ROBERT LEE FROST, Jr, was born on 01 May 1920 in St. Albans, Kanawha, West Virginia. He was the second son of Robert Lee Frost Sr and Lilly Thompson who married in late September 1918 in Jefferson, Kanawha, WV, shortly after Robert Sr. registered for the WWI draft on 12 Sep 1918 in St Albans, Kanawha, WV where he was employed at the St Albans Glass Co., as a bottle blower. Robert Jr's older sibling was Albert. Robert and Lilly were not found in the 1930 US census so it is unknown whether they had other children. Robert Sr., died on 25 Sep 1950 in Scottsville, Buckingham, VA. His VA death certificate stated that he was a widower and his wife’s name was Lilly. John was a retired glass blower. Lilly was never found in records, but it is estimated she died before 14 Sept 1939.

Robert Jr, completed the 10th grade in high school before dropping out. Like so many youth of that era, Robert Jr felt duty-bound to help his family with finances during the Great Depression. He was also keen to learn a trade and find adventure. And, like many of his contemporaries, Robert Jr was lured to the opportunities of the US military services. So, on 14 Sept 1939, he obtained a US Navy enlistment application at the Wheeling, West Virginia Naval Recruiting Station (NRS).

He completed preliminary entrance examinations scoring an 80% in the General Classification Test (GCT); submitted personal references; completed administrative paperwork and passed background checks. On 25 Nov 1939, he successfully pasted the navy physical and was accepted for enlistment. His father, Robert Sr, signed on 25 Nov 1939, a consent to enlist form as Robert Jr was not yet twenty-one years of age. At the North Side district NRS in Pittsburgh, PA, Robert, along with 8 other recruits, was sworn into the US Navy (NSN: 250-53-51) on 06 Dec 1939 for six full years of service. Their rank was Apprentice Seamen (A.S.), and their monthly pay was $21.00.

AS Frost and the group of Pennsylvania recruits boarded a train bound for the Naval Training Station (NTS), Newport, RI where they arrived in 08 Dec. During recruit training, Frost was found qualified for the medical field as a Hospital Corpsman. He was selected for training at the 12 week Class A Hospital Corps School at the US Naval Hospital, Portsmouth, VA. On 20 Jan 1940, Frost qualified as a marksman on small bore rifles. Frost graduated from recruit training at NTS Newport on 27 Feb 1940. AS Frost reported for the course of instruction at the US Naval Hospital Corps Service School on 29 Feb 1940. On 01 Apr 1940, the US census recorded AS Frost as a student at the Norfolk Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, VA. He was 19 years of age, had completed 3 yrs (navy records said two years) of high school, was single and his 1935 address was in Bellaire, Belmont, OH.

Frost advanced in rate while attending the Corpsman school from AS to Seaman Second Class (S2c) on 06 April 1940. He graduated on 10 May 1940 from the Hospital Corps School at Portsmouth, VA and changed rate the same day from S2c to Hospital Apprentice Second Class (H.A.2c). His final average at Hospital Apprentice school was 90.5%, and he graduated # 38 in a class of 61 students.

On 11 May 1940, HA2c Frost transferred to the US Naval Hospital (USNH), Navy Medical Center (NavMedCenter), Washington, DC for duty. He arrived and reported for duty the following day. Six months later on 16 Nov 1940, HA2 Frost advanced in rate to Hospital Apprentice First Class (HA1c). On 10 December 1940, Frost submitted a letter to the Navy Bureau of Navigation requesting that he be assigned to duty with Asiatic Station in Manila, Philippines. His request was approved. Several weeks before his one year training tour at the USNH Washington, DC was to end, HA1 Frost advanced in rate to Pharmacist’s Mate Third Class (PhM3) on 01 May 1941.

