Albert H . Rooks Albert Harold Rooks ( December 29 , 1891 – March 1 , 1942 ) was a captain in the United States Navy who posthumously received the Medal of Honor during World War II . Biography . Albert Harold Rooks was born in Colton , Washington , on December 29 , 1891 . He entered the United States Naval Academy as a midshipman July 13 , 1910 , and was commissioned in the rank of ensign upon graduation on June 6 , 1914 . During the next seven years , among them the First World War years of 1917 – 18 , he served in several ships , including , . He commanded the submarine s , , , and . In 1921 , Lieutenant Rooks joined the staff of the Twelfth Naval District , at San Francisco , California , remaining there until 1925 , the year he was promoted to lieutenant commander . He next spent three years on board the battleship , followed by duty at the U . S . Naval Academy . In 1930 , he helped commission the new cruiser and served on her until 1933 , when he returned to the Naval Academy for a second tour . In February 1936 Commander Rooks placed the new destroyer in commission and remained as her commanding officer until 1938 . His next assignment was as a student at the Naval War College , and , upon completion of his studies , he served on that institution ' s staff . He was promoted to the rank of captain on July 1 , 1940 , while still at the War College . In 1941 Rooks took command of the heavy cruiser , flagship of the Asiatic Fleet . He took his ship through the painfully difficult first three months of the Pacific War , when the Asiatic Fleet and its British and Dutch counterparts fought desperately against an overwhelming Japanese onslaught into Southeast Asia , the Philippines and the East Indies . Both " Houston " and her commanding officer were lost in the Battle of Sunda Strait , on March 1 , 1942 . Captain Rooks posthumously received the Medal of Honor for " extraordinary heroism , outstanding courage , gallantry in action and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the USS " Houston " during the period of 4 to February 27 , 1942 , while in action with superior Japanese enemy aerial and surface forces . " During this period " Houston " survived six air attacks and one major naval engagement , doing considerable damage to the enemy while being heavily damaged herself in one air attack and in the naval engagement . Captain Rooks died on the bridge as a result of enemy - inflicted wounds and went down with his ship after her courageous fight against overwhelming odds . Namesake and honors . In 1944 , the destroyer was named in honor of Captain Rooks . The U . S . Army Corps of Engineers maintains Rooks Park , five miles east of Walla Walla , Washington , named in honor of Captain Rooks . Medal of Honor citation . Rank and organization : Captain , U . S . Navy . Born : December 29 , 1891 , Colton , Wash . Appointed from : Washington . Citation : for extraordinary heroism , outstanding courage , gallantry in action and distinguished service in the line of his profession , as commanding officer of the U . S . S . Houston during the period 4 to February 27 , 1942 , while in action with superior Japanese enemy aerial and surface forces . While proceeding to attack an enemy amphibious expedition , as a unit in a mixed force , Houston was heavily attacked by bombers ; after evading 4 attacks , she was heavily hit in a fifth attack , lost 60 killed and had 1 turret wholly disabled . Capt . Rooks made his ship again seaworthy and sailed within 3 days to escort an important reinforcing convoy from Darwin to Koepang , Timor , Netherlands East Indies . While so engaged , another powerful air attack developed which by Houston ' s marked efficiency was fought off without much damage to the convoy . The commanding general of all forces in the area thereupon canceled the movement and Capt . Rooks escorted the convoy back to Darwin . Later , while in a considerable American - British - Dutch force engaged with an overwhelming force of Japanese surface ships , Houston with H . M . S . Exeter carried the brunt of the battle , and her fire alone heavily damaged 1 and possibly 2 heavy cruisers . Although heavily damaged in the actions , Capt . Rooks succeeded in disengaging his ship when the flag officer commanding broke off the action and got her safely away from the vicinity , whereas one - half of the cruisers were lost .