World War II Honoree

Robert Rolan Williford

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Cortez, Colorado

Honored By

U.S. Submarine Veterans Inc.

Relationship

Shipmates

MOTOR MACHINIST'S MATE THIRD CLASS, PETTY OFFICER. KILLED IN ACTION WITH ALL HANDS ONBOARD USS SCORPION SS-278 BETWEEN JANUARY AND MARCH 1944. DECORATIONS: PURPLE HEART. USS SCORPION DEPARTED PEARL HARBOR ON DECEMBER 29, 1943 UNDER THE COMMAND OF COMMANDER M. G. SCHMIDT. SCORPION STOPPED AT MIDWAY TO TOP OFF WITH FUEL, AND DEPARTED MIDWAY ON JANUARY 3, 1944 TO CONDUCT HER FOURTH WAR PATROL. ON JANUARY 5, 1944, SHE ATTEMPTED TO RENDEZVOUS WITH SISTER SHIP HERRING SS-233 TO TRANSFER AN INJURED MAN. HEAVY SEAS PREVENTED THE TRANSFER, AND SCORPION CONTINUED WEST TO HER ASSIGNED AREA WHICH WAS IN THE NORTHERN EAST CHINA AND YELLOW SEAS. SHE WAS NOT HEARD FROM AGAIN AFTER HER DEPARTURE FROM THE RENDEZVOUS. ASSUMED TO BE THE VICTIM OF A JAPANESE MINE, SHE WAS DECLARED LOST ON MARCH 6, 1944. USS SCORPION SS-278 WENT DOWN WITH 77 OFFICERS AND MEN.