 Roberts neboka rake vakabva vasimbisa mauto aiva pachitsuwa cheMidway, Johnston nePalmyra uye vakakwidziridzwa pachigaro chenguva pfupi chamutungamiriri wehondo musi waMay 8, 1942. Pakupedzisira akaenda kuGuadalcanal, Solomon Islands ndokutora rutivi mukumhara paTulagimusi waAugust 7, 1942. Bazi rechitatu reDziviriro rakabudirira kurova ngarava nhatu dzemuvengi dzakanga dzazvisundira kumhenderekedzo dzegungwa kuti dzibudise mauto uye dzakarwisa mabhomba 133 airwiswa nendege dzeJapan. Roberts akabva apinda muhondo yeHenderson Field pakupera kwaGumiguru 1942 uye battalion yake yakadzivirira Lunga Point pakurwiswa nemuvengi kubva kugungwa. Akakwidziridzwa kuva colonel wenguva pfupi musi waOctober 30, 1942. 