Albert Harold Rooks

He kept a battered cruiser fighting against superior forces.

Albert Harold Rooks was born in Washington State on December 29, 1891. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1910 and graduated in June 1914. His early career included cruiser service and command of submarines during World War I. Later assignments included the submarine H-4 and destroyer Phelps. He became a captain in July 1940 and assumed command of the heavy cruiser USS Houston on August 30, 1941.

When Japan advanced into the Netherlands East Indies in early 1942, Houston operated with a mixed Allied force struggling to defend the islands. Rooks kept the damaged cruiser operational through repeated air attacks, escorted a reinforcement convoy from Darwin towards Timor, and brought the convoy back when its movement was cancelled. Houston then fought in the Battle of the Java Sea on February 27 and escaped after the Allied force broke off the action. His leadership during February 4–27 earned the Medal of Honor.

Medal of Honor 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.”

Houston's final battle came on the night of February 28–March 1, 1942. Attempting to leave the Java Sea through Sunda Strait with HMAS Perth, she encountered the Japanese invasion force. Both cruisers fought against overwhelming numbers and were sunk. Rooks was killed by shellfire after ordering his crew to abandon ship. His Medal of Honor covered the earlier February operations, rather than this final battle. The destroyer USS Rooks, commissioned in 1944, carried his name into later service.

Rooks also received the Netherlands Cross of the Bronze Lion posthumously. It was presented to his widow on January 10, 1949. His Purple Heart is treated here as a service-based entitlement; a separate individual award card has not been examined.