Honor and Duty: The Heroic Tale of Courage and Selflessness Aboard the USS Samuel B. Roberts

Blu: Though untrained for offensive battle, the petite vessel half the size of a regular [tin can] destroyer, the feisty destroyer escort Samuel B. Roberts, skippered by Commander Copeland, officers, young inexperienced crew, puppy Sammy, bravely fought the larger faster Japanese force, inflicting a torpedo hit, and subsequently, sank, due to constant bombardments from the bigger guns. After over 50 hours staying afloat, the remaining survivors were finally rescued. Hopefully, since this horrific ordeal, the Navy has implemented urgent emergency search and rescue procedures for sunken vessels (p. 230). The destroyer escort Roberts and crew received the esteemed Presidential Unit Citation; Commander Copeland awarded the Navy Cross. A harrowing epic saga of a crew, who for the most part, had never encountered battle. Yet, by the Roberts' unorthodox actions, assisted in the unexpected victory in the Battle Of Samar (October 25, 1944), and protected the American invasion troops landed at Leyte. Masterfully crafted. Deeply touching.

United States on May 06, 2023

Michael K.: As the book titles proclaim, this is the 'inspirational' story of the USS Samuel B. Roberts, both the ship and her crew, from launch to loss during the WW2 Battle of Leyte Gulf.
The Roberts was a 1,350 ton destroyer escort, amongst the smallest of US warships, armed with two 5-inch guns and three torpedo tubes. In October 1944, while screening a group of slow escort carriers, she found herself, unexpectedly, confronting a Japanese naval force comprising numerous battleships, cruisers and destroyers. The Japanese battleships included the world's largest, the 70,000 ton Yamato, armed with 18-inch guns!
To protect the carriers, the Roberts, along with some other destroyers and destroyer escorts, attacked the Japanese ships. For almost two hours she evaded the hail of shells flung at her, hitting back at her giant opponents with her limited armament. Eventually, her luck ran out and, hit by several large-calibre shells, she was sunk. Her survivors then endured some very challenging days in the sea before being rescued.
As well as giving the ship's history, the author, quite rightly, focuses on the crew and we discover much about them, their lives before and after the war, as...

United Kingdom on Feb 15, 2020

C. S. Hodge: great read a real detailed history of the short life of USS Samuel Roberts

United Kingdom on Dec 29, 2016

John R Haynes: Disappointing book , not one for the modelmaker as no info/pictures shown of any value

United Kingdom on Nov 29, 2014

Gary Decker: First of all great title,the title alone makes you want check out the book.I,ve read a couple of other books dealing with this engagement and they were both great reads and this one here is no exception.Focusing on one particular ship and her crew makes the story more personal as you get to know certain crew members and their families thru interviews and letters.The story takes you thru a pretty typical war time deployment as the author leads up to the battle that made the ship a name for herself and her crew in the history books.
You feel the nervousness and excitement as they head into battle against a japanese force so much more powerfull.The torpedo run,the gallent charge with all guns blazing all the while wondering are they really going to make it out of there.A wonderfull example of of what ordinary americans can do for their fellow crewmembers and for the country they signed up to protect.You should'nt miss this one.

United States on Mar 31, 2013

Jeffrey T. Munson: On October 25, 1944, the USS Samuel B. Roberts, along with the other ships of Taffy 3, was on station in the Philippines. At the same time, steaming through San Bernadino Strait, was a Japanese task force comprised of battleships, cruisers, and destroyers. Their objective was to reach the American transports unloading troops and supplies in Leyte Gulf. In what was soon to become one of the most heroic and valiant displays of courage in the war, the men of the Samuel B. Roberts would, unhesitatingly, attack the overwhelming Japanese force to keep them away from the vulnerable escort carriers.

Originally, San Bernadino Strait was to be guarded by Admiral Halsey's powerful 3rd Fleet. However, miles to the north, a Japanese carrier group was spotted. Halsey immediately took the bait and sprinted north with his entire force, leaving San Bernadino Strait unguarded, except for the Samuel B. Roberts and her sisters.

Once the Japanese sighted Taffy 3, they began shooting large-caliber shells in their direction. These American ships, only able to make around 18 knots at top speed, would soon be caught by the faster Japanese. For Lt. Commander Robert Copeland, this was not an...

United States on Feb 08, 2013