Ralph Julian Canine (November 9, 1895 – March 8, 1969) was a

lieutenant general Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the battlefield, who was norma ...

in the

United States Army The United States Army (USA) is the primary Land warfare, land service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is designated as the Army of the United States in the United States Constitution.Article II, section 2, clause 1 of th ...

and the first director of the

National Security Agency The National Security Agency (NSA) is an intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense, under the authority of the director of national intelligence (DNI). The NSA is responsible for global monitoring, collection, and proces ...

Early life and education

Canine was born in 1895 in

Flora, Indiana Flora is a town in Monroe Township, Carroll County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,036 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. It is part of the Lafayette, Indiana Lafayette, Indiana metropolitan area, Metropolitan Statistic ...

, 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 Northwestern University (NU) is a Private university, private research university in Evanston, Illinois, United States. Established in 1851 to serve the historic Northwest Territory, it is the oldest University charter, chartered university in ...

when he entered the

during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

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 World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

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 George Smith Patton Jr. (11 November 1885 – 21 December 1945) was a general in the United States Army who commanded the Seventh Army in the Mediterranean Theater of World War II, then the Third Army in France and Germany after the Alli ...

'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 The National Security Agency (NSA) is an intelligence agency of the United States Department of Defense, under the authority of the Director of National Intelligence, director of national intelligence (DNI). The NSA is responsible for global ...

, 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 Harry S. Truman (May 8, 1884December 26, 1972) was the 33rd president of the United States, serving from 1945 to 1953. As the 34th vice president in 1945, he assumed the presidency upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt that year. Subsequen ...

created the

in 1952, Canine continued as its first director. He died unexpectedly of a

pulmonary embolism Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a blockage of an pulmonary artery, artery in the lungs by a substance that has moved from elsewhere in the body through the bloodstream (embolism). Symptoms of a PE may include dyspnea, shortness of breath, chest pain ...

in March 1969. He was buried in

Arlington National Cemetery Arlington National Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the United States National Cemetery System, one of two maintained by the United States Army. More than 400,000 people are buried in its 639 acres (259 ha) in Arlington County, Virginia. ...

.Burial Detail: Canine, Ralph J
– ANC Explorer

References

External links

Biography
from the

(public domain)
Tribute
from the

(public domain)
Generals of World War II
{{DEFAULTSORT:Canine, Ralph 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