Coxswain Samuel B. Roberts, JR  1939-1942

He enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve in 1939 and was called to active duty in 1940. Roberts served aboard the USS CALIFORNIA (BB 44) and the USS HEYWOOD (AD12), before being transferred to the troop transport USS BELLATRIX (AKA 20). Early on the morning of 27 September 1942, Roberts volunteered for a rescue mission to save a company size unit of Marines who had been surrounded by a numerically superior Japanese force. Initially, the rescue group of several Hogging boats was taken under heavy fire and were perilously close to failure. Realizing the state of the rescue mission, Roberts unselfishly volunteered to distract Japanese forces by passing directly in front of their lines drawing fire to his boat. This decoy act was performed effectively until all Marines had been evacuated. However, as he was about to withdraw from the range of the Japanese guns, Roberts' boat was hit and he was mortally wounded.  For his valor and courage in the face of the enemy fire he was awarded posthumously the Navy Cross.  Three U.S. Navy ships have been named in honor of Coxswain Samuel B. Roberts, Jr.