Samuel B. Roberts (sailor)

Samuel B. Roberts was a United States Navy sailor, whose valor at the Battle of Guadalcanal was recognized with a posthumous Navy Cross.

For extraordinary heroism as member of the crew of a Higgins boat assisting in the rescue of a group of marines surrounded by enemy Japanese forces on a beachhead on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on September 27, 1942. Although he knew that his boat was to be used for the purpose of drawing enemy fire away from other craft evacuating the trapped marines, Roberts, with utter disregard for his own personal safety, volunteered as member of the crew, with his lightly armored boat stationed in an exposed position, he gallantly remained at his post until, at the close of operations, he was wounded by enemy fire. By his great valor and fearless devotion to duty he contributed directly to the success of his mission, saving the lives of many who otherwise might have perished.

Three Navy warships have honored his name.

• USS Samuel B. Roberts (DD-413) [r]: U.S. Navy destroyer escort, sunk at the Action off Samar while exchanging gunfire with the Japanese battleship IJN Kongo ^[e]
• USS Samuel B. Roberts (DD-823) [r]: Destroyer of the United States Navy, in service between 1946 and 1970, participating in the Suez Crisis, Cuban Missile Crisis and Vietnam War ^[e]
• USS Samuel B. Roberts (FFG-58) [r]: United States Navy frigate of the Oliver Hazard Perry-class, commissioned 12 April 1986, heavily damaged by an Iranian mine on 14 April 1988 ^[e]