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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 | Arlington National Cemetery |
| 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 a lieutenant general in the United States Army and the first director of the National Security Agency.
Early life and education
Canine was born in 1895 in Flora, 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 at Northwestern University when he entered the United States Army during World War I and was commissioned a second lieutenant.
Military career
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. When World War II broke out, Canine was well-fitted for responsibility. He became the chief of staff for the XII Corps, which served in General George 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 the Order of the Patriotic War First Class and Bravery Medal when XII Corps linked up with Red Army units. After the war, he was rewarded with command of the 1st Infantry Division.
In 1951 Canine became director of the Armed 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 President Harry S. Truman created the National Security Agency in 1952, Canine continued as its first director. He died unexpectedly of a pulmonary embolism in March 1969. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
References
- Empric, Bruce E. (2024), Uncommon Allies: U.S. Army Recipients of Soviet Military Decorations in World War II, Teufelsberg Press, pp. 93, 139, ISBN 979-8-3444-6807-5
- Burial Detail: Canine, Ralph J – ANC Explorer
External links
- Biography from the National Security Agency (public domain)
- Tribute from the National Security Agency (public domain)
- Generals of World War II
| Government offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| New office | Director of the National Security Agency 1952–1956 |
Succeeded byJohn A. Samford |
| Directors of the National Security Agency | ||
|---|---|---|
 | ||
- Directors of the National Security Agency
- United States Army personnel of World War I
- 1895 births
- Military personnel from Indiana
- 1969 deaths
- Deaths from pulmonary embolism
- Recipients of the Distinguished Service Medal (US Army)
- Recipients of the Legion of Merit
- Recipients of the Silver Star
- Burials at Arlington National Cemetery
- United States Army generals of World War II
- United States Army generals