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National Security Agency
Fort Meade, MD

NSA requested that the Fort Meade Post Memorialization Board approve new names. Since Fort Meade is an Army post, memorialization projects such as roads, parks, memorials, and buildings have to be approved by the Base Commander.

Army regulations allow memorializations for deceased service personnel and civilians from other Services or the Department of Defense. The overriding requirement in all cases is that the individual had made outstanding contributions or performed heroic actions which contributed materially to the Agency's mission. Following approval in 1965, NSA began to memorialize deceased American cryptologists by naming roads around the NSA buildings in their honor.

As NSA expanded and buildings were added to its complex, new roads were constructed connecting the buildings through a huge web of parking lots and access roads. Eventually nine roads were named for deceased American cryptologists. A varied group of both civilians and military, these men and their accomplishments reflect the diversity that makes up the history of American cryptology.

The following individuals were honored:

• LTGEN Ralph Canine, USA, was the first Director-of NSA from 1952 to 1956. Before that he was Director of NSA's predecessor, the Armed Forces Security Agency. He served in various Army commands and received numerous decorations including the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and the Legion of Merit. General Canine died in March 1969 at age 73.
• RADM Jefferson R. Dennis, USN, was Deputy Director of Operations at NSA when he died in February 1958 at age 49. Admiral Dennis had a long and distinguished career in Navy cryptology, including Commander, Naval Security Group.
• Dr. Howard T. Engstrom was Deputy Director of NSA from October 1957 to August 1958. Dr. Engstrom died in November 1964 at age 65. He served in the Navy, attaining the rank of Captain, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. Dr. Engstrom also served as Deputy Director of Research and Development for NSA.
• LTGEN Graves B. Erskine, USMC, died in 1973 at the age of 76. Though General Erskine never served at NSA, he was Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Special Operations, who oversaw NSA in its early days. He later was the DOD representative to the United States Communications Security Board. General Erskine had a long and distinguished career in the Marine Corps. During World War 11 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal, the Silver Star, and the Legion of Merit.
• Henry I. Herczog, who had served NSA and its predecessor agencies for 17 years, died in September 1960 at age 40. Mr. Herczog was head of the NSA Office of General Studies and had been president of GEBA since its inception.
• LTGEN John A. Samford, USAF, was Director of NSA from 1956 to 1960. Prior to his term at NSA, he had been the Director of Intelligence for the United States Air Force and served under General Canine. General Samford died in 1968 at age 63.
• COL Harry H. Towler, Jr., USAF, an office chief, died in October 1959 at age 45. Col Towler played a major role in the formation of the Air Force Security Service in 1948-49.
• RADM Joseph N. Wenger, USN, one of the pioneers of American cryptology, died in 1970 at age 69. He was a major architect of the process that unified American cryptologic efforts leading towards the establishment of NSA. Admiral Wenger was NSA's first Vice Director (Deputy Director).
• Dr. William D. Wray, a group chief, died in November 1962 at age 52. Dr. Wray had served with NSA and its predecessor agencies since 1942 and was awarded the Exceptional Civilian Service Award posthumously.

Robert Hanyok, " Wray Road, Dennis Way -- How the NSA roads were named," NSA Newsletter, January 1996, pages 6-7

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