Sergeant Roberts was a member of the 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. He was Killed in Action while engaged with the enemy in Korea on 27 October 1950.

For his leadership and valor, Sergeant Roberts was awarded the Navy Cross, the Purple Heart, the Combat Action Ribbon, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.