Private First Class Roberts was a machine gunner in the 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division. During the early hours of 8 May 1953, he was in the protective cover of his bunker on "Pork Chop Hill", near Sokkagae, North Korea. An enemy mortar exploded nearby killing him.

Roberts was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman Badge, 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.