For Crew and Country: The Inspirational True Story of Bravery and Sacrifice Aboard the USS Samuel B. Roberts

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.

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 option. The Roberts and her sisters fought a running gun duel with the Japanese ships while using smoke screens to conceal themselves and the vulnerable escort carriers from the Japanese. Although facing almost impossible odds, the Roberts and her sisters never hesitated in attacking the Japanese. Hits were scored on Japanese ships with torpedoes and 5-inch shells.Eventually, luck would run out for the Roberts, as enemy shells finally found the range and sank her. But, she and her sisters had done what they set out to do. Almost unbelievably, the Japanese fleet, assured of breaking through and smashing the transports, turned around and left the area. Taffy 3's escort carriers, minus the USS Gambier Bay, would survive to fight another day.Despite their victory over the Japanese, the survivors of the Roberts would spend 50 hours in shark-infested waters before finally being rescued."For Crew and Country" is a fantastic book. Author John Wukovits, as in his fine previous books, has done a masterful job of describing one of World War II's greatest moments. He begins with the construction of the Roberts and gives the reader an intimate look at her crew and how, in a short period of time, they melded into a fine fighting group. I've read many of Mr. Wukovits' previous books, so I knew I was in for an excellent and informative read. I especially liked reading about the crew's experiences while waiting to be rescued. The story was so vivid that it almost felt like being in the midst of the men in the water. I also learned a great deal about the men themselves.I give "For Crew and Country" my highest recommendation. This book does an excellent job of telling the story of one heroic ship and crew and how they unselfishly placed themselves in harm's way to protect their fellow sailors.

This is the story of a crew of very young men, most under 20 years old, assigned to a U.S. Navy destroyer escort during a period of some of the fiercest fighting in the Pacific in World War II. A destroyer escort was never intended or designed to fight other ships, but rather to protect convoys and aircraft carriers from submarines and enemy aircraft. Its guns were small, sufficient only to fight submarines that had surfaced. Sent to participate in the Leyte Gulf invasion of the Philippines the USS Samuel B. Roberts was assigned to escort and protect small aircraft carriers participating in the landings.First and foremost this is a story about the crew, from the captain to the lowest boilerman in the engine room, and about their families back home. It is about their backgrounds, their dreams and their lives aside from the Navy. It is about how they bonded together as a crew, suddenly faced with the prospect of having to go to war.The action, which comes well into the book, centers around what came to be called the Battle of Samar. Admiral Halsey with his fleet of attack aircraft carriers was lured off station by a Japanese stratagem that left the U.S. landing forces at the mercy of the most powerful force of Japanese warships ever assembled, including the largest battleship in the world, the Yamato. The actions of the men of the Roberts who turned directly into the face of this powerful force and charged with all guns firing, with other small destroyers and destroyer escorts, is one that needs to told and remembered. The USS Roberts was sunk in the action, and ultimately some 90 men were lost,, but the Japanese attack on the U.S. landing force was broken and the Japanese Navy withdrew. But this is not so much a story about battle and tactics, it is a story of how very ordinary men, rose to exhibit extraordinary character and courage. It is about why the generation of our fathers, grandfathers, and for some, great-grandfathers, who answered the call to protect our country in a time of war really do deserve the title "the greatest generation."

My father rode a DE from Hawaii back to San Diego as a LTJG and told me 20 years later it was the roughest ride he ever had while on active duty during WW2.

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 well as their exploits in fighting their ship.Whether or not you've read about the Battle of Leyte Gulf, this book gives a more detailed insight into a ship that was there, a ship that is now a proud part of US naval history. I found the book very readable, informative and in places quite moving. I recommend it.

great read a real detailed history of the short life of USS Samuel Roberts

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