On 19 May 1941, PhM3 Frost detached from the USNH, NavMedCenter, Washington DC and transferred to the Receiving Station (R/Sta), Norfolk, VA with orders to report to the Commander In Chief, US Asiatic Fleet (CINCAF) in Manila, Philippines for assignment. The following day he reported for duty in Norfolk, VA to await his transportation to the Philippines. It was to be a very long and epic journey.

The first leg of his journey began on 02 Jun 1941 when PhM3 Frost transferred from the R/Sta, Norfolk to the ammunition ship, USS Pyro (AE-1), as a passenger. The Pyro got underway on 12 Jun steaming from Norfolk to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba then via the Panama Canal to San Francisco, CA arriving on 12 Jul 1941. Frost reported to the (R/S), San Francisco the same day. Navy records indicate that Frost transferred on 28 July 1941 from R/S San Francisco to the transport ship, USS Henderson (AP-1) for further transfer (FFT) to Asiatic station. However, after reporting on board Henderson, Frost became very ill. He was removed from Henderson and admitted to the USNH, Mare Island on 29 July 1941. Over the course of the next three months the attendant was now the attendee. The type of illness/accident is unknown and not recorded, but it was not from misconduct. On 17 Oct 1941, PhM3 Frost was released from the hospital and returned to duty at the R/S San Francisco to await further transportation.

After a three week wait, Frost transferred from the R/S San Francisco to the transport ship, USS Chaumont (AP-5) as a passenger FFT Asiatic Station on 10 Nov 1941. Chaumont steamed out of San Francisco sailing under the new Golden Gate bridge on 13 Nov 1941 bound for Pearl Harbor. She arrived about 19 Nov. On 29 Nov 1941, she got underway from Pearl Harbor steaming for the Philippines. Just outside Hawaii, she joined eight other ships that comprised a convoy designated Task Group 15.5. The flagship was the troop transport, USS Republic (AP-33). The convoy was to steam on an indirect, southerly route for the Philippines.

The convoy, generally known as the Pensacola Convoy for its escort ship, the heavy cruiser, USS Pensacola (CA-24), (also seen by the US Army as the "Republic Convoy"), included the gunboat, USS Niagara (PG-52), US Navy transports USS Republic (AP-33) and USS Chaumont (AP-5), the US Army transport USAT Willard A Holbrook and USAT Meigs; the US Merchant ships S.S. Admiral Halstead and S.S. Coast Farmer, and the Dutch merchant ship MS Bloemfontein.

After war broke out, and Japanese forces began landing in the Philippines, the convoy was diverted first to Suva, Fiji Islands. The convoy got underway on the 16th from Suva bound for Brisbane, Australia. Pensacola entered the harbor at Brisbane on 22 Dec 1941 and moored at Newstead Wharf. On the afternoon of 28 Dec, Pensacola, along with transports Chaumont (with PhM3 Frost on board) and USAT Willard A. Holbrook got underway. On 2 Jan 1942, the Dutch ship MS Bloemfontein joined the convoy. The following morning (03 Jan 42) the convoy made passage through the Torres Strait above Cape York in far North Queensland, Australia. There they were joined by the heavy cruiser USS Houston (CA-30) and several destroyers including USS Edsall (DD-219). Houston relieved Pensacola as the convoy heavy escort, and with her destroyers and convoy ships proceeded to Darwin in the Northern Territory, Australia. Pensacola returned to Brisbane.

On 07 Jan 1942, PhM3 Frost disembarked from Chaumont in Darwin, Australia. Several days later, on 10 Jan 1942, Frost reported for duty on board the fleet oiler, USS Pecos (AO-6). During January 1942, Pecos steamed to various locations around the Java sea refueling Allied warships. Beginning on 6 Feb 42, she was moored in Tjilatjap receiving fuel oil and pumping it into Dutch, British and American warships. Her commanding officer, Capt Abernethy, had attempted on multiple occasions to gain permission to get underway and head for the open sea as enemy Japanese forces moved rapidly south. The situation for a safe escape for Pecos became more improbable as each day came and went. Cdr Abernethy, knew his chances of escaping the Japanese carrier force prowling the Indian Ocean were slim.

