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USS Samuel B. Roberts, a 1745-ton John C. Butler class destroyer escort, was built at Houston, Texas. Commissioned in April 1944, she briefly operated in the western Atlantic before transferring to the Pacific. After escort duties in mid-Pacific, Samuel B. Roberts supported the Leyte invasion as part of an escort carrier task force. On 25 October 1944, during the Battle off Samar, she was lost while agressively fighting a vastly superior Japanese battleship and cruiser assault, an action that was instrumental in saving most of her task force and defeating the Japanese counter-offensive against the Leyte invasion.
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Photo #: NH 90603 USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413) Photographed in 1944, probably circa June, while off Boston, Massachusetts. Courtesy of Robert F. Sumrall, 1980. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 48KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 96011 USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413) Photographed from USS Walter C. Wann (DE-412) in October 1944, a week or two before she was lost in the Battle off Samar on 25 October 1944. Courtesy of the USS Samuel B. Roberts Survivors Association, 1986. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 49KB; 740 x 480 pixels |
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Photo #: SC 278010 Battle off Samar, 25 October 1944 American survivors of the battle are rescued by a U.S. Navy ship on 26 October 1944. Some 1200 survivors of USS Gambier Bay (CVE-73), USS Hoel (DD-533), USS Johnston (DD-557) and USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413) were rescued during the days following the action. Photographed by U.S. Army Private William Roof. Photograph from the Army Signal Corps Collection in the U.S. National Archives. Online Image: 71KB; 495 x 765 pixels Reproductions of this image may also be available through the National Archives photographic reproduction system. |
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Photo #: NH 90677 Lieutenant Commander Robert W. Copeland, USNR Receives the Navy Cross from Rear Admiral David M. LeBreton, at Norfolk, Virginia, 16 July 1945. LCdr. Copeland received the Navy Cross for heroism while in command of USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413) during the Battle off Samar, 25 October 1944. Courtesy of Mrs. Harriet N. Copeland, 1980. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 67KB; 740 x 615 pixels |
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Photo #: NH 90680 Lieutenant Commander Robert W. Copeland, USNR Who commanded USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413) in the Battle off Samar, 25 October 1944, and later was awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism in that action. USS Copeland (FFG-25) was named in his honor. This photograph was released 13 December 1944, while LCdr. Copeland was recuperating at the Naval Hospital, San Leandro, California. Courtesy of Mrs. Harriet N. Copeland, 1980. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 43KB; 585 x 765 pixels |
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30 October 1998