Nicaraguan CampaignYangtze PatrolWorld War II Harold Cyrus Roberts (October 1, 1898 – June 18, 1945) was a highly decorated officer in the United States Marine Corps with the rank of colonel.

He participated in the Battle of Belleau Wood and distinguished himself on the night of June 7, 1918, when as a Pharmacist's Mate Third Class he 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.

Roberts was transferred to 2nd Marine Brigade in January 1928 and ordered to Nicaragua, where he participated in the jungle patrols against Sandino bandits in Nueva Segovia Department.

[2][1] In July 1929, Roberts returned to the United States and assumed duty at Marine Barracks, Parris Island, South Carolina, where he served until June 1930.

He was subsequently attached to the Marine detachment aboard the newly commissioned cruiser USS Houston and sailed for the Far East, where he participated in the patrol cruises off the coast of Shanghai, China.

[1] Following the outbreak of the hostilities between China and Japan, Roberts was transferred to the 4th Marine Regiment in June 1931 and served at Shanghai International Settlement until December 1933, when he returned to the United States.

[3][4][1] 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 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.

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.

[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.

[9][1][11] Here is the ribbon bar of Colonel Roberts:[2] 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.

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.

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.