Harold C. Roberts

Roberts (second from left) with 3rd Defense Battalion Staff.

At the time of Japanese Attack on Pearl Harbor, on December 7, 1941, Roberts served as acting commander of 3rd Defense Battalion in the absence of Colonel Pepper, who was on an observation tour of Higgins Boats near Midway. Roberts was sleeping in his quarters in Honolulu when he was woken up by a telephone call made by the battalion's assistant communication officer, Frederick M. Steinhauser. He was quickly briefed by Steinhauser and jumped into his car with Major Kenneth W. Benner, commanding officer of the battalion's 3-inch antiaircraft group.[5][1]

They drove through the heavy traffic toward Pearl Harbor, witnessing Japanese planes attacking the Navy ships. Roberts reached the Marine Barracks at Pearl Harbor Navy Yard after a twenty minute trip and began organizing the anti-aircraft defense of his battalion. He directed medical personnel to set up dressing stations at each battalion headquarters; organized the precautions in the temporary wooden barracks, placing extinguishers in the front of them, along with shovels, axes and buckets of sand (the latter to deal with incendiary bombs); hose reel and chemical carts placed near the center hydrant near the mess hall; and all possible containers filled with water for both fighting fires and drinking.[5][1]

In addition, he ordered cooks and messmen to prepare coffee and fill every other container on hand with water, and organized riflemen in groups of about 16 to sit on the ground with an officer or non-commissioned officer in charge to direct their fire. He also called for runners from all groups in the battalion and established his command post at the parade ground's south corner, and ordered the almost 150 civilians who had showed up looking for ways to help out to report to the machine gun storeroom and fill ammunition belts and clean weapons. Among other actions, he also instructed the battalion sergeant major to be ready to safeguard important papers from the headquarters barracks. Roberts directed anti-aircraft defense and subsequent fire extinguishing and recommended that the entire 3d Defense Battalion be commended for "their initiative, coolness under fire, and the alacrity with which they emplaced their guns."[5]

Roberts and his battalion then reinforced Midway, Johnston and Palmyra atoll garrisons and was promoted to the temporary rank of lieutenant colonel on May 8, 1942. He ultimately embarked for Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands and took part in the Landing at Tulagi on August 7, 1942. The 3rd Defense Battalion successfully hit three enemy ships that had beached themselves to land troops and repulsed 133 bombing attacks by Japanese planes. Roberts then took part in Battle for Henderson Field at the end of October 1942 and his battalion defended Lunga Point against an enemy counterattack from the sea. He was promoted to temporary colonel on October 30, 1942.[3][1][6]

The 3rd Defense Battalion departed Guadalcanal in February 1943 and arrived to New Zealand, where it was garrisoned near Masterton. Roberts succeeded Colonel Robert H. Pepper as commanding officer, 3rd Defense Battalion on March 15, 1943 and received Legion of Merit with Combat "V" and Navy Presidential Unit Citation for his service on Guadalcanal.[4][3][1]

Roberts returned to the United States in June 1943 and joined the headquarters, Fleet Marine Force, San Diego area. He returned to Pacific area in October 1944 and assumed duty as Chief of Staff of the Artillery, V Amphibious Corps under Brigadier General Thomas E. Bourke. While in this capacity, Roberts took part in the Battle of Leyte in the Philippines.[1][7][8]

Roberts (left) only few days before his death, with commander of 3rd Battalion Clair W. Shisler. Okinawa, June 1945.

In January 1945, Roberts was ordered back to Guadalcanal, now a large supply and training base, where newly established 6th Marine Division under Major General Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr. conducted intensive training for further combat deployment in Pacific. He was attached to the division staff and took part in the preparations of plans and amphibious training for the Okinawa Campaign.[9]

Roberts spent two months on Guadalcanal and embarked for the staging area at Ulithi, a little atoll in the Caroline Islands at the beginning of March 1945. The Sixth Marine Division went ashore on April 1, 1945 and met heavy Japanese resistance, mainly artillery, mortars, machine guns, and snipers. General Shepherd was not satisfied with the progress of 22nd Marine Regiment under Colonel Merlin F. Schneider.[9][1]

General Shepherd thought that Schneider, who served in the Pacific area nonstop since June 1942 needed rest and ordered Roberts to relieve him. Roberts succeeded Schneider on May 17, 1945 after a six weeks of heavy fighting and the first thing he did was establishing of his command post immediately behind front lines. He wanted to demonstrate to his men, that their commander was with them on the front line and also wanted better overview of the tactical situation. He led his regiment during the combats near Naha and the capture of Sugar Loaf Hill. For his service at Sugar Loaf Hill, Roberts received his third Navy Cross.[2][9][10]

On June 18, 1945, the Twenty-Second Marines were participating in the action of Hill 69 and Roberts had been up forward watching the advance of 2nd Battalion with his executive officer, Lieutenant Colonel August Larson, when a sniper opened fire on them. Roberts was hit in the chest and died a few moments later. Larson assumed command of the regiment.[9][1][11]

Colonel Roberts was temporarily buried on Okinawa and later reburied at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California. His wife, Faith Newton Roberts (1900–1972) was buried beside him. They had one daughter, Katherine.[12]

Citation:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Pharmacist's Mate Third Class Harold C. Roberts (NSN: 0-3825), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism while serving as a Corpsman attached to the Fifth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces, in action at the front on the night of 7 June 1918. Pharmacist's Mate Third Class Roberts showed exceptional heroism by volunteering to cross an open field under heavy machine-gun fire to bring in the wounded who were calling for help.[2]

Citation:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Captain Harold C. Roberts (MCSN: 0-3825), United States Marine Corps, for distinguished service in the line of his profession while acting as second in command of the Coco River Expedition in Nuevo Segovia, Nicaragua, between 4 September 1928 and 10 November 1928. Captain Roberts displayed great fortitude and marked ability as a leader in surmounting the countless obstacles which constantly jeopardized the lives and limbs of every member of the command and thereby materially assisted in successfully surmounting twenty-four extremely difficult and dangerous rapids.[2]

Citation:

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting a Second Gold Star in lieu of a Third Award of the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Colonel Harold C. Roberts (MCSN: 0-3825), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism as commanding Officer of the Twenty-Second Marines, SIXTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Okinawa, Ryukyu Islands, 16 June 1945. Preparing for the assault on an enemy-held ridge in which his regiment was making the main effort of a Marine Division, Colonel Roberts established his observation post on a hill about one-half mile from the objective, whence he could see the entire regimental zone of action. When by-passed Japanese pockets of resistance on the hill became active and subjected the observation post to constant, intense mortar, grenade, and small-arms fire, he courageously refused to leave his post but continued at the risk of his life to direct the assault and, by his outstanding leadership and superb coordination and employment of the combat units under his control, was largely responsible for the rapid seizure of the objective by his regiment. While observing the final overpowering of the enemy resistance, he was mortally wounded by hostile rifle fire. His aggressiveness and brilliant combat tactics were major factors in the successful operation of the division, and reflect the highest credit upon Colonel Roberts and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.[2]