Roy Livingston Raney, was born in Salem, Arkansas, on 21 October, 1900. Following his graduation from Mammoth Spring High School, Arkansas, in June 1918, he attended Drury College, Springfield, Missouri, for two years, then enlisted in the U.S. Navy. He held the rating of a Navy Pharmacist’s Mate, third class, when accepted as a cadet in the U.S. Coast Guard. He was graduated from the Coast Guard Academy and received a commission as an Ensign in October 1924.
His first assignments were on the cutter Tampa and the destroyer Jouett. In September 1925, he reported for duty to the Commander of the New London, Conn., Patrol Area and was placed in command of Section Base 14, Block Island, Rhode Island. The following month he was assigned the additional duties of Assistant Inspector of Coast Guard stations on the island. In December 1926, he became executive officer of Section Base 4, New London, Conn., and later was placed in command of Section Base 18 at Woods Hole, Mass.
From October 1927, to April 1928, he served as executive officer on the Ossipee. His next period of sea duty was spent on the Chelan, where he served as navigation officer, until April 1930, to late January 1932, he was in command of Section Base 12, at Anacortes, Washington, and then reported for duty to the Office of the Chief Inspector, Hull Construction, Bath, Maine. In February of that year he took command of the cutter Icarus and in March 1933, became executive officer of the cutter Champlain.
In February 1936, concluding a year’s course in aviation at the Naval Air Station, Pensacola, Fla., he was designated a Coast Guard Aviator No. 39 and placed on duty at the Coast Guard Air Station, Miami, Fla. From December 1936 to April 1939, he was commanding officer of the Coast Guard Air Station, Biloxi, Mississippi, and then served until December 1940, as commanding officer of the Coast Guard Air Station, Salem, Mass. He then returned to sea duty as commanding officer of the cutter Algonquin, and in June 1941, was assigned as executive officer to the Coast Guard manned troop transport USS Wakefield. In December 1942, he took command of the Coast Guard cutter Bibb on convoy duty in the North Atlantic. During this assignment he was awarded the Navy Commendation Ribbon for the rescue of 205 men from the torpedoed transport Henry R. Mallory off the Coast of Iceland. During this same assignment, while acting as Atlantic Fleet Escort Commander, he received the Legion of Merit with Combat “V”, for exceptionally meritorious performance of outstanding services.
In February 1944, he became commanding officer of the USS Wakefield on duty in the European war zone. Between February 1944 and March 1945, the Wakefield made thirteen voyages between Europe and Boston, carrying U.S. Army detachments eastbound and German prisoners of war on the return westbound trip. In April 1945, the Wakefield started operations in the Mediterranean, to the ports of Taranto, Naples, and Marseille, working exclusively for the U.S. Army. In December 1945, the Wakefield voyaged to Tsingtso, and Taku, China, to return battle-worn Marines to the Pacific Coast of the United States. For his services on the Wakefield, which terminated in February 1946, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
Vice Admiral Raney was assigned to Headquarters in February 1946, where he served as Assistant Chief, Merchant Marine Safety Division. On 1 September 1950, he assumed command of the 9th Coast Guard District, Cleveland, Ohio. Four years later, on 1 September 1954, he became Commander of the 1st Coast Guard District, Boston, Mass. Vice Admiral Raney was scheduled to retire August 1, 1956. He was relieved by Rear Admiral Edwin J. Roland, USCG, Deputy Chief of Staff, Coast Guard Headquarters, and newly appointed Rear Admiral as of July 1, 1956.
After receiving a commission as Ensign on 17 October 1924, he was promoted in rank as follows: Lieutenant (jg), 17 October 1926; Lieutenant, 17 October 1928; Lieutenant Commander, 17 October 1932; Commander, 17 July 1942; Captain, 1 June 1943; Rear Admiral, 1 September 1950. He was promoted to Vice Admiral on the retirement list.
In addition to the Legion of Merit (V), and the Bronze Star, Vice Admiral Raney earned the following campaign decorations: Commendation Ribbon; American Defense Service (Clasp); American Area; European-African-Middle Eastern Area (Star); Asiatic-Pacific Area (Star); Philippine Defense; and World War II Victory.
Vice Admiral Raney married Charlotte B. of Malden, Mass., in 1927, and has three daughters: Ann Frances, Patricia, and Mrs. Wilbur E. Harrison, Jr., of Albuquerque, New Mexico.