Crew Members of USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE 413) as of October 25, 1944

Last First, Middle Initital Rank Condition

Abair, Jr.

Russell

S1C

MIA

Abramson

Albert L.

S2C

MIA

Aguada

Andres

CSK

WIA

Albert

Van J.

S2C

 

Alexander

William C.

S2C

 

Anderton

Wilbur E.

RDM3C

MIA

       

Bard

Francis P.

WT3C

KIA

Barrett

Harold

S2C

MIA

Bartlett

Ray E.

F1C

MIA

Bates

Fred W.

S2C

MIA

Bingaman

Richard A.

F1C

KIA

Bishop

Jackson D.

EM2C

WIA

Blaszczyk

Anthony J.

CY

 

Blue

Sam

S1C

 

Brady

Norbert F.

MM3C

MIA

Brander

George N.

S1C

 

Branham

William

S2C

 

Braun

Lloyd G.

S2C

MIA

Bray

George E.

S2C

 

Brennan

Robert R.

RM3C

 

Brodsky

Maurice

S2C

 

Burton

William S.

LT

 

Butler

Vernon R.

ST3C

MIA

Butterworth

William F.

S2C

MIA

       

Cadarette, Jr.

J. W.

BM2C

KIA

Cantrell

Frank

CQM

WIA

Carbon

George B.

S1C

 

Carr

Paul Henry

GM3C

KIA

Catt

Frederick E.

GM2C

 

Cayo

Howard R.

SOM2C

 

Chalkley

John W.

F1C

 

Chambless

Orban “Ray”

SM1C

WIA

Cole

Cecil E.

F1C

 

Comet

James F. “Bud”

S1C

 

Conway

John L.

COX

 

Cooley

Peter

SOM2/C

 

Copeland

Robert W.

LT CDR

 

Coyle

Oliver E.

S1C

WIA

Cronin, Jr.

Charles H.

Y2C

 

Cummings

Robert P.

MM3/C

MIA

       

Davis

John K.

S2C

MIA

DeBellis

John H.

F1C

KIA

Decubellis

Ralph

S1C

MIA

Dent

Melvin H.

S1C

 

Doherty

William J.

SC3C

WIA

Doull

Clifton E.

QM3C

WIA

Downs

Elroy

S1C

MIA

Driskill

Edward W.

S2C

WIA

Dyke

Ralph E.

TM3C

 
       

Emanuel

Herbert

S1C

 

Eskins

Herbert E.

S1C

 
       

Farmer

Clem J.

S2C

WIA

Felt

Harold Whitney

SOM3C

 

Ferris

Lin S.

BKR2/C

 

Fickett

Robert W.

S2C

KIA

Fields

Clifford C.

S1C

 

First

Cecil

STM1C

MIA

Freye

Albert H.

MM3C

MIA

       

Gallerini

Leonard

S2C

MIA

Gentry

Elbert

QM3C

 

Goggins

J. C.

COX

MIA

Goheen, Jr.

Chalmer J.

MM2C

 

Goldstein

Leonard S.

S2C

KIA

Gonyea

Martin C.

PHM3C

MIA

Goodrich

Vincent N.

SOM3C

 

Gould

Louis A.

SOM3C

 

Graves

James S.

S1C

 

Gray

John R.

EM2C

MIA

Green

Joseph F.

SK2C

MIA

Gregory

James A.

S1C

KIA

Griggs

James W.

SOM3C

 

Groller

John J.

GM3C

MIA

Grove

Frederick A.

CWT

MIA

Gurnett

Lloyd A.

LT JG

 
       

Haag

Justin C.

MM3C

MIA

Hallman

Curtis A.

S2C

 

Harden

Robert W.

S2C

WIA

Harrington

John E.

BM1C

 

Harris

Woodrow W.

S1C

MIA

Hausman

Donald N.

GM3C

MIA

       

Hawkins

Hubert R.

S2C

MIA

Heales

Howard A.

