Albert Rooks | |
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Captain Albert H. Rooks, USN, Commanding Officer, USS Houston (CA-30), circa 1940–1941.
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Born |
Colton, Washington |
December 29, 1891
Died | March 1, 1942 Sunda Strait, Netherlands East Indies |
(aged 50)
Place of burial | At sea |
Allegiance | United States of America |
Service/branch | United States Navy |
Years of service | 1914–1942 |
Rank | Captain |
Commands held | USS Houston |
Battles/wars | |
Awards |
Medal of Honor Purple Heart Military William Order (Knight 4th Class) |
Albert Harold Rooks (December 29, 1891 – March 1, 1942) was a captain in the United States Navy who posthumously received the Medal of Honor during World War II.
Albert Harold Rooks was born in Colville, Washington, on December 29, 1891. He entered the United States Naval Academy as a midshipman July 13, 1910, and was commissioned in the rank of ensign upon graduation on June 6, 1914. During the next seven years, among them the First World War years of 1917–18, he served in several ships, including USS West Virginia (ACR-5), USS St. Louis (C-20). He commanded the submarines USS Pike (SS-6), USS B-2 (SS-11), USS F-2 (SS-21), and USS H-4 (SS-147).
In 1921, Lieutenant Rooks joined the staff of the Twelfth Naval District, at San Francisco, California, remaining there until 1925, the year he was promoted to lieutenant commander. He next spent three years on board the battleship USS New Mexico (BB-40), followed by duty at the U.S. Naval Academy. In 1930, he helped commission the new cruiser USS Northampton (CA-26) and served on her until 1933, when he returned to the Naval Academy for a second tour.