If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Home Town Portsmouth, N.H.
Last Address Annapolis, MD
Date of Passing Jul 18, 1989
Location of Interment U.S. Naval Academy Cemetery and Columbarium (VLM) - Annapolis, Maryland
Wall/Plot Coordinates 03 0343
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Other Comments:
Navy Cross
Awarded for Actions During World War II
Service: Navy
Division: U.S.S. Smith (DD-378)
General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 317 (August 1943)
Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Lieutenant Commander Robert Alfred Theobald, Jr., United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of this profession as Executive Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. SMITH (DD-378), during the engagement with enemy Japanese forces north of the Santa Cruz Islands on 26 October 1942. When a flaming Japanese plane crashed on the forecastle of his ship, its torpedo exploding, Lieutenant Commander Theobald gallantly led a fire party to the scene despite fierce aerial attacks, finally extinguished the blaze, thereby enabling his ship to maintain her station in a carrier's screen. The conduct of Lieutenant Commander Theobald throughout this action reflects great credit upon himself, and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
Robert Alfred Theobald Jr., 78, a retired Navy captain who was decorated in World War II and later became executive director of the Naval Academy Foundation, died July 18 1989 at Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis after a stroke. He lived in Annapolis.
Capt. Theobald was a native of Portsmouth, N.H., and moved to Annapolis as a child. He was a 1931 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy.
Captain Theobald graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1931. While at the Academy he was active in wrestling and won the championship in the 115-pound class. After leaving the Academy he went to fleet.
He served aboard the battleships USS Maryland (BB-46) and USS New Mexico (BB-40). Captain Theobald served on following destroyers: USS Dale (DD-353), USS Rodgers (DD-254), USS Chew (DD-106), and the USS Porter (DD-356).
While serving as Executive Officer of USS Smith (DD-378), which he subsequently commanded for one year, LCDR Theobald was en route into Pearl Harbor on the morning of December 7, 1941, and witnessed the initial Japanese attack. His wife, children, and parents were at Pearl Harbor at the time. The ship passing Pearl Harbor continued into action in Pacific waters and for essentially all of WW 2 he served on destroyers.
He was in the Pacific continuously with the single exception of a six-month period when he put the destroy USS John W. Weeks in commission on 21 July 1944.
At the end of the war he was Chief Staff Officer to Commander Task Flotilla Three in the USS Flint (CLAA-97). He was then assigned to Newport Naval Base, on the staff on the Line School and to the staff of Commander Destroyers, U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Later, he spends time in Norfolk as Commander Destroyer Division Forty-Two.
He assumed command of the attack transport, USS Randall (APA-224) in 1954, followed by duty in the Strategic Plans Division of the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, then as Commander of Destroyer Flotilla Five based in Hawaii. His final active duty was as Deputy U.S. Naval Representative to the Military Staff Committee of the United Nations
Captain Theobald?s decorations included the Navy Cross, Silver Star, and Bronze Star with Combat V, Letter of Commendation, and various area service ribbons, including the Asiatic-Pacific with seven Campaign Stars.
During World War II, he was executive officer, and later commanding officer, of the USS Smith and commanding officer of the USS Weeks, two Pacific destroyers*.
For his efforts to save the USS Smith and its crew after a Japanese attack he was awarded the Navy Cross.
He then served on battleships in the Pacific and taught marine engineering at Annapolis during his early career.
Note* 1942-1943, USS Smith (DD-378) 1944-1945, USS John W. Weeks (DD-701)
