Category Archives: Survivors

Membership Roster of Survivors (date uncertain)

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Name

State

Rating on Ship

Jackson D. Bishop

Wisconsin

Electricians Mate Second Class

Anthony J. Blaszczyk

Connecticut

Chief Yeoman

Sam Blue

Florida

Seaman First Class

William Branham

Florida

Seaman First Class

George Bray

Alabama

Seaman Second Class

Robert R. Brennan

Pennsylvania

Radioman Third Class

Orban “Ray” Chambless

Oklahoma

Signalman First Class

James F. “Bud” Comet

Washington

Seaman First Class

Peter Cooley

Michigan

Sonarman Second Class

Oliver E. Coyle

South Carolina

Seaman First Class

Herbert E. Eskins

Illinois

Seaman First Class

Elbert Gentry

North Carolina

Quartermaster Third Class

Vincent N. Goodrich

Pennsylvania

Sonarman Third Class

Louis A. Gould

Virginia

Sonarman Third Class

James S. Graves

Alabama

Seaman First Class

James W. Griggs

California

Sonarman Third Class

Robert M. “Mel” Harden

Maryland

Seaman Second Class

John E. “Red” Harrington

Maryland

Boatswains Mate First Class

Adolph Herrera

Arizona

Seaman First Class

E. Glenn Huffman

Arkansas

Seaman First Class

William Katsur

Pennsylvania

Fireman First Class

Adred C. Lenoir

Alabama

Fireman Second Class

S.C. “Sam” McAdams, Jr.

Texas

Radarman Third Class

Harold R. McCarl

Pennsylvania

Radarman Third Class

J. Dudley Moylan

Minnesota

Ensign

James E. Myers

North Carolina

Seaman Second Class

Thomas V. O’Hara

California

Seaman First Class

Robert E. Olson

Maine

Boilermaker First Class

James E. Patterson

Georgia

Watertender Third Class

James M. Roberson

North Carolina

Seaman First Class

Everett “Bob” Roberts, Jr.

New Jersey

Lieutenant

Richard K. Rohde

Florida

Radioman Third Class

Albert Rosner

Maryland

Seaman First Class

Thomas J. Stevenson, Jr.

Pennsylvania

Lieutenant Junior Grade

Doyle E. Tase

Tennessee

Seaman First Class

Everett L. Tomlinson

Indiana

Seaman Second Class

Harold G. Weiners

New Jersey

Gunners Mate Third Class

Edward J. Wheaton

Ohio

Radio Technician Second Class

William H. “Bill” Wilson

Michigan

Seaman First Class

Donald Young

California

Seaman Second Class

Jack Yusen

Washington

Seaman First Class

Rear Admiral Robert W. Copeland, USNR (1910-1973)

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Lieutenant Commander Robert W. Copeland, USNR

Lieutenant Commander Robert W. Copeland, USNR. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Courtesy of Mrs. Harriet N. Copeland, 1980.

May 1, 1999: New building at Naval Reserve Center in Tacoma, Washington named after Capt. Copeland.

Robert Witcher Copeland was born at Tacoma, Washington, on 9 September 1910. Enlisted in the Naval Reserve in 1929, he was commissioned as a Naval Reserve officer in 1935. Copeland practiced law from 1935 until 1940, when he was ordered to active duty during the Navy’s pre-World War II expansion. During the War, he commanded USS Pawtucket (YT-7), USS Black Douglas (PYc-45), USS Wyman (DE-38) and USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413).

During the Battle off Samar, 25 October 1944, while commanding Samuel B. Roberts, Lieutenant Commander Copeland led his ship and crew in an attack on a greatly superior Japanese battleship and cruiser force. Though his ship was lost, this action helped defeat the Japanese counter-offensive against the Leyte invasion. For this, he was awarded the Navy Cross.

Following World War II, Copeland resumed his law career while remaining a member of the Naval Reserve, in which he rose to the rank of Rear Admiral. Robert W. Copeland died at Tacoma, Washington, on 25 August 1973.

USS Copeland (FFG-25) was named in honor of Rear Admiral Robert W. Copeland, 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.

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.

Copeland receiving Navy Cross

Copeland receiving Navy Cross. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Courtesy of Mrs. Harriet N. Copeland, 1980.

Information from DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY — NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER, 901 M STREET SE — WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

In 1999, Copeland had a building named after him at the Naval Reserve Center in Tacoma, Washington.