S2C

 

Helmich

Erwin C.

SC1C

WIA

Hensley

Clifton G.

S2C

WIA

Herrera

Adolph Z.

S1C

 

Hill

Julian L.

F1C#

 

Hinken

Harvey L.*****

F1C

 

Hodges

Troy T.

F1C

MIA

Hoffman

Edward J.

MM3C

 

Hogan

Edmund F.

SC2C

WIA

Hood

Enoch

S2C

MIA

Huffman

Ernest G.

S1C

WIA

Hunt

Joseph T.

S1C

 
       

Interrante

Salvatore J.

F1C

WIA

       

Jakubosky

Felix F.

RDM2C

 

Jester

Marion G.

S2C

 
       

Katsur

William

F1C

 

Kedney

Elmer L.

F1C

 

Keefe

John F.

S1C

 

Kensler

Jacob D.

F1C

MIA

Khourey

Joseph

SF2C

 

Kilburn

Fred

S1C

MIA

Killough

Archie W.

S1C

 

King

Oscar M.

PHM1C

 

Knisley

Charles E.

S1C

KIA

Krebs

William R.

GM3C

WIA

Kromer

Oscar C.

WT3C

 

Kudelchuk

John W.

F1C

 

Kupidlowski

Chester P.

F1C

MIA

Kyger

Lewis C.

F2C

MIA

       

Labbe

Wilfred J.

WT3C

WIA

Landry

Edward P.

F1C

WIA

Lecci,

Joseph

F1C

KIA

LeClercq III

John S.

LT JG

MIA

Lenoir

Aldred C.

F2C

WIA

Levitan

Herman

F1C

MIA

Lieder

Ernest W.

RM3C

 

Lillard, Jr.

Neal

STM2C

WIA

Lloyd

Jennings L.

S1C

 
       

Lobus

William P.

F2C

WIA

Locke, Jr.

John

S1C

MIA

Longo

Louis V.

F1C

MIA

Lowder

Jake D.

S2C

 

Lynn

Roy W.

S1C

WIA

       

Macko

John

F1C

 

Macon

Shirley R.

CGM

MIA

Martel

Lawrence W.

F1C

 

Masters

Royce V.

SK1C

 

Maher

Edward M.

RM3C

KIA

Mazura

Thomas J.

SM3/C

MIA

McAdams

Shafter C.

RDM3C

 

McCarl

Harold R.

RDM3C

 

McCaskill

Jackson R.

S2C

WIA

Merritt

George W.

FC3C

MIA

Metzger

Ray L.

MM3C

WIA

Meyer

Herman E.

F1C

KIA

Miller

Mike

GM2C

MIA

Moore

Jack K.

ENS

 

Moran

John J.

MM1C

MIA

Moriarity

Patrick J.

F1C

 

Mort

William C.

WT3C

MIA

Moses

Wayne V.

S1C

 

Moylan

John Dudley

ENS

 

Mudre

Steve

S1C

KIA

Myers

James E.

S2C

WIA

       

Nabors

Joseph D.

S1C

 

Natter

Charles W.

SM3C

MIA

Neidich

Martin

S2C

 

Newmiller

John J.

S2C

MIA

Nichols

Richard G.

FC3C

 
       

O’Connor, Jr.

Dudley B.

WT2C

KIA

O’Hara

Thomas V.

S1C

 

Oliver

Clarence E.

MM3C

KIA

Olson

Robert E.

B1C

WIA

Ooten, Jr.

Walter S.

Y3C

 

Orlowski

Joseph

S2C

MIA

Osborne

Jerry G.

WT1C

KIA

       

Paone

John J.

S2C

MIA

Patterson

James E.

WT3C

WIA

Pierson

Hilon R.

CMM

MIA

Pryor

Alvin R.

MM3C

 
       

Randall

Sherwood L.

S2C

 

Raymur

Charles P.

RM2C

 

Reid

James M.

S2C

 

Riebenbauer

Leopold P.

