Fredericksburg in Gillespie County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

The U.S.S. Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413)

Photographed By James Hulse, April 27, 2022

1. The U.S.S. Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413) Marker

Inscription. Dedicated to the Memory of
The U.S.S. Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413)

Commissioned: April 28, 1944
Sunk in Action: October 25, 1944
Earned One Battle Star for World War II Service

Awarded the Presidential Unit Citation
"for extraordinary heroism in action."

During the Battle of Leyte Gulf, off Samar, Philippine Islands,
the USS Samuel B. Robert and other ships of "Taffy III",
completely outmatched and outgunned, charged headlong into
attacking Japanese battleships, cruisers and destroyers.
The Roberts scored a torpedo hit and at least 40 gunfire hits
on the enemy before she sank, ripped apart by salvos of 14-inch shells.
The Roberts' guns continued to fire until waves swept over her decks.

Ninety men lost their lives in the battle.
The 122 survivors clung to three life nets for 50 hours before being rescued.

This plaque is dedicated by the USS Samuel B. Roberts Survivors' Association
To Remember Those Who Did Not Return.

Erected by National Museum of the Pacific War and the USS Samuel B. Roberts Survivors' Association.

Topics. This memorial is listed in this topic list: War, World II. A significant historical date for this entry is April 28, 1944.

Location. 30° 16.347′

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N, 98° 52.031′ W. Marker is in Fredericksburg, Texas, in Gillespie County. Memorial is at the intersection of East Austin Street and North Washington Street on East Austin Street. The marker is located in the central section of the WWII Veterans Memorial Courtyard which is a part of the National Museum of the Pacific War. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 311 East Austin Street, Fredericksburg TX 78624, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. "Lefty's Wolfpack" (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Mattaponi (AO-41) (here, next to this marker); In Memory of Our Fallen Comrades (here, next to this marker); The Shinyo Maru (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Natoma Bay (CVE-62) (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Bisbee (PF46) (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Trenton (CL-11) (here, next to this marker); U.S.S. Jamestown (AGP-3) (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.

Also see . . . U.S.S. Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413). Wikipedia

Samuel B. Roberts was sunk in the Battle off Samar, in which a small force of U.S. warships prevented a superior Imperial Japanese Navy force from attacking the amphibious invasion fleet off the Philippine island of Leyte. The ship was part of a relatively light flotilla
Photographed By James Hulse, April 27, 2022

2. The The U.S.S. Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413) Marker is the second marker from the left side
of destroyers, destroyer escorts, and escort carriers called "Taffy 3" which was inadvertently left to fend off a fleet of heavily armed Japanese battleships, cruisers, and destroyers off the island of Samar during the Battle off Samar, one of the engagements making up the larger Battle of Leyte Gulf of October 1944.

(Submitted on October 31, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Additional keywords. The U.S.S. Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413)

<i>The U.S.S. Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413)</i> image. Click for full size.

Public Domain - US Navy, circa October 1944

3. The U.S.S. Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413)

The U.S. Navy destroyer escort U.S.S. Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413) underway in October 1944, a week or two before she was lost in the Battle off Samar on 25 October 1944. She is painted in Camouflage Measure 32, Design 22D. The photo was taken from USS Walter C. Wann (DE-412).

Credits. This page was last revised on October 31, 2022. It was originally submitted on October 31, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 157 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on October 31, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.