On 25 Feb, Capt Abernethy refused to accept any wounded passengers who were not ambulatory and who could not take care of themselves. He also had the foresight to bring aboard large numbers of Bamboo poles lashing them to the upper decks for flotation for swimmers if the ship was sunk. Finally, on 27 Feb, Pecos received orders to leave port in the morning to make room for the USS Langley that was expected to dock later in the morning.

Three hours out of Tjilatjap Pecos radiomen intercepted some of Langley's last radio transmissions giving the tender's position and condition (she was under attack by enemy aircraft). Within half an hour Pecos received word that Langley's survivors were being picked up the destroyers, USS Edsall and USS Whipple. An hour later, Pecos received orders to proceed to Christmas Island, about 250 nm southwest of Tjilatjap to rendezvous with the two warships to receive the Langley survivors. Edsall rescued 177 survivors and Whipple rescued 308. Pecos was to proceed to Exmouth Gulf off Australia's west coast. She already had survivors on board from USS Houston, Stewart and Marblehead taken on board in Tjilatjap. The added number of survivors would bring her on board count to over 700 personnel. The standard complement of officers and crew was approximately 317.

On 28 February, the two destroyers rendezvoused with the Pecos off Flying Fish Cove, Christmas Island. A sudden attack by land based Japanese bombers forced Pecos and the other ships to head for the open sea. They headed directly south into the Indian Ocean for the rest of 28 February in high winds and heavy seas. Early in the pre-dawn hours of 1 March, Whipple and Edsall transferred all the Langley survivors to Pecos. Whipple then set off for Cocos Islands as protection for the tanker Belita sent to meet her there. The Pecos, carrying a large number of survivors set course to Australia. Edsall had retained 32 USAAF personnel from Langley needed to assemble and fly an additional 27 P-40E fighters shipped to Tjilatjap aboard the transport Sea Witch. Edsall was instructed to return these "fighter crews" to Tjilatjap. At 0830, she reversed course and steamed toward the northeast for Java.

At noon that day, planes from Japanese aircraft carrier Soryu attacked Pecos and struck again an hour later. Finally, in mid-afternoon, third and fourth strikes from aircraft carriers Hiryu and Akagi fatally wounded Pecos. While under attack, Pecos radioed for help. After Pecos sank, Whipple returned to the scene intentionally arriving after dark. She eventually rescued 232 survivors. Many other survivors, although visible to crewmembers on board Whipple, had to be abandoned at sea because Whipple made sonar contact with what was believed to be several Japanese submarines. It was just too dangerous for her to remain in the area. She steamed to Australia where she safely arrived in Fremantle, Australia on 04 Mar 1942.

PhM3 Frost was listed as missing in action on 01 Mar 1942. His remains were unrecoverable. On 14 March 1942, Robert Lee Frost, Sr received a telegram from the Bureau of Navigation that informed him that his son, Robert Lee Frost Jr., Pharmacist Mate Third Class, USN, was missing during action and in service to his country. He was presumed dead on 15 Dec 1945.

Frost was recognized in a SECNAV Letter of Commendation reported in several newspapers and in the BUPERS Information Bulletin (Currently called All Hands Magazine) #306 Sept 1942 (p.21). It read: Robert Lee Frost, Jr., Pharmacist's Mate 3rd Class, U.S.N. was one of 28 men who received a letter of commendation from Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox for heroism and for outstanding performance of duty when the USS Pecos was sunk by the Japanese in waters south of Java. PhM3 Frost was commended for "Cooley, calmly, and bravely performing all duties in an outstanding manner throughout the action."

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The Secretary of the Navy awarded PhM3c Robert Lee Frost Jr a commendation in an undated letter. It reads, “Subject : Commendation.”

“1. A report received in the Department regarding the action of the U.S.S. PECOS with enemy aircraft on March 1, 1942, indicates that you coolly, calmly, and bravely performed all your duties in an outstanding manner throughout the action.

