Jack Kaye graduated from On-the-Roof Gang Class #21 in February 1939 and was assigned to Station BAKER in Guam. In 1940, he transferred to Station ABLE in Shanghai, China. When Station ABLE closed down in 1940 he transferred to Station CAST in the Philippines. In 1941, he transferred to Station HYPO in Hawaii, where he was stationed for the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. From Hawaii, he deployed aboard Radio Intelligence Units (RIUs) providing cryptologic direct support to Task Force Commanders.

He was commissioned in 1944 and remained on active duty for another twenty years. He served with the Naval Security Group in a number of different roles (see obituary below), rising to the rank of Captain before his retirement in 1965.

Jack Kaye in Guam, circa 1939 (in uniform and with car); Shanghai, China, circa 1940 (on bicycle); and Corregidor Island, Philippines, circa 1941

Kaye was identified at the following locations on the OP-20-G Annual Reports of Radio Intelligence Personnel:

9 Jan 1939:      Navy Dept. (under instruction)

14 Feb 1940:   Guam, M.I.

24 Feb 1941:   Asiatic Station.

Jack Kaye’s obituary was published in the NCVA’s Cryptolog magazine, Volume

JACK G. KAYE

Captain Jack G. Kaye, USN NCVA, passed away on 5 November 2000. Captain Kaye was a member of the "On-the-Roof' Gang, class #24. He was born on 28 September 1916 in Syracuse, New York and at an early age moved to California will1 his parents, first to Long Beach and then to Oakland. He graduated from Oakland High School and enlisted in die Navy on 13 November 1934.

Kaye underwent basic training at the Naval Training Station, San Diego and transferred to the USS CHESTER attached to Cruiser Scouting Force, Pacific. As a deck seaman he made the cruise with the Secretary of War, George H. Dern, representing President Franklin D. Roosevelt who was attending the inauguration of the first President of the Philippines Commonwealth at Manila in November of 1935. He was selected for further training and was transferred to Washington in 1938 to attend the kana code class on the roof of the old Navy Department building. Graduating in 1939 he reported to Radio Libugon, Guam and served there until 1940 at which time he was transferred to Shanghai China for duty with the Radio Intelligence group of U.S. Marines. In 1940 Captain Kaye was promoted to Radioman Second Class and transferred to Corregidor Island in The Philippines. In 1941 he was transferred to Heeia, Hawaii and was located There when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He was on watch at Heeia during the time of the attack.

From December 1941 until May 1943 he served as a radio intercept watch-stander at Wahiawa and on detached duty as a Combat Intelligence Radioman aboard the carrier USS ENTERPRISE during the battles of Midway, Santa Cruz, Solomon Island and Rennel Island. He was promoted through the enlisted rates from Seaman to Chief Radioman and was commissioned as an Ensign on 15 January 1944 attaining the rank of Captain on 1 March 1965.

From 1943 until 1963 he served at various duty stations including Bainbridge Island, Washington; Adak, Alaska; Imperial Beach, California; Winter Harbor, Maine; University of Utah, Armed Forces Security Agency, Arlington, Virginia; Kami Seya, Japan; Naval Security Group Headquarters Washington, D.C. and Naval Radio Station Wahiawa, Hawaii. In 1963 he was assigned for duty with the National Security Agency. In 1964 he became Assistant Commander, Naval Security Group Command with liaison and operational responsibilities as Special Assistant and representative for the Commander at National Security Agency.

He was married to Lillian May Kaye (Janeway) on 14 June 1943 in Long Beach, California. He is also survived by two sons Jack T. Kaye of San Diego, a retired CTRCM with 30 years of service and William E. Kaye of Costa Mesa, California.

Pertinent data:

Born: 28 September 1916

Location: Syracuse, New York

Died: 5 September 2001

Location: Santa Ana, California