Samuel B. Roberts

Samuel Booker Roberts, Jr. ( born May 12, 1921 in San Francisco, † September 27, 1942 in the Battle of Guadalcanal ) was an American coxswain of the U.S. Navy.

Roberts went in 1939 to the U.S. Navy Reserve and was called to active duty in 1940. He served aboard the battleship USS California ( BB -44) and USS Heywood (AD -12) before moving to the troop carrier USS Bellatrix (AKA- 20).

After heavy naval battles in Guadalcanal, which began on August 7, 1942, Roberts was commanded to a landing unit on the island of Guadalcanal to support transport tasks.

On 27 September 1942 Roberts led as a volunteer at a rescue unit, which was a unit of company size, which was surrounded by Japanese forces liberate. When the operation threatened to collapse under heavy fire, Roberts moved as a volunteer with his boat, the Japanese fire upon himself by crossing directly in front of their lines. After the rescue operation had succeeded, he should retire, but his boat was hit and Roberts mortally wounded at the last moment.

For his courageous efforts Samuel Booker Roberts was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross. According to him, three U.S. warships have been named the USS Samuel B. Roberts last (FFG -58).