The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program is honored to announce the October 2021 story of the month has been selected to recognize the service of United States Navy Veteran, Commander Robert V. Allen. The United States Navy Memorial Stories of Service Program was privileged to interview Commander Robert V. Allen at the Vinson Hall Retirement Community. 

As we reflect on the 79th Anniversary of the Battle of Santa Cruz, we honor Commander Robert Allen, who served on the USS Enterprise CV 6 during World War Two and shared detailed memories of the Santa Cruz. 

As we reflect on the 79th Anniversary of the Battle of Santa Cruz, we honor Commander Robert Allen, who served on the USS Enterprise CV 6 during World War Two and shared detailed memories of the Santa Cruz. 

Robert Allen enlisted in the Navy when the United States was still at peace in 1936. He recalled that it was not easy to join the Navy in those days and out of 100 new applicants, he was 1 of 3 selected. He had a keen interest in medicine and wanted to be a part of the Hospital Corps. His motivation to succeed gained the attention of his superiors at Boot Camp at Great Lakes which secured his nomination to Hospital Corps School at San Diego. His first assignment was at the Brooklyn Navy Yard as an Operating Room Technician. After 3 years of distinguished service, he was ordered to sea on the USS Enterprise CV 6. Aboard the Enterprise, he would be assigned to the Battle Dressing Station.  

The Enterprise was ordered to the Pacific and Allen remarked, “On the 17th of November, we delivered new Marine planes to Wake Island. We were scheduled to arrive at Pearl Harbor on Saturday, December 6th, but due to bad weather, we were delayed and outside of Pearl Harbor on Sunday, December 7th, 1941.” “We entered Pearl Harbor on Monday, it was a pretty sad sight coming into Battleship row, all of them were belly up, Oklahoma, Nevada, West Virginia, Arizona…” After refueling, and unloading those needing medical assistance, the Enterprise put to sea to look for the Japanese. After raids on Japanese positions on the Marshal Islands, escort duty for the Doolittle Raid,  Battle of Midway, and actions throughout the South Pacific, Allen shared, “We met up with the Hornet and went into the Santa Cruz Battle to intercept the Japanese from going to Guadalcanal.”  On October 25, 1942, the Battle of Santa Cruz began with the United States Aircraft Carriers USS Hornet CV 8, USS Enterprise CV 6 and escort ships facing a Japanese Force attempting to gain control of the waters around Guadalcanal.  

As we reflect on the 79th Anniversary of the Battle of Santa Cruz, we honor Commander Robert Allen, who served on the USS Enterprise CV 6 during World War Two and shared detailed memories of the Santa Cruz. 

Robert Allen enlisted in the Navy when the United States was still at peace in 1936. He recalled that it was not easy to join the Navy in those days and out of 100 new applicants, he was 1 of 3 selected. He had a keen interest in medicine and wanted to be a part of the Hospital Corps. His motivation to succeed gained the attention of his superiors at Boot Camp at Great Lakes which secured his nomination to Hospital Corps School at San Diego. His first assignment was at the Brooklyn Navy Yard as an Operating Room Technician. After 3 years of distinguished service, he was ordered to sea on the USS Enterprise CV 6. Aboard the Enterprise, he would be assigned to the Battle Dressing Station.  

The Enterprise was ordered to the Pacific and Allen remarked, “On the 17th of November, we delivered new Marine planes to Wake Island. We were scheduled to arrive at Pearl Harbor on Saturday, December 6th, but due to bad weather, we were delayed and outside of Pearl Harbor on Sunday, December 7th, 1941.” “We entered Pearl Harbor on Monday, it was a pretty sad sight coming into Battleship row, all of them were belly up, Oklahoma, Nevada, West Virginia, Arizona…” After refueling, and unloading those needing medical assistance, the Enterprise put to sea to look for the Japanese. After raids on Japanese positions on the Marshal Islands, escort duty for the Doolittle Raid,  Battle of Midway, and actions throughout the South Pacific, Allen shared, “We met up with the Hornet and went into the Santa Cruz Battle to intercept the Japanese from going to Guadalcanal.”  On October 25, 1942, the Battle of Santa Cruz began with the United States Aircraft Carriers USS Hornet CV 8, USS Enterprise CV 6 and escort ships facing a Japanese Force attempting to gain control of the waters around Guadalcanal.  

During the battle Allen shared, “I was looking at the Hornet when it was hit. Dive bombers came down to the Hornet, the same number came down to the Enterprise, but it was hit in the vital spot. One went down the chimney, it was dead in the water…The Dive bombers were coming down, the ship was going full speed ahead, hard left, and hard right. They passed the word, periscope on the starboard bow.” With near misses and Japanese strafing the deck, Allen rushed to the wounded. He recalled the bravery of the men of the Enterprise and how he and his crew worked to provide immediate medical care to the wounded. Allen’s actions would not go unnoticed by his superiors. He would receive a promotion to Chief and a commendation. Following the war, Allen would reach the rank of Commander before returning to civilian life.

Allen’s vivid account of Pearl Harbor and the battles the Enterprise participated in are a national treasure which will inform Americans for generations to come about key U.S. Naval actions in the Pacific Theater of World War Two. 

The United States Navy Memorial honors United States Navy Veteran, Commander Robert V. Allen, featured within this series titled, Tales from the Navy Log, Story of the Month. Each month, this series honors a Veteran’s story recorded by the Stories of Service Program at the Navy Memorial. To learn more about this story and to explore the Navy Memorial archive, visit the Navy Memorial Stories of Service site at https://www.navymemorial.org/stories-of-service. 

To view this interview please visit Vinson Hall Veterans Collection on the Navy Memorial Stories of Service page.