USS HOEL (DD 533), USS JOHNSTON (DD 557), & USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS (DE 413) Memorial Monument

USS HOEL (DD 533),
USS JOHNSTON (DD 557)
& USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS (DE 413)
MEMORIAL MONUMENT

"IN EVERLASTING MEMORY"

INSCRIBED HERE ARE THE NAMES OF 525 MEN WHO DIED
IN THE BATTLE OF LEYTE GULF DURING THE LIBERATION
OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS ON 25 OCT 44. THEIR
SHIPS, THE DESTROYERS USS JOHNSTON DD-557 AND
USS HOEL DD-533 AND THE DESTROYER ESCORT USS
SAMUEL B. ROBERTS DE-413, WERE SUNK WHILE
FIGHTING A VASTLY SUPERIOR ENEMY FORCE OF FOUR
BATTLESHIPS, EIGHT CRUISERS AND ELEVEN DESTROYERS
IN WHAT WAS TO BE THE LAST AND LONGEST SURFACE
BATTLE OF WORLD WAR II.

MAY THE NAMES AND SACRIFICE THESE BRAVE MEN MADE
BE FOREVER REMEMBERED. THEIR FAMILIES, SHIPMATES
AND FRIENDS GRATEFULLY AND LOVINGLY DEDICATE THIS
MEMORIAL IN THEIR HONOR.

WE WON'T FORGET

This beautiful monument, dedicated to the officers and men of USS HOEL (DD 533), USS JOHNSTON (DD 557), and USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS (DE 413), is located at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, Point Loma, San Diego, California. It was erected in 1995. All three vessels were lost while protecting the escort carriers of Taffy III on October 25, 1944.

Memorial Service and Monument Dedication

A formal dedication ceremony by the survivors of USS SAMUEL B. ROBERTS was held on October 25, 1995. The survivors of USS HOEL/JOHNSTON dedicated their portion of the monument on Friday, October 25, 1996.

WE WON'T FORGET

These defending escorts lost 525 men, in a valiant effort to protect the ships of Task Unit 77.4.3.

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Honor the Missing in Action and Killed in Action of Taffy III

We do remember. We won't forget.