Hyland, John Joseph

Date of birth:: September 1st, 1912 (Philadelphia/Pennsylvania, Verenigde Staten)
Date of death:: October 25th, 1998 (Honolulu/Hawaii, United States)
Buried on:: National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
Plot: CT1-A. Row: 500. Grave: 513.
Service number:: 0-73363
Nationality:: American

Biography

John Joseph Hyland Jr., son of a Navy captain, graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1934 and became a Naval Aviator in 1937. During World War II, he served in the Philippines, the Dutch East Indies campaign, and later aboard the USS *Intrepid*. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Silver Star for courageous actions, including the rescue of a British pilot and his leadership during low-level attacks on Japanese targets.

After the war, Hyland held various high-level command and staff positions, including two periods as a test pilot. He commanded the USS *Saratoga* and later Carrier Division Four. In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson promoted him to Vice Admiral and appointed him Commander of the Seventh Fleet, which was heavily involved in air and naval support during the Vietnam War.

In 1967, Hyland was promoted to four-star Admiral and became Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet. In this role, he oversaw the investigations into the seizure of the USS *Pueblo* and the explosion aboard the USS *Enterprise*. Admiral Hyland retired from the Navy on January 1, 1971.

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Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Awarded on:: January 1942

"For extraordinary flying achievement in command of a PBY type airplane, 20 December 1941, to 3 March 1942. During that time Lieutenant Hyland participated in the bombing attack on enemy Japanese Naval forces at Jolo Harbor, Philippine Islands; he also successfully landed his PBY airplane in rough seas to effect the rescue of the one surviving crew member of a RAAF Hudson airplane which had crashed in the Moluklm Sea on 1 January 1942. Furthermore, on numerous reconnaissance flights in the Netherlands East Indies, he displayed outstanding courage and devotion to duty by continuous hazardous flying achievement in the face of heavy enemy opposition."

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 307

Silver Star Medal (SSM)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Commander
Unit:: U.S.S. Intrepid (CV-11), U.S. Navy
Awarded on:: July 6th, 1945

"For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Air Coordinator of Fighter Planes attacked to the U.S.S. INTREPID (CV-11), in action against enemy Japanese forces on the Island of Honshu, Japan, 19 March 1945. Leading an attack against Kure Naval Air Base in the face of intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire, Commander Hyland scored a direct bomb hit on a large hangar and engaged and shot down an enemy plane. After directing his flight in the infliction of extensive damage on important hostile installations, including the destruction of ten planes on the ground and infliction of damage on twenty others, he retired from the target area and successfully strafed two enemy transports in the Inland Sea. His leadership and courageous devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Bronzen Kruis (BK)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Lieutenant
Awarded on:: October 8th, 1942

Citation:
"Performing distinguished service as Commander of U.S. Naval Reconnaissance Aircraft throughout the entire campaign against Japan in the Dutch East Indies, participating in bombing raids encountering heavy defenses, in numerous reconnaissance flights against enemy positions and forces which were heavily counter-attacked both on the ground and in the air, and also participating in difficult rescue operations."

Replaced by the Bronze Lion
Royal Decree no, 6.

Eervolle Vermelding (EV)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Lieutenant

Replaced by the Bronze Lion

Bronzen Leeuw (BL)

Period:: Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:: Lieutenant
Unit:: U.S. Navy

Distinguished Service Medal - Navy/USMC

Period:: Vietnam War (1955-1975)
Rank:: Vice Admiral
Unit:: Seventh Fleet, U.S. Navy
Awarded on:: November 1st, 1967

"For exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commander SEVENTH Fleet, United States Pacific Fleet during the period from December 1965 to November 1967. During this critical period of continued intensification of combat operations and the concomitant buildup of forces and facilities in Southeast Asia, Vice Admiral Hyland has demonstrated outstanding leadership, astute judgment and foresight in directing the complex and manifold operations of the SEVENTH Fleet in support of our national objectives in the Western Pacific. Under his dynamic and personal leadership all of the forces assigned to his command have been molded into a most potent and effective fighting fleet which covers the entire spectrum of naval operations. In the past twenty-three months the SEVENTH Fleet has expanded from 175 ships and 72,000 men to 220 ships and 80,000 men; naval gunfire operations have been expanded from support of our forces in South Vietnam to include targets along a portion of the North Vietnamese coastline; amphibious assault operations have been conducted along the entire South Vietnamese coastline in order to search for and destroy enemy personnel and equipment; and air strike operations against heavily defended targets in North Vietnam have been greatly expanded. Many of the operations conducted by the SEVENTH Fleet were without precedent in modern naval history, requiring the development and employment of new tactics, techniques and equipment. Coordinated electronic and tactical measures have been successfully developed to counter the surface-to-air missile threat; new weapons and equipment have been introduced into combat operations; and a positive radar surveillance and identification system has been established for all air operations over the Gulf of Tonkin and North Vietnam. These achievements are a direct result of Vice Admiral Hyland's ability to master the complexities of integrating and employing new techniques, procedures, and equipment to meet the challenges posed by a fast changing combat environment. In addition to his deep involvement in and massive contribution to the advances mentioned above, Vice Admiral Hyland achieved that detailed and exacting coordination with other service commanders which was required in order to attain the maximum effectiveness and efficiency of combined operations against the common enemy. He continuously demonstrated the great tact and diplomacy which have been required to protect our vital national and naval interests in the Western Pacific. Through persuasive negotiation and personal leadership, he has served with distinction in nurturing effective channels for liaison and in furthering the United States goodwill and prestige with foreign nations. His performance in this duty of great responsibility reflects great credit upon himself and is in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."

Board Serial 9642

Distinguished Service Medal - Navy/USMC

Period:: Vietnam War (1955-1975)
Rank:: Admiral
Unit:: U.S. Pacific Fleet, U.S. Navy

"For exceptionally meritorious and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility to the Government of the United States as Commander in Chief, United States Pacific Fleet, from December 1967 to December 1970. Admiral Hyland provided dynamic leadership, outstanding executive ability, and exceptional foresight in directing the complex and manifold operations of the Pacific Fleet in the execution of United States national policy in the vast Pacific Ocean area. During his three-year tour of duty, United States combat operations against the enemy in Southeast Asia reached their peak intensity; United States military forces, with United States Navy craft and personnel in the lead, undertook combat operations in the IV Military Region of the Republic of Vietnam, which for years had been an enemy-controlled sanctuary, and, together with forces of the Republic of Vietnam, succeeded in large measure in pacifying that area; and an accelerated program to turn over in-country operations and craft to the Republic of Vietnam was begun and carried more than half-way to completion. Admiral Hyland's tour was characterized by dramatically increased involvement in and responsibility by the Fleet Commander in all areas of resources management for both the Fleet and its supporting shore establishment. During the latter half of his tour, budgetary constraints directed by national authorities made necessary a reduction in the order of one-third of the Pacific Fleet force levels and supporting base structure. That these severe reductions were accomplished with the minimum possible impact on combat operations in Southeast Asia, and without comparable reductions in Fleet commitments is a tribute to his inspirational leadership, management and foresight. By his inspiring personal example, skilled diplomacy and distinguished service in a position of great responsibility, Admiral Hyland has contributed greatly to United States national and naval interests in the Pacific Ocean area, thereby upholding the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service."