2. The Department takes pleasure in commending you for your conduct on the occasion referred to, which is in keeping with the highest traditions of the Naval Service.

A copy of this letter was found in Frost’s service record and is copied verbatim.

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Frost was also (posthumously) awarded the Purple Heart, American Defense Service Medal with Fleet Clasp, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Fleet Clasp (one bronze star in lieu of fleet clasp) and second bronze star, US Navy Combat Action Ribbon, Philippine Defense Medal, US Army Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of the Philippines Presidential Unit Citation and the World War II Victory Medal. Secretary of the Navy LETTER Of COMMENDATION.

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A commemoration in honor of PhM3 Frost's service from President Harry S. Truman reads:

In Grateful Memory of Robert Lee Frost, Jr., Who Died In The Service Of His Country At Sea, Asiatic Area, attached U.S.S. PECOS, 15 December 1945 (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,

Harry S. Truman

President of the United States of America

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The following orders are the authorization for eligibility of the US Army Presidential Unit Citation and the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation awards for military and naval forces of the United States and Philippine Governments.

Citation of Units of Both Military and Naval Forces of the United States and Philippine Governments.

--489--

As authorized by Executive Order No. 9075 (sec. II, Bull. 11, W.D., 1942), a citation in the name of the President of the United States, as public evidence of deserved honor and distinction, is awarded to all units of both military and naval forces of the United States and Philippine Governments engaged in the defense of the Philippines since December 7, 1941. (Later, it was called the Army Presidential Unit Citation).

By order of the Secretary of War:

G. C. MARSHALL,

Chief of Staff.

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Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation

Establishing Authority

The Philippine Presidential Unit Citation was established by Headquarters, Philippine National Defense Forces, General Order Number 532 of September 14, 1946, as amended.

Acceptance by the United States

For service during World War II, acceptance is sanctioned by Public Law 80-314, which authorized the acceptance and wear of foreign decoration, medals, and awards in connection with services in World War II between the inclusive dates of December 7, 1941 and July 24, 1948.

Effective Dates

The Philippine Presidential Unit Citation has been in effect since September 14, 1946.

Criteria

The Philippine Presidential Unit Citation is awarded for extraordinarily meritorious service. The Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation has been awarded to United States military personnel who participated in the following:

• World War II

Service in the defense of the Philippines from December 7, 1941 to May 10, 1942.

Service in the liberation of the Philippines from October 17, 1944 to July 4, 1945.

All U.S. military units and naval vessels that earned any of the Philippine engagement stars are entitled to the Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation.

Certain submarines which maintained physical contact with guerrilla forces during the Japanese occupation of the Philippine Islands.

Online: https://rollofhonor.org/public/htmldetails.aspx?Cat=foreignaward&EntID=352

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[Bio ##343 composed by Gerry Lawton on 04 Nov 2021 and edited on 22 Aug 2024 with new information after receipt of Frost’s Service Record from NARA on 20 Aug 2024 .]

Military Hall of Honor ID#137292

Find A Grave Memorial Page#56765052

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Partial list of sources:

1) Frost Jr., Robert Lee, Pharmacist Mate Third Class, US Navy Service Record, The National Personnel Records Center, Military Personnel Records (NPRC-MPR), St Louis, MO. August 2024.

2) Kehn, Donald M., Jr. A Blue Sea of Blood. Minneapolis: Zenith Press, 2008

3) 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, University of Nebraska Press. 2017

4) Winslow, W.G., The Fleet The Gods Forgot: The U.S. Asiatic Fleet In World War II, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland. 1982.

5) Various newspaper articles

6) USS Pecos and USS Whipple Wiki pages on-line.

7) Messimer, Dwight R. Pawns of War: the Loss of the USS Langley and the USS Pecos. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press. 1983.

8) Various Navy Muster and Change reports, Ancestry.com and Fold3.com