The 5th edition of my book 2010, the battle off samar taffy iii at leyte gulf at. The frigate was the third ship to be named after navy coxswain samuel booker roberts jr, who posthumously received the navy cross for rescuing stranded marines from guadalcanal in the solomon islands during world war ii. Roberts younger brother, jack, served aboard de4 and was the voice of the samuel b. The hull of the roberts was laid down in january of 1944 next to her sister ship, the uss walter c. Roberts dd 823 uss oliver hazard perry ffg 7 ffg 58. The inspirational true story of bravery and sacrifice little wolf at leyte. Roberts was the third ship in the us navy to bear the name. Commissioned in 1986, the ship was severely damaged by an iranian mine in 1988, leading u. Roberts, a navy coxswain who was killed evacuating marines during the battle of guadalcanal in 1942. It was inevitable that another samuel b roberts would soon join the fleet as a fitting tribute to the memories of both the man and the de4. Roberts dd 823, a gearingclass destroyer, was the second ship of the united states navy to be named for samuel b. There is no more hallowed ritual for a warship than this one, which formally ushers it into service with the u.
Rarely has a hotel hospitality room held such a collection of unassuming sea warriors as the one that gathered in san pedro, california, in august 1982. During that epic battle, which is detailed in the james d hornfischer book, the last stand of the tin can sailors, several of the destroyers and destroyer escorts were sunk. Jerry served in the navy during the vietnam war aboard the uss samuel b. In for crew and country, john wukovits tells of the most dramatic naval battle of the pacific war and the incredible sacrifice of the uss samuel b. The explosion broke the ships keel and blew a hole in the hull beneath the waterline.
Roberts is the fiftyfirst perry class guided missile frigate and was commissioned on april 12, 1986 in bath, maine. Roberts photographed circa in june while off boston, massachusetts usa uss samuel b. But its skipper imbued his brandnew crew with a fighting spirit to match their forebears, and in 1988 when the guided missile frigate was thrust into the persian gulf at the height of the iraniraq war, there was no better ship for the job. Roberts ffg58 underway during sea trials on 4 february 1986. Butlerclass destroyer escort, commissioned in april 1944 and sunk on 25 october in the battle off samar. Like its world war ii namesake of leyte gulf fame, uss samuel b.
Roberts ffg 58 is one of the final ships in the united states navys oliver hazard perryclass of guided missile frigates ffg. The book no higher honor features 20 photos of the uss samuel b. The nrg also publishes plan sets, books and compilations of back issues of the journal and the former ships in scale and model ship builder magazines. Navy struck back in a daylong campaign called operation praying mantis. Roberts was named for coxswain samuel booker roberts, jr. Butlerclass destroyer escort of the united states navy. While attempting to work clear, the guided missile frigate struck an iranian m08 naval mine. Friedmans book would probably have more details and. Roberts de4, known by a voice radio call sign as little wolf. The ship was built in 1944 and was immediately sent to assist the task force 77. The roberts was a 1,350 ton destroyer escort, amongst the smallest of us warships, armed with two 5inch guns and three torpedo tubes. Roberts de4 at samar and the ships namesake, a navy coxswain posthumously awarded the navy cross for actions at guadalcanal. One bronze plaque bearing the raised image of the ship uss samuel b. A port quarter view of the guided missile frigate uss samuel b.
And when we go back to the sea, whether it is to sail or to watch we are going back from whence we came. In april 1988, the ship participated in operation earnest will in. Roberts, and it will leave the fleet upon the may 22 19 decommissioning of ffg 58 in mayport. Welcome to the website of the april 1988 mine blast crew of the uss samuel b roberts. Copeland, commanding officer the remainder of the plaque includes the names of the original crew of the uss samuel b. The battle of leyte gulfnhhcs overview of the battle. He insisted that his sailors know about the previous u. The roberts, together with three other destroyer escorts, three destroyers, and their brood of six little jeep carriers, collectively known as task unit 77. May 22, 2015 a view of damage to the hull of the guided missile frigate uss samuel b.
No higher honorthe battle off samar, 25 october 1944. Politifact yes, president reagan destroyed about half of. He enlisted in the united states naval reserve on april, 1939 at portland, oregon and advanced to the rank of coxswain. Her major weapons were two 5inch guns that could lightly damage but not sink armored ships, and three torpedo tubes. About onefifth of the uss theodore roosevelts 4,865 sailors are off the covidstricken aircraft carrier and into isolation on guam, with about 2,700 more expected to evacuate in the next few. Roberts, an oliver hazard perryclass guided missile frigate, was commissioned in april 1986.
