serving at the Naval War College 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. He died at age 79 in Bethesda, Maryland.
Other Comments:
Foreign Awards:
Grand Officer of the Order of Aviz - Portugal
Abdon Calderon, First Class and Diploma - Ecuador
Navy Distinguished Service Medal (1919-2016) - 1919
Name of Award Navy Distinguished Service Medal (1919-2016)
Year Awarded 1919
Last Updated: May 1, 2022
This ribbon will display Multiple Award devices automatically based on the total number of awards listed
Details Behind Award
Navy Distinguished Service Medal AWARDED FOR ACTIONS DURING World War I Service: Navy Division: U.S.S. San Diego GENERAL ORDERS: Authority: Navy Book of Distinguished Service (Stringer)
CITATION: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Distinguished Service Medal to Captain Harley Hannibal Christy, United States Navy, for distinguished service in the line of his profession in Command of the U.S.S. SAN DIEGO, engaged in the important, exacting and hazardous duty of transporting and escorting troops and supplies to European ports through waters infested with enemy submarines and mines. Particularly for exceptionally meritorious conduct at the time the SAN DIEGO was struck by a mine and sunk on 19 July 1918, and later for service in command of the U.S.S. WYOMING in the Atlantic Fleet.
