Thanks to :

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

USS HOUSTON CA 30

“The galloping Ghost of the Java Coast”

Captain Albert H. Rooks, USN, (1891-1942)

Albert Harold Rooks was born in Colton, Washington, on 29 December 1891. He entered the U.S. Naval Academy in 1910 and was commissioned in the rank of ensign upon graduation in June 1914. During the next seven years, among them the First World War years of 1917-18, he served in several ships and commanded the submarines A-5, F-2 and H-4. In 1921, Lieutenant Rooks joined the staff of the Twelfth Naval District, at San Francisco, California, remaining there until 1925, the year he was promoted to Lieutenant Commander. He next spent three years on board the battleship New Mexico, followed by duty at the U.S. Naval Academy. In 1930, he helped commission the new cruiser Northampton and served in her until 1933, when he returned to the Naval Academy for a second tour.

In February 1936 Commander Rooks placed the new destroyer Phelps in commission and remained as her Commanding Officer until 1938. His next assignment was as a student at the Naval War College, and, upon completion of his studies, he served on that institution's staff. He was promoted to the rank of Captain in June 1940, while still at the War College. In 1941 Rooks took command of the heavy cruiser Houston (CA-30), flagship of the Asiatic Fleet. He took his ship through the painfully difficult first three months of the Pacific War, when the Asiatic Fleet and its British and Dutch counterparts fought desperately against an overwhelming Japanese onslaught into Southeast Asia, the Philippines and the East Indies. Both Houston and her gallant Commanding Officer were lost in the Battle of Sunda Strait, on 28 February - 1 March 1942. For his courage and professionalism during the Netherlands East Indies Campaign, Captain Rooks was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.

The destroyer USS Rooks (DD-804), 1944-1962, was named in honor of Captain Rooks.

This page features all our views of Captain Albert H. Rooks, USN.

If you want higher resolution reproductions than the "Online Library's" digital images, see: "How to Obtain Photographic Reproductions."

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 97916 Captain Albert H. Rooks, USN Photograph taken circa 1940. This view was released by the Bureau of Personnel on 14 October 1966. Official U.S. Navy Photograph, from the collections of the Naval Historical Center. Online Image: 84KB; 590 x 765 pixels
Photo #: NH 93157 Captain Albert H. Rooks, USN, Commanding Officer, USS Houston (CA-30) Photographed circa 1940-1941. Courtesy of Otto Schwartz, USS Houston Association, 1982. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 43KB; 490 x 765 pixels
Photo #: NH 50778 Twelfth Naval District Headquarters, San Francisco, California Officers of the headquarters staff, December 1923. Those present are identified in Photo # NH 50778 (Complete Caption). U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 585 pixels
Photo #: NH 93156 Captain Albert H. Rooks, USN, Commanding Officer, USS Houston (CA-30) Inspecting his ship's crew, circa 1940-1941. Courtesy of Otto Schwartz, USS Houston Association, 1982. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 84KB; 585 x 765 pixels
Photo #: NH 93158 Captain Albert H. Rooks, USN, Commanding Officer, USS Houston (CA-30) Inspecting his ship's band, circa 1940-1941. Courtesy of Otto Schwartz, USS Houston Association, 1982. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 100KB; 580 x 765 pixels

Medal of Honor citation of Captain Albert Harold Rooks (as printed in the official publication "Medal of Honor, 1861-1949, The Navy", page 251):

"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 four attacks, she was heavily hit in a fifth attack, lost 60 killed and had 1 turret wholly disabled. Captain 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 cancelled the movement and Captain 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 one and possibly two heavy cruisers. Although heavily damaged in the actions, Captain 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."