For more than 77 years, Sammy B. had been missing in action.
The USS Samuel B. Roberts, a U.S. Navy destroyer escort, was lost in an incredible act of bravery in World War II in the Philippines in October of 1944. Last week, it was found on the ocean floor, more than four miles down, broken into two pieces.
In Bradford, the Sammy B. and its story of heroism, bravery and sacrifice are remembered along with one of its crew — the late Vincent Goodrich.
He was a teenage sonarman during the largest sea battle of World War II in the Philippines. And he was one of 120 from the 224-man crew to have survived the sinking of the ship — and the 50 hours in lifeboats and in the ocean until they were rescued.
Goodrich, who passed away in 2006, had been a member of a group of survivors from the ship, the USS Samuel B. Roberts Survivors Association.
“It is just an incredible story,” said Steve Appleby, curator of the Eldred World War II Museum.
The shipwreck is the deepest to ever be discovered at 22,916 feet, which is 1,400 feet deeper than the USS Johnston, the previously recorded deepest wreck, discovered last year in the Philippine Sea by the same man — American explorer Victor Vescovo, founder of Dallas-based Caladan Oceanic Expeditions. He announced the latest find together with U.K.-based EYOS Expeditions.
“It was an extraordinary honor to locate this incredibly famous ship, and by doing so have the chance to retell her story of heroism and duty to those who may not know of the ship and her crew’s sacrifice,” Vescovo, a former Navy commander, said in a statement.
The Sammy B. took part in the Battle off Samar, the final phase of the Battle of Leyte Gulf in October 1944, in which the Imperial Japanese Navy suffered its biggest loss of ships and failed to dislodge the U.S. forces from Leyte, which they invaded earlier as part of the liberation of the Philippines.
According to some records, the destroyer escort disabled a Japanese heavy cruiser with a torpedo and significantly damaged another while battling the group led by the command battleship Yamato. After having spent virtually all its ammunition, it was critically hit by the battleship Kongo and sank. Of a 224-man crew, 89 died and 120 were saved, including the captain, Lt. Cmdr. Robert W. Copeland.
“It was a complete David and Goliath story,” said Appleby.
Vescovo posted information and photos on his Twitter page from the discovery.
The U.S. Navy posted a press release regarding the discovery of the ship.
“USS Samuel B. Roberts was lost in one of the most valiant actions in the history of the U.S. Navy,” said Naval History and Heritage Command Director Samuel Cox, a retired rear admiral. “The gallantry of her crew serves to inspire U.S. Navy personnel today, knowing they are entrusted with upholding the legacy and example of this ship and crew.”
Now that USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE 413) has been positively identified, the wreck site is considered a Department of the Navy sunken military craft protected from unauthorized disturbance by the Sunken Military Craft Act (SMCA). Violations of the SMCA can carry penalties of up to $100,000 a day, confiscation of the vessel used to disturb the sunken military craft and liability for damages caused. Permission to disturb U.S. Navy sunken military craft for archaeological, historical or educational purposes is sought from the Naval History and Heritage Command. There are no plans to disturb USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE 413).
“The site of the wreck marks the location of a hallowed war grave,” Cox added. “It serves to remind all Americans of the great cost born by previous generations for the freedom we should not take for granted today.”
