The USS Samuel B. Roberts. "The destroyer escort that fought like a battleship."

SFC Mark Merino — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 16:16:22 -0400

If David and Goliath met on the sea..........

The destroyer escort Samuel B. Roberts participated in the Battle off Samar, an unlikely victory in which relatively light U.S. warships prevented a superior Japanese force from attacking the amphibious invasion fleet off the large Philippine island of Leyte. This destroyer escort, along with the handful of destroyers, destroyer escorts, and escort carriers of the unit called "Taffy 3", was inadvertently left alone to fend off a fleet of heavily armed Japanese battleships, cruisers, and destroyers in this crucial action off the Island of Samar, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf of October 1944. Steaming aggressively through a gauntlet of incoming shells, Samuel B. Roberts scored one torpedo hit and numerous gunfire hits as she slugged it out with larger enemy warships before finally being sunk. After the battle, Samuel B. Roberts received the nickname "the destroyer escort that fought like a battleship."

(Emphasis on video minutes 12-20)

This amazing story represents more than the warrior ethos, it is also a testament to the strength that is found within all of us, if we look deep enough. When any situation is beating us down, never give up. Dig deep and endeavor to persevere.

Do you have any examples of beating the odds and persevering?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cSB0cQojnd4&list=PLQgGe4SWNGUlsE2ALeIpii0QDdivE2NxB&index=6

WW2: Destroyer Escort USS Samuel B. Roberts DE-413

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Samuel_B._Roberts_(DE-413)

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Apr 28 at 2015 5:59 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 17:59:43 -0400

This is one story I'd love to see made into a movie. The Sammy B was never built to fight in a battle line....but she did anyways. She fought with everything she had, expending nearly ALL of her ammo before she was sent to the bottom. The Tin Can Sailors of Taffy 3 are a credit to the naval services.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Apr 28 at 2015 6:26 PM

SGT Richard H. — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 18:26:44 -0400

This has long been one of my favorite examples of beating the odds and persevering...this is the MoH citation of MSG Roy P. Benavidez:

Master Sergeant (then Staff Sergeant) Roy P. Benavidez United States Army, who distinguished himself by a series of daring and extremely valorous actions on 2 May 1968 while assigned to Detachment B56, 5th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 1st Special Forces, Republic of Vietnam. On the morning of 2 May 1968, a 12-man Special Forces Reconnaissance Team was inserted by helicopters in a dense jungle area west of Loc Ninh, Vietnam to gather intelligence information about confirmed large-scale enemy activity. This area was controlled and routinely patrolled by the North Vietnamese Army. After a short period of time on the ground, the team met heavy enemy resistance, and requested emergency extraction. Three helicopters attempted extraction, but were unable to land due to intense enemy small arms and anti-aircraft fire. Sergeant Benavidez was at the Forward Operating Base in Loc Ninh monitoring the operation by radio when these helicopters returned to off-load wounded crewmembers and to assess aircraft damage. Sergeant Benavidez voluntarily boarded a returning aircraft to assist in another extraction attempt. Realizing that all the team members were either dead or wounded and unable to move to the pickup zone, he directed the aircraft to a nearby clearing where he jumped from the hovering helicopter, and ran approximately 75 meters under withering small arms fire to the crippled team. Prior to reaching the team's position he was wounded in his right leg, face, and head. Despite these painful injuries, he took charge, repositioning the team members and directing their fire to facilitate the landing of an extraction aircraft, and the loading of wounded and dead team members. He then threw smoke canisters to direct the aircraft to the team's position. Despite his severe wounds and under intense enemy fire, he carried and dragged half of the wounded team members to the awaiting aircraft. He then provided protective fire by running alongside the aircraft as it moved to pick up the remaining team members. As the enemy's fire intensified, he hurried to recover the body and classified documents on the dead team leader. When he reached the leader's body, Sergeant Benavidez was severely wounded by small arms fire in the abdomen and grenade fragments in his back. At nearly the same moment, the aircraft pilot was mortally wounded, and his helicopter crashed. Although in extremely critical condition due to his multiple wounds, Sergeant Benavidez secured the classified documents and made his way back to the wreckage, where he aided the wounded out of the overturned aircraft, and gathered the stunned survivors into a defensive perimeter. Under increasing enemy automatic weapons and grenade fire, he moved around the perimeter distributing water and ammunition to his weary men, reinstilling in them a will to live and fight. Facing a buildup of enemy opposition with a beleaguered team, Sergeant Benavidez mustered his strength, began calling in tactical air strikes and directed the fire from supporting gunships to suppress the enemy's fire and so permit another extraction attempt. He was wounded again in his thigh by small arms fire while administering first aid to a wounded team member just before another extraction helicopter was able to land. His indomitable spirit kept him going as he began to ferry his comrades to the craft. On his second trip with the wounded, he was clubbed from additional wounds to his head and arms before killing his adversary. He then continued under devastating fire to carry the wounded to the helicopter. Upon reaching the aircraft, he spotted and killed two enemy soldiers who were rushing the craft from an angle that prevented the aircraft door gunner from firing upon them. With little strength remaining, he made one last trip to the perimeter to ensure that all classified material had been collected or destroyed, and to bring in the remaining wounded. Only then, in extremely serious condition from numerous wounds and loss of blood, did he allow himself to be pulled into the extraction aircraft. Sergeant Benavidez' gallant choice to join voluntarily his comrades who were in critical straits, to expose himself constantly to withering enemy fire, and his refusal to be stopped despite numerous severe wounds, saved the lives of at least eight men. His fearless personal leadership, tenacious devotion to duty, and extremely valorous actions in the face of overwhelming odds were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service, and reflect the utmost credit on him and the United States Army.

