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Hyde, Simeon Jr.

Simeon Hyde U.S. Navy WWII
Simeon Hyde U.S. Navy WWII


 
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Date of Birth: 2/25/1919
Died On: 12/26/2011
Street Address: Holly Lane
Service Number: unknown
Branch of Service: U.S. Navy - USS Wasp (CV-7), Wharton AP-7 27 Sep 1942, Eaton DD 510 11 Aug 1945


Veteran Code: USN-117


BIOGRAPHY
 
Simeon Hyde


Simeon F Hyde was born on February 25, 1919, in Charleston, South Carolina, to Isabella Middleton Cheves, age 25, and Simeon Hyde, age 28. He had a brother Henry and a sister Ann. In Rye his family lived on Holly Lane and were members of Christ's Church.

Simeon was a graduate of Phillips Andover Academy and Princeton University.

Simeon served as an officer in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was an Ensign on the USS Wasp. With the American invasion of Guadalcanal in the works by July 1942, the Wasp was assigned to Admiral Fletchers force.

Beginning in the early hours of 7 August 1942, Wasps Avengers, SBDs, and Wildcats hit several Japanese positions throughout the Guadalcanal islands, taking out 24 enemy aircraft at the cost of 4 of their own. On 15 September 1942, Wasp along with the only other carrier available in the Pacific, the Hornet, was on escort duty ensuring the landing of 7th Marines on Guadalcanal proper.

She was struck by several torpedoes fired from the Japanese submarine I-19. Wasp was was hit much like the battleship Arizona was at Pearl Harbor, struck near the magazine causing huge explosions from ammo and gasoline. The fires could not be fought and the order to abandon ship was given. Nearly 200 brave sailors lost their lives with the sinking of the Wasp, with many more wounded. Simeon Hyde Jr. was one of those who survived the sinking of the USS Wasp.

Simeon briefly returned home and married Miss Ann Olcott Mills, daughter of Mrs. Henry A. Hoffman, of Litchfield, CT. on Wednesday October 21, 1942. at St. Michael's Protestant Episcopal Church. They would have two children and enjoy 69 years of marriage.

Simeon spent the next four years in the U. S. Navy serving in the Atlantic and the Pacific.

Honorably discharged, he then enrolled in a Harvard University Master's in English program. Following this, Simeon spent 23 years at Phillips Andover Academy as a teacher, administrator and acting headmaster.

Retiring from the Academy he and Ann moved to Albuquerque where he enrolled in the School of Architecture. After graduating he worked for two architectural firms during which time he designed a Navajo Community Center and an Albuquerque Senior Center.

In his retirement years, Simeon joined family members in San Diego for five years and spent his final 18 years with family in Portland. He was a member of the Rose City Yacht Club, the Watercolor Society of Oregon and the Multnomah Friends Meeting, where he will be particularly remembered for his active involvement in the Meeting House remodel.

Simeon Hyde, Jr. passed away peacefully at Hopewell House December 26, 2011.

At the time of his death he was survived by his wife, Ann (of 69 years); daughter, Beth and her husband Ted; son, Simeon; son, Cutty and his wife Diane; grandchildren, Sally, Julia, Ben; and his sister, Anne Long, of Virginia.

A memorial service was held Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, at the Multnomah Friends Meeting House, 4312 SE Stark St., Portland.

http://obits.oregonlive.com/obituaries/oregon/obit...
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