Son of Edwin Howerton Roberts and Florence Evalyn Hildebrand Roberts. Graduated University of Missouri at Columbia in 1936. Married Mary Kay Cooper and had daughter Barbara Kay Roberts Knutsen. Brother of Virginia W. Roberts Mathews. Member 45th Infantry Regiment, Philippine Scouts. Taken prisoner of war in the Philippines and survived Bataan Death March and 2 1/2 years in prison camps. Taken aboard prison ship Oryoku Maru. Survived inadvertent sinking of ship by American planes at Subic Bay December 15, 1944 and placed aboard prison ship Enoura Maru. Killed when bomb from attacking USS Hornet plane inadvertently struck ship. Initially buried at Taiwan in attempted mass cremation. Remains ultimately repatriated to Hawaii and buried as unknown. Listed upon Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery. Awarded Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and Purple Heart.