Robert Benton Armstrong was born in Elkhart, Morton, KS on 06 Jun 1919 to Otto Burdette and Bessie Claude (Holmes) Armstrong. Robert’s only sibling was a sister, Ellen Ardath Fenton. Otto was a preacher in the Nazarene Church, but his salary wasn’t enough to meet the family’s needs, so by necessity, he became bi-vocational. In addition to preaching, Otto at times was a bookkeeper, farmer and operator of a dairy farm. During the 1930s, he also co-owned the White Eagle Service Station in Sylvia, KS until he sold his interest to his partner in 1936.

Robert, or Bob, as he was often times called, graduated from Stafford High School, Stafford, KS at the end of May 1937. Bob was a son of America’s heartland with a strong work ethic and patriotic to his core. It was hard times in Kansas during the Great Depression, but now that he was 18 years old and finished with high school Bob could help his parents with the family finances, as well as; serve his country, learn a trade, travel, and find adventure. Like many of his contemporaries, Bob was lured to the opportunities of the US military services. Not long after he was handed his high school diploma, Bob submitted an application to enlist at the local Naval Recruiting Station (NRS) in Wichita, Sedgwick, KS.

He completed preliminary entrance examinations; submitted personal references; completed administrative paperwork and passed background checks. Most importantly, he obtained his father’s permission to enlist. Robert Benton Armstrong, Hayworth Kenneth Miller, Charles Oliver Ives, Paul Eugene Kelley and Joseph Anthony Kallaus, were accepted for enlistment at the NRS, Wichita, and early on 07 Jan 1938, they departed Wichita for the regional NRS in Kansas City, Jackson, MO where they would take their physical and dental exams prior to being sworn into the navy.

Bob passed those examinations and was sworn into the US Navy (NSN: 342-04-47. Some navy records transpose the 04 to 94 in the serial number.) later that afternoon of 07 Jan 1938 as an Apprentice Seamen (A.S.) for a period of four years. Shortly before 10 PM, AS Armstrong joined a contingent of twenty-five other potential young sailors, all from Kansas and Missouri, at Union Station in Kansas City. There they entrained for the naval training station (NTS), San Diego, CA for three months of basic training prior to being sent to a service school or to a ship of the US Fleet.

Armstrong completed basic training and was granted 10 days of “Recruit Leave” to visit family and friends. Upon his return to NTS San Diego, AS Armstrong received orders to report for duty to the battleship, USS Mississippi (BB-41) and on 03 May 1938 he did so report. Later that year, AS Armstrong advanced in rate to Seaman Second Class (S2c). He decided to change his career path and requested permission to change rates from Seaman to Fireman. His request was granted and on 01 Jan 1939, S2c Armstrong changed rate to Fireman Third Class (F3c). On 16 Oct 1939, F3c Armstrong advanced in rate to Fireman Second Class (F2c).

Early in the Spring of 1939, Armstrong was ordered to detach from Mississippi and report for duty to Asiatic Station in the Philippines for assignment. On 06 Mar 1940, F2c Armstrong reported to the Ammunition Ship, USS Pyro (AE-1) at the Puget Sound Navy Yard (PSNy) as a passenger for further transfer to the Transport Ship, USS Henderson (AP-1). She was to be his ride across the Pacific. On 07 Mar, Pyro got underway steaming for Mare Island, CA. Armstrong transferred to the Henderson on 10 Mar while she was undergoing a scheduled, short maintenance period at Mare Island. Henderson, her maintenance completed, steamed under the Golden Gate on 27 Mar 1940 sailing westward via port calls at Pearl Harbor (6 Apr), Guam (19 Apr), and arriving at Manila on 24 April 1940.

After he reported to naval authorities, F2c Armstrong was assigned to the destroyer, USS Peary (DD-226) on the 24th. Several days later, Peary steamed out of Manila Bay bound for Hong Kong for some “showing the flag” as the Japanese were becoming ever increasingly bellicose. On 16 Aug 1940, F2c Armstrong advanced in rate to Fireman First Class (F1c).

Prelude to WAR!

