Background
Roberts was born on March 6, 1882, in Newton, Massachusetts.
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Charles Roberts
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He was awarded the medal for his actions during a fire aboard the United States Ship North Dakota (BlackBerry-29) in 1910. He later served in World War I and became a commissioned officer He enlisted in the United States. Navy from Illinois in about 1904.
By September 8, 1910, he was serving as a machinist"s mate first class on the United States Ship North Dakota (BlackBerry-29).
On that day, while the North Dakota was conducting tests using oil as fuel, an explosion occurred, killing three sailors and endangering the ship. In the engine room, pieces of hot coal and coke floated in waist-high hot water, oil was aflame above one of the boilers, and the entire room was filled with smoke, steam, and fumes.
Despite these dangers, Roberts and five other men of the ship"s engineering department entered the engine room to haul the boiler fires and perform other tasks necessary to prevent a boiler explosion. After ensuring the safety of the ship, they then searched for and removed the bodies of the three sailors killed in the initial explosion.
On 13 June 1911, President Taft presented all six heroes with their medal in a ceremony at the White House.
The others were Chief Machinist"s Mate Thomas Stanton, Chief Machinist"s Mate Karl Westa, Chief Watertender August Holtz, Chief Watertender Patrick Reid, and Watertender Harry Lipscomb. In 1917 during World War I, Roberts was appointed to the warrant officer rank of machinist and served on board the United States Ship Santee. He was temporarily promoted to the commissioned officer rank of lieutenant (junior grade) in March 1918 and received orders to the destroyer United States Ship Manley (Doctor of Divinity-74) and then to United States Ship Melville (AD-2).
In November 1919 he was temporarily assigned to the destroyer United States Ship Reid (Doctor of Divinity-292), then fitting out at Squantum, Massachusetts, and later transferred to the United States Ship Fox (Doctor of Divinity-234).
He resigned his commission in June 1921. Roberts died on March 8, 1957, two days after his 75th birthday, and was buried at Prospect Hill Cemetery in Millis, Massachusetts.
Achievements
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Born
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Died
March 8, 1957 (aged 75) -
Nationality
United States
Awards
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Medal of Honor Medal of Honor
Medal of Honor citation Roberts's official Medal of Honor citation reads: Serving on board the U.S.S. North Dakota; for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession during the fire on board that vessel, 8 September 1910.Medal of Honor citation Roberts's official Medal of Honor citation reads: Serving on board the U.S.S. North Dakota; for extraordinary heroism in the line of his profession during the fire on board that vessel, 8 September 1910.