Born in Page, W.Va. on 28 August, 1915, the son of Dr. John A, Tyree, M.D. and Nannie K. Tyree. The family settled In  Danville, Virginia (hometown of Dr. Tyree) in 1920 where Dr. Tyree practiced medicine specializing in eye, ear, nose and throat.

Graduated from George Washington H.S. in Danville in June 1932 and entered the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, MD two weeks later. Graduating in June, 1936 and commissioned with the Class of 1936, Ensign Tyree was ordered to the heavy cruiser, USS SALT LAKE CITY (CA 25), based in Long Beach, CA. Married Suzanne Williams of Spokane, WA. in June, 1939. After serving 3 1/2 years in the cruiser, ordered to the Submarine School, New London, CT for a 5 1/2 month course of instruction during Jan.- June, 1940.

Upon graduation, ordered to USS S-24 which had been in reserve commission in New London. Initially, served as Communications and Commissary Officer, later as Engineer Officer. In November, 1941 reported to USS BARRACUDA (SS 163) as Engineer Officer, fleeting up to Executive Officer/Navigator in mid-1942. BARRACUDA was based in Coco Solo, Panama, transiting the canal numerous times to make "war" patrols 800-900 miles West of Panama, during which time the greatest hazard was being bombed by "friendly" aircraft.

In November, 1942 ordered to command USS R-2, based in Key West, FL.  In late March, 1944 attended the Prospective Commanding Officers School in New London and upon completion, proceeded to Pearl Harbor and was assigned to a Relief Crew. In late May, reported to USS GUARDFISH (SS 217) as Executive Officer/Navigator/and PCO for her 8th war patrol. This was a very successful patrol conducted during June-July, 1944 in the Luzon Straits and off the NW coast of Luzon, for which the ship was awarded its second Presidential Unit Citation. LCDR Tyree was awarded the Silver Star Medal and, at long last, the coveted Submarine Combat Pin.

In August, 1944 ordered to command USS BOWFIN (SS287). Promoted to Commander in Sep. 1944. Between Dec.'44 and July, '45 BOWFIN made her 7th, 8th and 9th war patrols, all successful. Was awarded the Navy Cross for the 7th patrol, the Bronze Star Oater changed to the Legion of Merit with combat "V) for the 8th patrol and a Gold Star in lieu of a second Navy Cross for Bowfin's 9th patrol. The 9th was made as a member of the wolf pack, the "Hellcats", nine submarines who penetrated the minefields of Tsushima Straits to patrol in the Sea of Japan during June-July, 1945.

In August, after a refit in Pearl, BOWFIN sailed west for her 10th war patrol, to top off fuel in Guam, thence again run the Tsushima minefields and patrol in the Sea of Japan. When about halfway to Guam, a message was received about the Japanese surrender and BOWFIN was directed to return to Pearl Harbor. As anyone can easily imagine, it took only seconds to reverse course and put four engines on the line. Sailed from Pearl on 28 August, in company with a group of submarines, proceeding via Panama to Staten Island, N .Y. On 4 January, 1946 sailed in company with seven other submarines to set up SUBRON 6, in Panama, Pacific side.

While en route Philadelphia for overhaul in March, '46 received word of BOWFIN decommissioning. Tyree was relieved and ordered to command of USS PIPER (SS409) in New London, where he served until relieved in July, 1948 , and proceeded to Seattle, WA. for first shore duty assignment, as Executive Officer of the NROTC, Univ. of Washington. This tour lasted for 2 years.

Summar of Subsequent Duties :

June '50- Dec. '51 - Staff, SUBDEVGROUP 2 (New London)
Jan. '52 -Jan. '53 - COMSUBDIV 22
Jan. '53 -June '53 - Student, Armed Forces Staff College, Norfolk, V A
June '53 -June '55 - ASW Officer, Staff CINCLANT /CINCLANTFLT
Sep. '54 - Promoted to Captain
July '55 -July '56 - C.O. USS SPERRY (San Diego, CA)
July, '56 -July '57 - Asst. Ch. of Staff for Logistics, Staff, COMSUBPAC
July, '57 -July '58 - COMSUBRON ONE (Pearl)
July '58 -July '59 - Student, National War College, Washington, D.C.
July '59 -Oct. '61 - Office of CNO (Politico-Military Policy Branch)
Oct. '61 -Oct. '62 - COMSERVRON 6/COMSERVFORSIXTHFLT (last sea duty -Homeported in Naples, Italy)
Nov. '62 -July '64 - Office of CNO (Strategic Plans Branch)
Aug. ' 64 -July '66 - Chief of Staff to COMONE (Boston, MA)
Retired 1 July, 1966, having completed 30 years of commissioned Naval service.
July '66- July, '67 - Attended Duke Univ. (Durham, NC). Received MAT(Math) degree.
Aug.'67 -June, '79 - Asst. Professor Mathematics, Mary Washington College, Fredericksburg, VA

Continued to live in Fredericksburg after teaching one more semester and final retirement in June, 1980. Wife Suzanne of 45 years died in 1984. Remarried Gloria Rea Clark in 1985 and moved to Mijas in the Costa del Sol region of southern Spain. Moved to the retirement center, "Fleet Landing" in Atlantic Beach, FL in November, 1997., where Mrs. Tyree is in the Skilled Nursing area of the Health Center and Capt. Tyree is at mailing address: 5519 Rigel Ct., Atlantic Beach, FL 32233. Three "children" from first marriage are: Nancy T. Fee (born 1941) of Basye, VA, Rosalee T. Glass (born 1943) of Camden, ME and Alexander K. Tyree Jr. (born 1948) of Grand Forks, ND.