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Ralph J. Canine | |
|---|---|
 Ralph Canine | |
| Born | (1895-11-09)November 9, 1895 Flora, Indiana, US |
| Died | March 8, 1969(1969-03-08) (aged 73) Washington, D.C., US |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1917–1957 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands | National Security Agency Armed Forces Security Agency 1st Infantry Division |
| Battles / wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Army Distinguished Service Medal (2) Silver Star Legion of Merit |
Ralph Julian Canine (November 9, 1895 – March 8, 1969) was alieutenant general in theUnited States Army and the first director of theNational Security Agency.
Canine was born in 1895 inFlora, Indiana, one of two children of the local superintendent of schools. When he left home, he was intent on being a doctor, and had completed pre-med studies atNorthwestern University when he entered theUnited States Army duringWorld War I and was commissioned a second lieutenant.
Canine served in various combat posts in France during World War I, and elected to stay in the army after the armistice was signed in 1918. The interwar period was his education, when he traveled from one army post to another, filling just about any job that was vacant. WhenWorld War II broke out, Canine was well-fitted for responsibility. He became the chief of staff for the XII Corps, which served in GeneralGeorge S. Patton's Third Army during its race across France in 1944. In that capacity, he was twice decorated by the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics receiving theOrder of the Patriotic War First Class andBravery Medal when XII Corps linked up with Red Army units.[1] After the war, he was rewarded with command of the1st Infantry Division.
In 1951 Canine became director of theArmed Forces Security Agency, which was America's first tentative step toward cryptologic unification. He was there long enough (one year) to see what the organization lacked. When PresidentHarry S. Truman created theNational Security Agency in 1952, Canine continued as its first director. He died unexpectedly of apulmonary embolism in March 1969. He was buried inArlington National Cemetery.[2]
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| New office | Director of the National Security Agency 1952–1956 | Succeeded by |
