Vice Admiral Harley H. Christy, USN
Harley Hannibal Christy was born in Circleville, Ohio on 18 September 1870, and served in the United States Navy during the Spanish-American War and World War I, and would one day rise to the rank of Vice Admiral.
Harley was appointed a Naval Cadet to the Naval Academy in Annapolis from his home state of Ohio on 24 May 1887.
After graduation from Annapolis with the class of 1891 and receiving his commission, Christy served in a variety of warship and educational assignments during the next two decades. Christy was in command of two small gunboats during 1902, and as the 1910 Federal Census was taken on the United States Armored Cruiser USS North Carolina on the 4th day of June she was commanded by Captain Clifford J. Boush. His Executive Officer was 39-year old Lt. Cmdr. Harley H. Christy, who by now was a seasoned naval officer with many years of sea service behind him. Lt. Cmdr Christy would one day command a sister ship of the North Carolina, the USS San Diego, and would be the only commander to lose an Armored Cruiser to enemy action during WWI.
Christy was promoted from Lt. Commander to Commander on the 3rd of July 1911.
Christy saw several years of continuous sea service and was commanding officer of the USS Chester, USS Brooklyn, USS Salem, USS Kearsarge and the USS Minneapolis between the years 1912-1917.
On the 7th of December 1915 Commander Christy and his wife Helen held a Debut Party for their daughter Miss Gladys Christy. It was noted that in the 12th of March 1916 edition of the Washington Post, that Commander and Mrs. Harley H. Christy of Annapolis were the weekend guests at the home of Commander and Mrs. Richard H. Leigh. The Christy’s daughter was the guest of Miss Louise Clark at the Westmoreland. Captain and Mrs. McKean entertained at dinner at the Dresden and their guests included Admiral and Mrs. Howard, Admiral and Mrs. Benson, Capt and Mrs. Oliver, Commander and Mrs. Richard Leigh, Commander and Mrs. Harley H. Christy, Mrs. Martin Trench and Admiral McGowan. Again in the 27th of January 1917 edition of the Washington Post, Commander and Mrs. Harley H. Christy of Annapolis were the weekend guests at the home of Commander and Mrs. Richard H. Leigh.
After his duty on the North Carolina and before September of 1915, Commander Christy was in command the USS Reina Mercedes, which was the station ship at Annapolis, Maryland. The Reina Mercedes was built at Cartagena, Spain, in 1887, and was originally named in honor of Queen Mercedes of Spain and was in service in the Spanish Navy. In July of 1898 the Reina Mercedes is sunk at the battle of Santiago, Cuba by the USS Texas and Massachusetts. She was raised in March 1899 and towed to Norfolk Navy Yard where she was converted into a receiving ship. Her overhaul and conversion into a receiving ship was completed and in 1904 she was towed to Newport, Rhode Island, to serve as the receiving ship there. She remained at Newport until 1912. Early in 1912, Reina Mercedes was towed to the Norfolk Navy Yard where she underwent an overhaul and refit. On September 30th she arrived at Annapolis, where she replaced the USS Hartford as the station ship. The latter was Admiral Farragut's flagship during the Civil War. It was customary for many years for the Reina Mercedes to serve as the "brig" for midshipmen being punished for serious infractions of Naval Academy Regulations. Such midshipmen were confined to the ship for periods ranging from one week to two months, depending upon the seriousness of the offense. During that period they attended all drills and recitations at the Naval Academy, but were required to sleep in hammocks in the ship and to take their meals on board.
As commander of the Reina Mercedes, Commander Christy likely imparted his wisdom on many a future naval officer and new seamen.
This practice was abolished on the 5th of September, 1940, when restriction of midshipmen to their rooms in Bancroft Hall was substituted as a disciplinary measure. From 1912 until 1957 the Reina Mercedes served as the station ship at Annapolis, with the exception of brief periods when she was towed to Norfolk Navy Yard for docking and overhaul. These occurred in 1916, 1927, 1939, and 1951.
Commander Christy was in charge of vessels for the Army Transport, Naval Academy, Annapolis Maryland from the 9th of September 1915-5 July 1917. Christy was promoted to Captain on the 23rd of May 1917, and was given command of the Cruiser USS Minneapolis from the 7th of July 1917-17th of August 1917.
Two days after leaving the Minneapolis on the 19th of August 1917, Christy was in Command of the Armored Cruiser USS San Diego. Captain Christy would be the San Diego’s last commander as on the 19th of July 1918 she hit a German mine and was sunk. After the loss of the USS San Diego he commanded the USS Wyoming from the 29th of September 1918 – 22nd of September 1919 during North Sea wartime operation with the British Grand Fleet.
Christy was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for distinguished service while in command of the USS San Diego engaged in important duty of transporting and escorting troops and supplies to European ports during WWI. Particularly for exceptionally meritorious conduct during the time that the USS San Diego was struck by a mine and sunk and for service while in command of the USS Wyoming in the Atlantic Fleet.
The 1920 United States Federal Census listed Captain Christy stationed at the Naval Air Station, Escambia, Florida where he was Station Commander. He was detached from that duty on the 23rd of May 1923 and replaced Captain Lucius A. Bostwick as commander of the Battleship USS California. Captain Bostwick was assigned to Chief of Staff, Commander in Chief Battle Fleet.
On the 14th of June 1924 Captain Christy, in command of the Battleship USS California, was slated by the Selection Board of the Navy Department to become a Rear Admiral, which was approved by President Coolidge and on the 2nd of December 1924 became eligible for that promotion.
Upon returning from the Pacific Coast on the 26th of July 1924 to his new assignment at the Naval War College, Newport, R.I., Rear Admiral Harley H. Christy stopped at Annapolis Wednesday and visited a number of friends. During 1924 Admiral Christy’s wife passed away. Her name was Helen Manuel Christy and she was born in 1874 in Capetown, South Africa.
RADM 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. Rear Admiral Christy retired from active duty in October 1934, and in January of 1950 was advanced to the rank of Vice Admiral on the Retired List in honour of his combat awards.
Vice Admiral Harley H. Christy Passed Away on the 4th of June 1950 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery with his wife.
Credit and acknowledgement to Joe Hartwell
Cheers
Sean