ENS

MIA

Roberson

James M.

S1C

 

Roberts

John G.

S1C

 

Roberts, Jr.

Everett E.

LT

 

Roberts, Sr.

Francis L.

F1C

WIA

Robinson

Alden F.

S1C

 

Robinson

Frank W.

RDM3C

WIA

Rohde

Richard K.

RM3C

WIA

Rosner

Albert

S1C

 

Ross

Charles A.

S2C

MIA

Rozzelle

John T.

S1C

MIA

       

Sacotte

Clifford A.

TM2C

WIA

Sassard

Robert F.

S2C

 

Saunders

Kenneth W.

QM3C

 

Saylor, Jr.

Arthur E.

F1C

KIA

Schafer

Darl H.

CM2C

MIA

Schaffer

George F.

COX

 

Scott

Harold K.

S1C

MIA

Serafini

Tullio J.

CRM

KIA

Shaffer

Russell W.

S2C

MIA

Shepherd

Elisha

S2C

 

Skau

Rudolph H.

CTM

 

Smith

Charles E.

CMM

KIA

Sokol

William

MM2C

 

Spears

Melvin

S2C

MIA

Stansberry

Gilbert J.

S2C

KIA

Staubach

Charles

CEM

KIA

Stevenson, Jr.

Thomas J.

LT JG

 

Stewart

Earle E.

RDM3C

 

Stovall

William

S2C

KIA

Strehle

Fred A.

SC1C

MIA

Sullivan

John J.

EM3C

MIA

Swiggett

Kenneth J.

S2C

WIA

       

Tase

Doyle E.

S1C

WIA

Taylor

Robert

S2C

WIA

Thurmond

Willard A.

S1C

KIA

Tomlinson

Everett L.

S2C

WIA

Trowbridge

Herbert W.

LT

MIA

Tuck

Grover

S1C

WIA

       

Ulickas

George P.

MM2C

MIA

       

Wagner

Eugene

F1C

KIA

Wallace

Percy K.

S1C

MIA

Wallace

Cullen

CBM

 

Wallace

Gene W.

CY

WIA

Walsh

Robert L.

FC3C

 

Washington

Freddie L.

STM1C

 

Weaver

James K.

EM2C

MIA

Weiners

Harold G.

GM3C

WIA

West

Luther A.

ENS

 

Wetherald

Thomas R.

MM1C

KIA

Wethington

Cloy W.

MM2C

MIA

Wheaton

Edward E.

RT2C

WIA

Wilson

Charles J.

S2C

MIA

Wilson

William H.

S1C

 

Young

Donald F.

S2C

 

Youngblood

Raymond J.

RDM3C

 

Yusen

Jack

S2C

 

Zaborski***

Chester F.

S2C

 

Zaleski

Frank M.

S2C

KIA

Zunac****

John R.

F1C

MIA

Those sailors listed as MIA (missing in action) are presumed to have been killed in action during the Battle off Samar. Their presumed deaths were not witnessed by those who survived.

*** Chester F. Zaborski is listed in Capt. Copeland’s book, and his name is on the bronze plaque aboard the FFG 58. His name does not appear on Whit Felt’s list of 5/1/82.

****Capt. Copeland writes in “The Spirit of Sammy-B” that Zunac was sent home for family problems. Ch.3, p.21.

*****Corrected middle initial, by family, August 2001.

10 thoughts on “Crew Members of USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE 413) as of October 25, 1944

  1. Laura M.Milam

    My half brother,Royce V.Masters SK1 served aboard the Sammy B during the battle of Leyte Gulf. He survived and spent 20 years in the Navy. We are a Navy family. Vernon F. ( 27 years) , Virgil J. ( medical discharge), Gerald E. FTG, Leroy L. BT. 10years , Carl F. Corpsmam 10 years and my husband, Thomas P. Belt BT 22 years.

