TFH 2/27: Captain Albert Harold Rooks, USN and the crew of the USS Houston (CA-30)

The early days of 1942 in the Pacific were dark ones for the United States, marked by defeat and retreat. The Battle of the Java Sea and the Battle of Sunda Strait were two such actions that had disasterous results for our Nation and our allies, but even within such calamity the best of America was on display in the heavy cruiser USS Houston (CA-30) and her courageous commanding officer, Captain Albert Harold Rooks. From Medal of Honor Citations for World War II:

*ROOKS, ALBERT HAROLD

Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Navy. Born: 29 December 1891, Colton, Wash. Appointed from: Washington. Citation: for extraordinary heroism, outstanding courage, gallantry in action and distinguished service in the line of his profession, as commanding officer of the U.S.S. Houston during the period 4 to 27 February 1942, while in action with superior Japanese enemy aerial and surface forces. While proceeding to attack an enemy amphibious expedition, as a unit in a mixed force, Houston was heavily attacked by bombers; after evading 4 attacks, she was heavily hit in a fifth attack, lost 60 killed and had 1 turret wholly disabled. Capt. Rooks made his ship again seaworthy and sailed within 3 days to escort an important reinforcing convoy from Darwin to Koepang, Timor, Netherlands East Indies. While so engaged, another powerful air attack developed which by Houston's marked efficiency was fought off without much damage to the convoy. The commanding general of all forces in the area thereupon canceled the movement and Capt. Rooks escorted the convoy back to Darwin. Later, while in a considerable American-British-Dutch force engaged with an overwhelming force of Japanese surface ships, Houston with H.M.S. Exeter carried the brunt of the battle, and her fire alone heavily damaged 1 and possibly 2 heavy cruisers. Although heavily damaged in the actions, Capt. Rooks succeeded in disengaging his ship when the flag officer commanding broke off the action and got her safely away from the vicinity, whereas one-half of the cruisers were lost.

USS Houston was sunk by the Imperial Japanese Navy early on February 28, 1942 with the loss of 693 members of her 1,061 crew. The Austrailian light cruiser HMAS Perth was also sunk with great loss of life. Captain Rooks lost his life to enemy fire shortly before the Houston succumbed.

The ship's chaplain, Commander George S. Rentz, was awarded the Navy Cross for his own heroic actions that cost him his life and was the sole Navy chaplain so honored during the war. The Houston and her crew were honored with the Presidential Unit Citation - regarded as the unit equivalent of the Navy Cross.

Of the 368 survivors of the Houston, a further seventy-seven men perished under the custody of the Japanese as prisoners of war.

We are forever greatful for the courage of these brave Americans - Captain Rooks, Commander Rentz, and the crew of the USS Houston - and we will never forget their service and sacrifice.

This was their finest hour.