His awards included the Navy Cross for his distinguished service as a staff officer during World War I. Pye was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on 9 June 1880.

This decision was highly controversial, as it amounted to abandoning the Wake Island garrison, which had defeated a Japanese landing on 11 December.

During the Battle of Midway, Pye received orders for the seven old battleships (Colorado, Idaho, Maryland, Mississippi, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee), the escort carrier USS Long Island, and eight destroyers of TF 1 to sortie to patrol off of the West Coast against possible Japanese attack there should the carrier forces at Midway be defeated.

Such fears proved unfounded, and TF 1 then remained on training and patrol duties between Hawaii and the West Coast until Pye was relieved in October 1942 at the age of 62.

He officially retired on 1 July 1944, but was recalled to active duty as President of the War College, and promoted to permanent Vice Admiral.

His youngest son, Lieutenant Commander John Briscoe Pye, served on the submarine USS Swordfish on her 13th and final war patrol.

Under his able leadership over 600 Naval Officers received advanced training in these streamlined courses and their services were a distinct contribution to the ultimate triumph of our victorious fleet.

Under the supervision of Vice Admiral Pye in his capacity as Commandant of the Naval Operating Base, the major function of the Naval Training Station was changed, in the early months of 1944 from that of training thousands of enlisted personnel, integrating them into efficient operating teams for our powerful fighting units afloat.

A large share of the credit for the success of the pre-commissioning program was due to the untiring and careful attention of Vice Admiral Pye in its establishment and during the formative stages of its development.