    Reply
  2. SHIRLEY WELLER

    WW2, My husbands uncle,CARL E SHORT, was on an island with others and was rescued by the US Navy. The ship was torpedoed and sank. He was one of the few survivors who waited days to be rescued. I have his military number but cannot find his name or name of ship he was on. Anyone know?

    Reply
  3. Kevin Labbe

    My grandfather served and was wounded in action. He rarely spoke of the battle of Leyte gulf. Being a religious man I believe it challenged his beliefs. The horror those men endured.

    Reply
  4. Diana Torres

    Hello. First and foremost I want to thank the brave men who served on the USS Samuel Roberts, in particular during the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944. My father, Raymond A. Torres, served in the Navy during that time but was on entirely different ships including the USS La Valette, The USS Wyoming as well as on the USS Topeka. Throughout his life and up until he died at the age of ninety-three, he repeatedly claimed that he was on the USS Roberts when sunk while the ship {the Roberts} transported him and other members of his own ship to their vessel. Although his DD214 does not list the USS Roberts as one of the service vessels he served on, I may suspect this is true based on the details he provided. Can anyone please provide me an indication of where or how I can confirm that the USS Roberts had on board other sailors {transports} when sunk during battle? One, if not the most convincing indications he was on the ship when sunk were the nightmares, his refusal to get a CT scan because being inside the tunnel-like tube was horrifying, and describing the ship being struck. I would like to thank anyone in advance who can provide me with any information that may lead me to confirm this information. By the way, my father is buried at Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery in San Antonio, Texas alongside the many many courageous men and women who fought to make this country second to none. Diana Torres.

    Reply
  5. Paul Pelejo

    They finally found the USS Samuel B. Roberts in the Philippine Sea! This is great news for the families of the crew. My wife has been praying for this and thank God it was answered! She is the granddaughter of Chief Cook Andres Aguada. He survived the battle but came home wounded. He passed away in 1975, in which my wife was 3 years old. She never knew him, but the stories of her grandmother about him was amazing! I, too am very proud of him, for what he and the crew of USS Sammy has gone through. Our respect and gratitude to them all. Thank you also to Caladan Oceanic for their hard work!

    Reply
  6. anthony wieners

    Happy Holidays to all you veterans , My name is Anthony Wieners. I just recently found out that my biological Father Harold Wieners passed away 2-4 years ago. He was a sailor aboard the USS Samuel B Roberts and wounded in action.
    I currently work at the veterans administration Castle Point Hospital (EMS) dept. I would like to know if there are any of his buddies still alive that can probably give me some information on what kind of man my dad was , ok I know he was a sailor so I wont be shocked, I am also a veteran USARMY .lol

    I would also like (2) extremely large photos of the USS Samuel B Roberts, So that I can have one for my self and also one for my brother Mark Mcgrath who was also Harolds son , there are other children in his family that we are trying to contact.

    These photos of the boat are the only things we can get our hands on if possible to remember our father and all the veterans that served and gave there life so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today. I would like to give the photo to my brother for Christmas , If anyone reading this can help me, I can be reached at the va hospital email ([email protected].

    Reply
  7. larry Osburn

    I have read the last of the tin can sailors. Bothe of my sons have served in the Navy. One is still in and will be for duration of at least 20 years. I Have been and I still am proud and believe that this is one of the greatest moments of the U.S. Navy. I have seen specials and read the history of this event and believe that it may of not changed the outcome of the war in the pacific it represented the ultimate in what our Navy stands for and what our country stands for. I stand in awe of what those who did not come back did and to those that did thank you. I just wish my Sons could meet with true American Hero’s.

    Reply
  8. william d hensley

    my father seaman second class clifton g hensley wounded in action when the samuel b roberts was sunk during the battle of leyte gulf. he like his four brothers all served in combat during ww11. one navy 3 army. two purple hearts. i was 15 when the war ended and expected to hear many stories of thier war experiences. at our family gatherings which were very large. they never discussed their stories. guess this is typical of this generation.. . .

    Reply

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