True story of bravery and sacrifice aboard the uss samuel b. Roberts ffg 58 and the crews heroic efforts to save the ship after it hit an iranian mine in 1988. Roberts ffg 58 and the crews heroic efforts to save the ship after it hit an. Butlerclass destroyer escort of the united states navy samuel b. I would imagine the difference between the two classes would be in superstructure and small details. Roberts ffg 58 was a small combatant built for escort duty. Us sailors pour off aircraft carrier and into coronavirus. Jerry graduated from wachusett regional high school in 1964 and worcester state college in 1972. Roberts de4 us navy uss samuel b roberts ffg58 veteran military veteran usa pride served.
New book forthcoming on the history of the samuel b. Navy launched operation praying mantis against iranian targets in the arabian gulf in retaliation for uss samuel b. May 22, 2015 a port quarter view of the guided missile frigate uss samuel b. Hgram 010h0104director cox discusses the uss samuel b. If the navy values its heritage, the absence should last only as long as it. Roberts ffg58 underway after the ship struck a mine on apr. Roberts de4, they came to honor their skipper, robert w. Click the thumbnails to see many more photos of the ship and related topics. Roberts ffg58 sustained when the ship struck a mine while on patrol in the persian gulf on april 14, 1988.
Back to last page back to cruise book page back to uss samuel b. Roberts ffg 58 was commissioned on 12 april 1986 at bath iron works in maine. Online shopping from a great selection at books store. Butlerclass destroyer escort of the united states navy that served during 1944 samuel b. Rear admiral clifton ziggy sprague, usn was the otc of task unit 77. This book is the story of a small destroyer escort, the uss samuel b. May, 20 last month, a truly unique piece of history found a new home in the collection of the naval history and heritage command nhhc. Roberts, along with the other twelve vessels comprising its unit, stood between japans largest battleship force ever sent to sea and macarthurs transports inside leyte gulf. No higher honor is the first book to detail the extraordinary tale of the uss samuel b. Roberts ffg 58, as well as the uss copeland, and the uss carr.
As shipmates of the world war ii destroyer escort uss samuel b. The story of my journey from the cornfields of iowa to serving in. Roberts dd823, a, was the second ship of the united states navy to be named for samuel b. As the book titles proclaim, this is the inspirational story of the uss samuel b. The painting was presented to the commanding officer of the uss samuel b. Roberts and commissioned on 22 december 1946 comdr. Roberts de4 in the battle of leyte gulf during world war ii.
Picture of the uss samuel roberts provided by world war ll veteran glenn huffman was an 18 yearold sailor when the uss samuel roberts that went down in the philipines in 1945. Film about the sammy b and battle off samar in the works. In an action that eminent naval historian samuel eliot morison called the. You are now a member of a great fighting team the uss samuel b. They set aside garage tools and law books, left schoolrooms, farms, factories, and police stations, and made room in packed schedules, because of their shared bond. A view of damage to the hull of the guided missile frigate uss samuel b. The inspirational true story of bravery and sacrifice aboard the uss samuel b. Roberts dd823 was laid down on 27 june 1945 by the consolidated steel corp. Uss taylor ffg50 decommissioning ceremony duration. This article was adapted from the authors book no higher honor. Roberts served continuously until his death on september 28, 1942. Dec 16, 2012 new book forthcoming on the history of the samuel b. An aerial view of the iranian frigate is sahand burning after being attacked by aircraft of carrier air wing 11 from the aircraft carrier uss enterprise cvn65 in retaliation for the mining of the guided missile frigate uss samuel b. Samuel b roberts ffg58 ships persian gulf video 28feb1988 duration.
Below in raised lettering is in memory of those who have sailed before us uss samuel b. Jan 15, 20 like its world war ii namesake of leyte gulf fame, uss samuel b. Roberts ffg58 was laid down on 21 may 1984 at bath, maine, by bath iron works corp launched on 8 december 1984. The third ship to bear the name is the uss samuel b roberts ffg58. Roberts destroyer escort that fought like a battleship in the battle of leyte gulf war historical photos navy destroyer escort uss samuel b.
Roberts was part of the battle off samar, an unlikely victory in which relatively light u. Roberts ffg58 arrives at naval station mayport after completing a sixmonth deployment in the u. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that. The 48 star battle ensign of the destroyer escort uss samuel b. That inevitability became reality in early 1945 when the secretary of the navy designated destroyer hull number 823 with the name samuel b roberts. Us navy uss samuel b roberts ffg58 veteran military veteran usa pride served gift metal 0. Destroyer escorts were smaller than destroyers, designed to protect convoys against submarines or aircraft. Roberts, both the ship and her crew, from launch to loss during the ww2 battle of leyte gulf. Roberts memorial fort rosencrans cemetery san diego. Roberts was an oliver hazard perry class frigate and the second ship in her class heavily damaged while in action in the persian gulf.