Willford Hyman

Lieutenant Commander Willford Milton Hyman (16 August 1901 – 7 May 1942) was an officer in the United States Navy during World War II.

Born in Pueblo, Colorado, Hyman graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1924. He first served in battleship USS|New Mexico|BB-40, and in the years before World War II, was assigned to many ships and a variety of shore stations, including the Office of Naval Operations. He assumed command of destroyer USS|Sims|DD-409 6 October 1941. After convoy escort duty in the Atlantic, "Sims" moved to the Pacific in early 1942.

In May, as the Japanese attempted to extend their conquest to Port Moresby, the ship was operating with oiler USS|Neosho|AO-23 in a fueling group for Admiral Frank Jack Fletcher's aircraft carriers. While the carrier fleets maneuvered for position, Japanese planes found "Neosho" and "Sims" in the Coral Sea; and, thinking they were carrier and escort, attacked in strength. After Lt. Comdr. Hyman fought his ship through 2 air raids with great skill, 36 Japanese planes attacked the 2 ships. "Sims" took three 500-lb. bomb hits in this third attack. Realizing that the destroyer was damaged beyond repair, Hyman ordered "abandon ship" but remained on the bridge, calmly directing the evacuation until going down with his ship. The sacrifice of his ship and "Neosho" had much to do with saving the Navy's carriers in the widely separated engagements known as the Battle of the Coral Sea.

Lieutenant Commander Hyman received the Navy Cross for his heroic service.

USS "Hyman" (DD-732) was named for him.