Philip Frances Roach (1881 - 1976)

Born 11 Feb 1881 in Sedalia, Douglas, Colorado, United States

Husband of Helen Agnes (Bryan) Roach — married 4 Nov 1939 in District of Columbia, United States

Died 8 Mar 1976 at age 95 in Coronado, California, United States

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Biography

Commanding Officer Philip Roach served in the United States Coast Guard in World War I
Service started: 1904
Unit(s): U.S.S. Manning; U.S.S. Lydonia
Service ended: 1921

Commodore Philip Roach served in the United States Coast Guard in World War II
Service started: 1941
Unit(s): 12th Naval District Port office; Squadron One
Service ended: 1945

Philip Roach was appointed a cadet in the Coast Guard in 1904 and was Commissioned through the School of Instruction of the Revenue Cutter Service, precursor to the Coast Guard Academy, in 1907. He retired as a U.S. Coast Guard Commodore in 1945.

When he was a Captain in the United States Coast Guard, he served as Commanding Officer of the U.S.S. MANNING and the U.S.S. LYDONIA during World War I. In that position, he received the Navy Cross due to experiencing important, exacting and hazardous duty transporting and escorting troops and supplies through waters infested with enemy submarines and mines, during World War I. The President of the United States of America presented him the Navy Cross for his courageous leadership in that role.

In February, 1919, Roach was assigned to Coast Guard Headquarters for ordnance, personnel, and communications duty, and in November, 1921, he was assigned to the cutter Seneca, New York, N.Y. Between the World Wars, Captain Roach served on many ships and became commanding officer of the Cassin before being placed on inspection duty at a Camden, N.J., plant that built the first 165-foot patrol vessels for the Coast Guard. In February, 1927, when these vessels became part of the Offshore Patrol Force, Boston, Mass., he reported to the Commander, Eastern Division, to take over the administration duties and command of Squadron One of the Force. World War II, Commander Roach was Port Officer, 12th Naval District and was awarded the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services to the Government of the United States during that war. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Section 53, Grave 1761. His grave stone shows he served in World Wars 1 and 2 and the Korean War.

Sources

• https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/5613
• https://www.history.uscg.mil/Browse-by-Topic/Notable-People/All/Article/1897242/commodore-phillip-f-roach/
• https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/59675959
• https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV2Z-512X
• District of Columbia Marriages, 1811-1950: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V6HM-32F
• United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:716M-LTZM