Response by SGT Richard H. made Apr 28 at 2015 6:28 PM

SGT Richard H. — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 18:28:07 -0400

Great story, Thanks for the tag!

Response by SPC Charles Brown made Apr 28 at 2015 7:01 PM

SPC Charles Brown — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 19:01:27 -0400

It is stuff like this that is why I joined the military. Just being part of the military "family" is reason enough to be proud of what we have all accomplished since the foundation of this great nation. It is my hope that these fine men are resting in peace surrounded by their loved ones. This holds true for all service members and veterans today and into the future.

Response by LT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2015 7:17 PM

LT Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 19:17:41 -0400

Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors has more exploits of Taffy 3. It's also one of my favorite Naval History books and one that I would recommend to any military history buff!

Response by SFC Mark Merino made Apr 28 at 2015 7:52 PM

SFC Mark Merino — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 19:52:15 -0400

This is the battle as recorded by ships logs and video.

https://youtu.be/UY-rnUEpIgY

Battle off Samar near the island of Leyte in the Philippines, during World War 2. HD Stock...

Link to order this clip: http://www.criticalpast.com/video/65675029339_Battle-off-Samar_naval-battle_dive-bombers_USS-Johnston_USS-Gambier-Bay Historic Stock...

Response by GySgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 28 at 2015 8:49 PM

GySgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 28 Apr 2015 20:49:58 -0400

The whole battle itself is truly remarkable. My personal attachment to it is my grandfather, who was crew chief on the USS Gambier Bay. The only carrier sunk by Japanese Naval gun fire. He floated in the pacific on some debris for approximately 50+ hours before being plucked out of the ocean and woke up in a hospital 12 days later in Australia. He passed away 2 years ago. I am glad to of heard all the stories in person. I also have his own person written account of the battle. He was my inspiration. The greatest generation.

Response by CMDCM Gene Treants made Apr 29 at 2015 1:36 PM

CMDCM Gene Treants — Wed, 29 Apr 2015 13:36:03 -0400

The battle in which Roberts was sunk was a part of the Battle of Leyte Gulf. This was one of the few times Admiral Halsey was fooled and as a result, the Amphibious Force invading the Island could have been lost if not for the heroic action of the few ships left behind. The Japanese strategy called for the Northern Force, a weak Carrier Group, to lure away the majority of the 3rd Fleet, a strategy that worked well. The landing force, basically stripped of most air and sea power was left as targets for the much more powerful Japanese forces.

The valiant actions of Roberts and other ships in Taffy 3 made the difference in defeat and victory. American Sailors came through and the entire Battle of Leyte Gulf was a victory for American Forces. More on this interesting story at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_off_Samar

Battle off Samar - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Battle off Samar was the centermost action of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, one of the largest naval battles in history, which took place in the Philippine Sea off Samar Island, in the Philippines on October 25, 1944. As the only major action in the larger battle where the Americans were largely unprepared against the opposing forces, it has been cited by historians as one of the greatest military mismatches in naval history.[2]