USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE 413)
Survivors' Association
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The USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS (DE 413) was launched by the U.S. Navy on January 20, 1944, commissioned on April 28, 1944, and sunk by the Imperial Japanese Navy in the Battle off Samar on October 25, 1944. Why would a destroyer escort that existed for less than one year merit a web site? Read on. Though our crew had only six months in 1944 to get to know one another, we formed bonds that exist today. These bonds will continue, long beyond the time that the last survivor has gone on to join those crew members who were killed when our ship was sunk, so many years ago. Children and other family members have formed strong friendships which will endure. In addition to the families of the original crew, there exists another family involved with the SAMUEL B. ROBERTS. This is the family of officers and men who have served on the namesakes of the DE 413: the destroyer SAMUEL B. ROBERTS (DD 823), and the fast frigate, SAMUEL B. ROBERTS (FFG 58). Additionally, let us not forget the fast frigate, USS COPELAND (FFG 25), named after our Captain, Robert W. Copeland, and the fast frigate USS CARR (FFG 52), named after our heroic Gunners Mate, Paul Henry Carr. You will have to search the history books to come up with a heritage such as that of the Sammy B, as our ship has come to be known. We were a crew of teenagers on a ship of which we were immensely proud. As we sailed, we were still making friends, playing together, working together, sharing those pictures and letters from home, and wondering what the future might hold. On October 25, 1944, we discovered abruptly what fate had in store for us. We were suddenly in mortal combat with our enemy, the Japanese. We fought well and died not so well, but drove off the enemy against unbelievable odds. What follows is our story. We hope that through this website neither we, nor our comrades who went on before us, will be forgotten. Read on. |
You can learn about the USS Samuel B. Roberts Survivors' Association itself. The association section contains such information as that related to the founding and mission of the Association, individual members of the Association, shipmates found and lost, events that the Association has carried out or is planning, and how to contact the Association. In another section, you can learn about the history of the USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE 413) and its valiant crew, as well as about the Battle of Leyte Gulf, the greatest sea battle the world has known. You also can learn about the ships that have proudly carried the Samuel B. Roberts name subsequent to the DE 413, as well as obtain information about naval ships that bear the names of heroes aboard the USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE 413). A "mediographic" section provides additional resources (many of which, unfortunately, are not available on the Internet) for the individual who would like to learn more about the U.S.-Japanese naval engagement in which the USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE 413) participated. Visit that section to find information related to books, photographs, a painting, videos and film, and other resources related to the USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE 413) and the Battle of Leyte Gulf. Another section provides links to resources outside the USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE 413) Survivors site. These include links to the US Navy, to active duty ships, to other survivors associations, and to other websites focusing on related material. You can also search this site. For questions or comments about the DE 413 Survivors Association, please e-mail Dick Rohde. If you have any queries, comments, or suggestions related to the website itself, or notice any problems, please contact its webmaster, Cliff Rohde. |
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Site last updated March 2008 |
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