The deterioration of relations between Japan and the West continued apace as World War II in Europe began. By autumn of 1940, the temper of the times and the persistent Japanese aggression made Shanghai untenable, so Admiral Hart finally withdrew his blue-water ships to Manila. He also issued a directive sending the families of his sailors home in 1940. No families were allowed into the Philippines. There was push-back from the resentful spouses who initially declined to leave their husbands. It was only a threat to indefinitely restrict their spouses to their ships without leave that finally convinced the families; it was time to comply with orders and return to the continental United States (CONUS). Many traveled home on the President’s Steam Ship Line. Admiral Hart's directive probably saved many family members from internment by the Japanese or worse. For many of the married sailors whose families were sent home, it was the last time they would ever see them.

On 16 Aug 1940, F2c Armstrong advanced in rate to Fireman First Class (F1c). Then on 10 Dec 1940, F1c Armstrong was admitted to the US Naval Hospital at Canacao with an unknown illness/injury. It must have been a serious condition as he remained hospitalized for more than 6 weeks. He returned to duty on board Peary on 24 Jan 1941.

The threat of hostilities between the United States and Japan grew closer to the boiling point as the year 1941 began. In July 1941, as Japanese aggression intensified with their move south into lower Indo-China, Admiral Hart warned his officers that he had no doubt that war would come although he didn’t know how of when it would start. Hart trained his destroyer crews hard keeping them on a war-footing for extended periods and away from Cavite naval base as much as possible exercising his “defensive deployment.”

On 01 Sep 1942, F1c Armstrong accomplished an unusual feat; He advanced two rates (instead of the usual one) to Boiler Maker Second Class (Bmkr2c).

Ordered to comply with the Adm. Hart’s “defensive deployment” well south of Manila, units of the Asiatic Fleet including destroyer tender USS Blackhawk (AD-9), USS Stewart (DD-224) and other ships of Destroyer Squadron Twenty-Nine (DesRon) 29, got underway on 25 Nov 1941, and arrived on the morning of 29 Nov 1941 in Balikpapan, a major oil port on the eastern coast of Borneo. Peary was not among the group of ships proceeding south.

Govern Yourself Accordingly!

Despite his best efforts, Admiral Hart was still caught by surprise by the Japanese attacks on 10 Dec 1941. Four of the Destroyer Division Fifty Nine (DesDiv 59) ships remained in the Manila Bay area during the first week of December 1941 for overhaul and repairs and two others to provide escort services for shipping. Two destroyers, Pillsbury and Peary, were in the navy yard at Cavite for repairs following a collision during night training exercises in late October. Peary was also there for a yard overhaul.

Peary was still pier-side at Cavite’s Central wharf on the morning of 10 Dec 1941 in a “cold iron” state. She was essentially non-operational. Her engines disassembled, bow open awaiting a patch and, she was receiving “hotel” services (water, electricity and steam) from the pier (some reports indicate Peary was at the shipyard for routine maintenance). Many of her crew had moved ashore to continue repairs from base maintenance shops. With almost no warning about 1300, two flights of more than 50 Japanese twin-engine, land-based, medium bombers appeared over the naval installations and commenced to obliterate everything in sight.

About 1350, Peary sustained a direct hit with an estimated 250 pound bomb which contained a combination of shrapnel and incendiary explosives. The bomb struck her mast spraying shrapnel in every direction killing or wounding almost everyone on the fire-control platform, bridge, and other areas and starting fires. Eight sailors were killed outright and five officers, including the Commanding Officer, Lcdr Keith, were wounded. The executive officer, Lt Albert Eugene Gates, Jr., was found unconscious on the bridge mortally wounded. They were evacuated to Sternberg hospital in Manila where Lt Gates probably died (exact location of death unknown but presumed at the hospital.). According to Peary’s deck log of 10 Dec 1942, Bmkr2c Armstrong was on board during the attack, but was not wounded.

Unable to get underway and with little help on board or from ashore, Peary’s fate seemed sealed. Suddenly, the small Asiatic Fleet minesweeper, USS Whippoorwill (AM-35), braved the flames, smoke and exploding warheads from a torpedo shop on the pier to render assistance (with help from Pillsbury) to the severely damaged Peary. After much effort, Whippoorwill was able to tow Peary to a buoy some distance away. She moored alongside Peary and within a brief period began sending over damage control parties, water and food to the beleaguered Peary (Whippoorwill’s commanding officer received the Navy Cross for his actions that day.).

