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Robert Witcher Copeland was born on 9 September 1910 at Tacoma, Wash., enlisted in the Naval Reserve in 1929 and was commissioned as a Naval Reserve officer in 1935. He practiced law from 1935 until 1940, when he was ordered to active duty during the Navy's pre-World War II expansion. During the War, he commanded USS Pawtucket (YT7), USS Black Douglas (PYc45), USS Wyman (DE38) and USS Samuel B. Roberts (DE413).
During the Battle off Samar, 25 October 1944, he commanded Samuel B. Roberts as a member of Task Unit 77.4.3, a small force of six escort (or "Jeep") carriers, three destroyers, and three destroyer-escorts - known as "Taffy 3." Lieutenant Commander Copeland led his ship and crew in an attack on a greatly superior Japanese battleship and cruiser force. Though his ship was lost, this action helped defeat the Japanese counter-offensive against the Leyte invasion, and for this, he was awarded the Navy Cross.
Following World War II, Copeland resumed his law career while remaining a member of the Naval Reserve, in which he rose to the rank of Rear Admiral. Robert W. Copeland died at Tacoma, Washington, on 25 August 1973.
USS Copeland (FFG25) was the first ship named in his honor. (U.S. Navy photo #NH90680 from the U.S. Naval Historical Center) |
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18 May 1982: at sea - An aerial starboard beam view of the frigate USS Copeland (FFG25) underway during sea trials. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-83-11949 by Todd Pacific Shipyards, from the Defense Visual Information Center) |
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18 May 1982: at sea - An aerial port bow view of Copeland underway during sea trials. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-83-11948 by Todd Pacific Shipyards, from the DVIC) |
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18 May 1982: at sea - An aerial port quarter view of Copeland underway during sea trials. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-83-11942 by Todd Pacific Shipyards, from the DVIC) |
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18 May 1982: at sea - An aerial stern view of Copeland underway during sea trials. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-83-11944 by Todd Pacific Shipyards, from the DVIC) |
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18 May 1982: at sea - An aerial bow view of Copeland underway during sea trials. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-83-11945 by Todd Pacific Shipyards, from the DVIC) |
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18 May 1982: at sea - An starboard quarter view of Copeland underway during sea trials. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-83-11946 by Todd Pacific Shipyards, from the DVIC) |
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22 April 1984: A port quarter view of Copeland moored to a pier during operations with the Australian navy as part of the joint Australia/New Zealand/US Exercise Pitch Black '84. (U.S. Air Force photo DVID #DF-ST-85-06914 by Msgt David N. Craft, from the DVIC) |
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22 April 1984: A Standard-2 (SM-2) medium range missile is loaded onto a Mark 13 launcher aboard Copeland, as the ship operates as part of the joint Australia/New Zealand/US Exercise Pitch Black '84. (U.S. Air Force photo DVID #DF-ST-85-06915 by Msgt David N. Craft, from the DVIC) |
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22 April 1984: A view of a Standard-2 (SM-2) medium range missile loaded onto a Mark 13 launcher aboard Copeland, as the ship operates as part of the joint Australia/New Zealand/US Exercise Pitch Black '84. (U.S. Air Force photo DVID #DF-ST-85-06916 by Msgt David N. Craft, from the DVIC) |
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27 February 1987: San Diego, Cal. - A port bow view of Copeland underway as it passes the Naval Submarine Base while departing San Diego. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-90-02305 by PH1 Dutkiewicz, from the DVIC) |
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27 February 1987: San Diego, Cal. - A port bow view of Copeland underway as it departs San Diego. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-90-02308 by PH1 Dutkiewicz, from the DVIC) |
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27 February 1987: San Diego, Cal. - A port quarter view of Copeland underway as it departs San Diego. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-90-02307 by PH1 Dutkiewicz, from the DVIC) |
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27 February 1987: San Diego, Cal. - Aerial of Copeland underway in San Diego Bay with Point Loma in the background. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-05-07451 by PH1 Dutkiewicz, from the DVIC) |
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27 February 1987: San Diego, Cal. - A port bow view of Copeland underway as it departs San Diego. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-90-02298 by PH1 Dutkiewicz, from the DVIC) |
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27 February 1987: San Diego, Cal. - A port bow view of Copeland underway as it departs San Diego. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-90-02309 by PH1 Dutkiewicz, from the DVIC) |
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27 February 1987: San Diego, Cal. - A port quarter view of Copeland underway as it departs San Diego. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-90-02302 by PH1 Dutkiewicz, from the DVIC) |
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27 February 1987: San Diego, Cal. - A stern view of Copeland heading out to sea after departing San Diego. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-90-02310 by PH1 Dutkiewicz, from the DVIC) |
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1 March 1990: San Diego Harbor CA - Copeland passes by the Naval Submarine Base San Diego. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-92-05698 by OS2 John Bouvia, from the DVIC) |
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18 September 1990: at sea - Sailors onboard Copeland perform a ship to air refueling operation with a USN SH-2G Super Seasprite hovering above the ships helicopter deck. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-04-14294 by PH3 C. Weightman, from the DVIC) |
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18 September 1990: at sea - Sailors onboard Copeland perform a ship to air refueling operation with a USN SH-3G Sea King, Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 1 (HC-1), Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI), California (CA), hovering above the ships helicopter deck. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-04-14295 by PH3 C. Weightman, from the DVIC) |
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18 September 1990: at sea - Sailors onboard Copeland perform a ship to air refueling operation with a USN H-46 Seaknight, Helicopter Combat Support Squadron 11 (HC-11), Detachment 2 (Det. 2), Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI), California, hovering above the ships helicopter deck. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-04-14296 by PH3 C. Weightman, from the DVIC) |
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18 September 1990: at sea - Sailors onboard Copeland perform a ship-to-air refueling operation with a USN SH-60B Seahawk, from a Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron Light unit, hovering above the ships helicopter deck. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SC-04-14297 by PH3 C. Weightman, from the DVIC) |
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24 May 1991: San Diego, Cal. - A garland decorates the bow of Copeland as it lies tied up shortly after its return from deployment. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-SN-91-11570 by PH2 Norquist, from the DVIC) |
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24 May 1991: San Diego, Cal. - Electronics Technician 2nd Class Craig Owens is reunited with one of his sons aboard Copeland. Copeland has returned to San Diego following a deployment to the Western Pacific. (U.S. Navy photo DVID #DN-ST-91-11747 by JO1 Robert Wilson, from the DVIC) |
