Charles Church Roberts
Encyclopedia
Charles Church Roberts was a United States Navy
sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor
. He was awarded the medal for his actions during a fire aboard the in 1910. He later served in World War I
and became a commissioned officer.
. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy from Illinois
in about 1904.
By September 8, 1910, he was serving as a machinist's mate
first class
on the . On that day, while the North Dakota was conducting tests using oil
as fuel, an explosion occurred, killing three sailors and endangering the ship. In the engine room
, pieces of hot coal
and coke
floated in waist-high hot water, oil was aflame above one of the boiler
s, and the entire room was filled with smoke, steam, and fumes. Despite these dangers, Roberts and five other men of the ship's engineering department entered the engine room to haul the boiler fires and perform other tasks necessary to prevent a boiler explosion
. After ensuring the safety of the ship, they then searched for and removed the bodies of the three sailors killed in the initial explosion.
For these actions, Roberts and the five other men were awarded the Medal of Honor a month later, on October 4. The others were Chief Machinist's Mate Thomas Stanton, Chief Machinist's Mate Karl Westa
, Chief Watertender August Holtz, Chief Watertender Patrick Reid, and Watertender Harry Lipscomb
.
In 1917, during World War I
, Roberts was appointed to the warrant officer
rank of machinist and served on board the . He was temporarily promoted to the commissioned officer rank of lieutenant (junior grade) in March 1918 and received orders to the destroyer and then to . In November 1919 he was temporarily assigned to the destroyer , then fitting out at Squantum, Massachusetts, and later transferred to the . He resigned his commission in June 1921.
Roberts died on March 8, 1957, two days after his 75th birthday, and was buried at Prospect Hill Cemetery
in Millis, Massachusetts
.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
sailor and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor
The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
. He was awarded the medal for his actions during a fire aboard the in 1910. He later served in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and became a commissioned officer.
Biography
Roberts was born on March 6, 1882, in Newton, MassachusettsNewton, Massachusetts
Newton is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States bordered to the east by Boston. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the population of Newton was 85,146, making it the eleventh largest city in the state.-Villages:...
. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy from Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
in about 1904.
By September 8, 1910, he was serving as a machinist's mate
Machinist's Mate
Machinist's Mate is a rating in the United States Navy's engineering community.- Description :According to the Bureau of Naval Personnel , the job of an MM is to "operate, maintain, and repair ship propulsion machinery, auxiliary equipment, and outside machinery, such as: steering engine,...
first class
Petty Officer First Class
Good conductvariation,12 years or moreof good conductPetty officerfirst classinsigniaU.S. Navy &U.S. Coast GuardPetty officer, first class is the sixth enlisted rank in the U.S. Navy and U.S...
on the . On that day, while the North Dakota was conducting tests using oil
Oil
An oil is any substance that is liquid at ambient temperatures and does not mix with water but may mix with other oils and organic solvents. This general definition includes vegetable oils, volatile essential oils, petrochemical oils, and synthetic oils....
as fuel, an explosion occurred, killing three sailors and endangering the ship. In the engine room
Engine room
On a ship, the engine room, or ER, commonly refers to the machinery spaces of a vessel. To increase the safety and damage survivability of a vessel, the machinery necessary for operations may be segregated into various spaces, the engine room is one of these spaces, and is generally the largest...
, pieces of hot coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
and coke
Coke (fuel)
Coke is the solid carbonaceous material derived from destructive distillation of low-ash, low-sulfur bituminous coal. Cokes from coal are grey, hard, and porous. While coke can be formed naturally, the commonly used form is man-made.- History :...
floated in waist-high hot water, oil was aflame above one of the boiler
Boiler
A boiler is a closed vessel in which water or other fluid is heated. The heated or vaporized fluid exits the boiler for use in various processes or heating applications.-Materials:...
s, and the entire room was filled with smoke, steam, and fumes. Despite these dangers, Roberts and five other men of the ship's engineering department entered the engine room to haul the boiler fires and perform other tasks necessary to prevent a boiler explosion
Boiler explosion
A boiler explosion is a catastrophic failure of a boiler. As seen today, boiler explosions are of two kinds. One kind is over-pressure in the pressure parts of the steam and water sides. The second kind is explosion in the furnace. Boiler explosions of pressure parts are particularly associated...
. After ensuring the safety of the ship, they then searched for and removed the bodies of the three sailors killed in the initial explosion.
For these actions, Roberts and the five other men were awarded the Medal of Honor a month later, on October 4. The others were Chief Machinist's Mate Thomas Stanton, Chief Machinist's Mate Karl Westa
Karl Westa
-External links:...
, Chief Watertender August Holtz, Chief Watertender Patrick Reid, and Watertender Harry Lipscomb
Harry Lipscomb
-External links:...
.
In 1917, during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Roberts was appointed to the warrant officer
Warrant Officer
A warrant officer is an officer in a military organization who is designated an officer by a warrant, as distinguished from a commissioned officer who is designated an officer by a commission, or from non-commissioned officer who is designated an officer by virtue of seniority.The rank was first...
rank of machinist and served on board the . He was temporarily promoted to the commissioned officer rank of lieutenant (junior grade) in March 1918 and received orders to the destroyer and then to . In November 1919 he was temporarily assigned to the destroyer , then fitting out at Squantum, Massachusetts, and later transferred to the . He resigned his commission in June 1921.
Roberts died on March 8, 1957, two days after his 75th birthday, and was buried at Prospect Hill Cemetery
Prospect Hill Cemetery (Millis, Massachusetts)
Prospect Hill Cemetery is a historic cemetery at Auburn Road in Millis, Massachusetts.The cemetery was founded in 1714 and added to the National Historic Register in 2006. Among those buried in the cemetery are politician Christian Herter, who served as U.S. Secretary of State and Governor of...
in Millis, Massachusetts
Millis, Massachusetts
Millis is a town in Norfolk County in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It is a small town with a population of 7,891 according to the 2010 census. The town is approximately southwest of downtown Boston and is bordered by Norfolk, Sherborn, Holliston, Medfield, and Medway...
.
Medal of Honor citation
Roberts's official Medal of Honor citation reads:Serving on board the U.S.S. North Dakota; for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession during the fire on board that vessel, 8 September 1910.
See also
- List of Medal of Honor recipients during peacetime