With the wounding of Peary’s CO and death of her XO, the ship’s temporary captaincy was assumed by Lt Martin M. Koivisto, who had sustained several shrapnel wounds himself during the attack. Lt John M. Bermingham, who had recently been the executive officer of the destroyer, USS Stewart (DD-224), was chosen for command of Peary based upon Lt Bermingham’s chance encounter with the Asiatic Fleet’s personnel commander on 10 Dec. In accordance with CINC, Asiatic Fleet orders dated 11 Dec 1941, Lt Bermingham assumed command of USS Peary as noted in Peary’s deck log entry of Thursday, 11 Dec 1941 and signed by M.M. Koivisto, LT, USN.

After the 10 Dec attack, the crew set to work making Peary ready for sea. It was a Herculean effort performed by the crew in conjunction with the facilities of Atlantic Gulf and Pacific Company to effect the minimum repairs in order to make Peary sea-worthy.

On 23-24 Dec 1941, Peary got underway on her first war mission; an antisubmarine patrol assignment in the Verde Island Passage between Luzon and the Philippine island of Mindoro. The day after Christmas 1941, the CO’s of USS Pillsbury and Peary were ashore at a conference with the Commandant, Sixteenth Naval District, Admiral Rockwell, to discuss releasing the ships to join other US forces in the Netherlands East Indies when enemy bombers suddenly appeared overhead. Peary was attacked by five flights of Japanese high level bombers. Each flight consisted of between 6 to 9 planes.

Lt Bermingham watched from shore as his new executive officer, Lt Martin M. Koivisto (he was also the gunnery officer), deftly maneuvered Peary around Manila Bay dodging bomb after bomb for several hours. Though she suffered a few near misses, Peary emerged virtually unscathed. Later that evening, Peary and Pillsbury were ordered to put to sea and proceed south by the best route and join Task Force 5 at Soerabaja, Java. For safety, each ship was to proceed independently.

Peary’s voyage south was eventful and dangerous as the Japanese held mastery of the air and sea. Intelligence information provided to Peary just after her departure from Manila indicated that Japanese warships probably lurked along his intended route to Surabaja. Lt Bermingham changed his track and destination to Darwin, Australia. Capt. Birmingham traveled only by night and during the day he brought his ship close to shore and tied up to trees and covered the ship with palm fronds and green paint in order to blend with the flora of the various islands. Several times, Japanese bombers flew overhead but did not detect the ship. At about 0800, 28 Dec, Peary sighted a large Japanese four-engine seaplane shadowing her. It was a Kawanishi HK6 “Mavis” flying boat. About 1400, three more Mavis’ joined and the attacks began with each plane making two runs dropping a single bomb estimated at 500 pounds. During the attacks Kovisto's gun crews kept up continuous fire at the enemy planes. Peary maneuvered successfully avoiding the bombs.

Finally, after the flying boats completed their attacks, two twin engine, single wing torpedo planes appeared and commenced an attack on Peary dropping two torpedoes off the port bow and two off the port quarter. Again, the skipper maneuvered the ship out of danger. However, after dropping their ordnance, the enemy torpedo planes fired several strafing bursts which struck the stacks. They were driven off by heavy shipboard machine gun fire from Lt Kovisto's angry gunners.

About 1800, off Kema Island in the Bangka Strait, three Lockheed Hudson patrol bombers were sighted approaching from astern. The aircraft challenged Peary via signal light and she responded. The pilot was seen to wave his arm. However, one of the planes assumed a glide bombing profile. Peary’s anti-aircraft batteries opened fire and began maneuvering radically. One of Peary’s crewman lost his balance and fell overboard (he was picked up by a fisherman, but was turned over to the Japanese. He worked in a mine in Japan and was repatriated at the end of the war.).

