Rooks, Albert Harold, CAPT

During the Battle of Sunda Strait, the USS Houston (CA-30) was attempting to sail through the narrow strait, when just after midnight on March 1, 1952, she was spotted and surrounded by multiple Japanese warships. Despite intelligence reports that there were no enemy ships in the area, the cruiser found herself in a desperate battle against an entire Japanese battle fleet.

The ship was hit by four torpedoes and close-range gunfire until she rolled over and sank and 1,061 crewmen were lost. CAPT Rooks was listed as missing in action and later declared dead.

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

Medal of Honor
Awarded for Actions During World War II
Service: Navy
Division: U.S.S. Houston (CA-30)
Citation:
"The President of the United States of America, in the name of Congress, takes pride in presenting the Medal of Honor (Posthumously) to Captain Albert Harold Rooks (NSN: 0-8625), United States Navy, 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 (CA-30), during the period 4 to 27 February 1942, while in action with superior Japanese enemy aerial and surface forces in the Netherlands East Indies.
...
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 one turret wholly disabled. Captain Rooks made his ship again seaworthy and sailed within three 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 Captain Rooks escorted the convoy back to Darwin.
...
Later, while with 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."