Education
Born in Everett, Washington, Kyes graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1930.
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James Ellsworth
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After his ship had received three torpedo hits and was sinking, he gave the order to abandon ship. As he prepared to leave Leary, he checked to see that none of his men remained on board and spied a kitchen mess boy whose life jacket was torn and useless. Commander Kyes removed his own jacket and handed it to the boy.
In 1945, the destroyer United States Ship James East. Kyes (Doctor of Divinity-787) was named in his honor.
Goblin Peak in the Cascade Mountains was renamed Kyes Peak shortly after the war in commemoration of the Commander"s actions. The tree still grows today alongside a plaque and a letter describing the action of December 23.
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He then calmly climbed over the side and was swallowed up by the waters of the cold Atlantic, gallantly sacrificing his own life to protect a young member of his crew. Kyes was a member of the first climbing party to summit the peak, and brought down a sapling from the peak which he then planted in the now-abandoned town of Monte Cristo, Washington.
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Born
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Died
December 23, 1943 (aged 37) -
Nationality
United States