Each Hudson made two attacks dropping a single 250 pound shrapnel bomb. There were no direct hits but near misses caused extensive damage. Peary was hit in various places topside and in the engineering spaces. The shrapnel hit in the engineering spaces and knocked one of Peary’s two main engines out of commission. It was great fortune that MM2 Frayer was not injured. One crewman was killed when he was struck by shrapnel (S1c Kenneth E. Quinaux, a machine gunner, was buried at sea during services at 2000 on 29 Dec 1941.). Prior to departing, each Hudson made a strafing run on the ship.

Peary anchored at Port Darwin at 0840, 03 Jan 1942 after a 2100 mile plus transit from Manila, Philippines to Darwin, Australia. Within a week of arriving at Darwin, twenty-eight enlisted men and officers became ill with a virulent form of Malaria or Dengue Fever, contracted when the ship anchored off remote Maitara Island near Ternate in the Halmakeras. It was necessary to stop there to make repairs after being attacked by Australian aircraft. Eventually eight men would die.

Peary received tender availability services from USS Black Hawk (AD-9) to affect temporary repairs and make Peary seaworthy. Those repairs were completed on 22 Jan 1942. Peary assumed submarine escort duties on numerous occasions. She was an anti-submarine escort for USS Langley (AV-3) from Darwin to Fremantle, Australia between 08-13 Feb 1942 and she steamed with USS Houston escorting a Darwin- Koepang convoy from 14 to 18 Feb 1942.

Peary returned to Port Darwin and anchored about 0100, 19 Feb 1942. About 1045, Port Darwin was attacked by a combined Japanese carrier and land base force of over 200 fighters and bombers. Peary was hit by five bombs. The fifth bomb, an incendiary, exploded in the after engine room opening the ship to the sea. Peary sank, stern first with her anti-aircraft guns still firing until the last enemy plane left the area.

Eighty-eight officers and men including the commanding officer were killed in her sinking; 57 survived, 20 of whom were wounded. Petty Officer Armstrong did not survive. He was listed as missing in action on 19 Feb 1942. His remains were unrecoverable. He was presumed dead on 20 Feb 1943.

Bkmr2 Armstrong was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart, American Defense Service Medal w/Fleet Clasp (bronze star in lieu of clasp), Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal w/Fleet Clasp and two bronze stars (one bronze star in lieu of clasp), Philippine Defense Medal with a bronze service star, and the WWII Victory Medal. He may be eligible for the Combat Action Ribbon.

-----------------------------

Petty Officer Armstrong’s family received a personal commemoration from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It reads:

In grateful memory of Robert Benton ARMSTRONG, who died in the service of his country, SEA, Asiatic Area, ATTACHED U.S.S. PEARY, 20 February 1943 (presumed). He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives – in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.

(Signed) Franklin D. Roosevelt,

President of the United States

--------------------------

Primary Sources:

1) Cox, Jeffery R., Rising Sun, Falling Skies, Osprey Publishing, UK, 2015.

2) Kehn, Donald M. Jr., In the Highest Degree Tragic, The Sacrifice of the U.S. Asiatic Fleet in the East Indies During World War II, Potomac Books, 2017.

3) Various Newspaper articles.

4) Deck logs USS Peary retrieved 15 November 2021.

5) Northern Territory Library Roll of Honour: Browse location. www.ntlexhibit.nt.gov.au. Retrieved 20 November 2021.

6) Wikipedia page, USS Peary (DD-226), Retrieved 12 November 2021.

7) Wilde, E. Andrew Jr. (Ed). U.S.S. Peary (DD-226) in World War II, Manila to Darwin, 12/10/41-2/19/42 : Needham, Mass. : The Editor, 2007.

http://destroyerhistory.org/assets/pdf/wilde/226peary_wilde.pdf

8) Kehn, Donald M. Jr., A Blue Sea of Blood: deciphering the mysterious fate of the USS Edsall, Zenith Press, 2008.

9) Fold3 by Ancestry Navy Muster reports and Change reports

10) Ancestry.com Navy WWII muster and Change reports

--------------------------------

Link to USS Peary memorial in Darwin, Australia with list of names of those lost in the sinking of the ship. It’s a cenotaph.

https://www.maritimequest.com/misc_pages/monuments_memorials/uss_peary_memorial.htm

-----------------

Bio#358 compiled by Gerry Lawton (G47/GML470)

Military Hall of Honor #123261

Find A Grave Memorial #236437643