This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Robert Cox, YNCS
to remember
Copeland, Robert Witcher, RADM USN(Ret).
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Contact Info
Last Address Tacoma, Washington
Date of Passing Aug 25, 1973
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Last Known Activity:
I created this profile of Rear Admiral Copeland as part of my research of the Battle Off Samar. Copeland was the Commanding Officer of USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413).
Enlisted in the Naval Reserve in 1929, he was commissioned as a Naval Reserve officer in 1935.
Copeland practiced law from 1935 until 1940, when he was ordered to active duty during the Navy's pre-World War II expansion.
During the War, he commanded USS Pawtucket (YT-7), USS Black Douglas (PYc-45), USS Wyman (DE-38) and USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE-413).
During the Battle off Samar, October 25, 1944, while commanding Samuel B. Roberts, Lieutenant Commander Copeland led his ship and crew in an attack on a greatly superior Japanese battleship and cruiser force. Though his ship was lost, this action helped defeat the Japanese counter-offensive against the Leyte invasion. For this, he was awarded the Navy Cross.
Following World War II, Copeland resumed his law career while remaining a member of the Naval Reserve, in which he rose to the rank of Rear Admiral.
Robert W. Copeland died at Tacoma, Washington, on August 25, 1973.
USS Copeland (FFG-25) was named in honor of Rear Admiral Robert W. Copeland.
