Roebuck — hero

This article's content is marked as Mature
Roebuck contains mature content that may include coarse language, sexual references, and/or graphic violent images which may be disturbing to some. Mature articles are recommended for those who are 18 years of age and older.

If you are 18 years or older or are comfortable with graphic material, you are free to view this page. Otherwise, you should close this page and view another page.

“	Years after the raid on Makin, we're heading up an all out assault on Peleliu Island...no POW's to rescue this time...our mission: take the airfield and cripple their supply network. Alongside familiar faces, fresh faced recruits...the older guys like Miller, Sgt. Sullivan and myself, we're known as "The old breed". "Old"... we're not even out of our twenties.	„
	~ Roebuck.

“	Everything that was asked of us - we've done. Every night we lay in a filthy foxhole - prayin' the enemy won't slit our throats. Every day we spent crawling through the mud and the dirt while bullets whistled all around. This is the enemy's last stand. When we take Shuri Castle, we go home. All of us.	„
	~ Roebuck in "Breaking Point".

Sergeant Roebuck is one of the two deuteragonists (alongside Viktor Reznov) of Call of Duty: World at War and a major character in the non-canonical prequel Call of Duty: World at War: Final Fronts. He is the American squad leader of the United States Marine Corps' Marine Raiders in the Pacific campaign. Though originally second-in-command of the unit, he became the leader after Tom Sullivan was killed in battle.

He was voiced by Kiefer Sutherland, who also played Athos in the 1993 film, The Three Musketeers, and Jack Bauer in the 24 tv series, and also voiced Prince Hans in The Nutcracker Prince, General Warren R. Monger in Monsters vs. Aliens, Big Boss and Venom Snake in the Metal Gear Solid V video games, Samson the Lion in The Wild and Gideon Jones in Call of Duty: Black Ops 4.

Biography

Early Life

Roebuck was born between 1915-1920 in the United States, and later joined the United States Marine Corps during the height of World War II. Reaching the rank of corporal, he became a member of the Marine Raiders (notably Carlson's 2nd Marine Raiders Battalion), and the 1st Marine Division. Roebuck later met Sergeant Tom Sullivan and Private First Class C. Miller, who were considered "The Old Breed" despite not being out of their twenties. During his military service, Roebuck received numerous scars, but doesn't have them in the Wii version.

World at War

After Miller and K. Pyle were captured by the Imperial Japanese Army on Makin Island, Roebuck and Sullivan decided to rescue them and invade the island. Roebuck manages to save Miller from a Japanese officer, and works with the reconnaissance team to raid Makin, rescue their support squad, and escape Makin Atoll. Two years later, Roebuck, Sullivan, Miller and new recruit Private Polonsky, participate in the invasion of Peleliu with the 1st Marine Division. After clearing the Japanese defenses, Sullivan is stabbed by a Banzai Charger, and slowly dies from his wounds. Roebuck is promoted to sergeant and takes command of the squad, and feels numbed and shock by Sullivan's death, stating he never saw it coming.

Roebuck later leads his squad in capturing the Peleliu airfield, and survives a Japanese ambush with them using a crashed American plane. Though they have taken the airfield, the Imperial Japanese Army still have old on most of the inland areas of the island, and the squad manages to clear the enemy trenches with flamethrowers. After clearing the trenches, Roebuck and squad work with tank units in taking out the Japanese Artillery positions on the point.

Roebuck and the squad later battle in Okinawa, and manage to clear out each stronghold and the Wana ridge. Upon completing their mission, the squad receive orders to storm Shuri Castle, and are nearly killed during another Japanese ambush when getting ammunition. After battling numerous Japanese soldiers, Roebuck, Miller and Polonsky come across soldiers attempting to surrender. Roebuck and Polonsky try to secure the soldiers, only to get attacked by them, leaving Miller to either save Roebuck or Polonsky.

If the player chooses to save Roebuck, Polonsky will be killed, and Roebuck will kneel to mourn his death. Roebuck swears to kill the Japanese for killing him, and helps protect their defense as Miller calls in air support. After defeating the Japanese, Roebuck gives Miller Polonsky's dog tags, and repeats what he said in the introduction of the mission. If the player decides to save Polonsky, the private will proceed to have a similar reaction to Roebuck's if the former died. Polonsky then helps Miller in holding off the last of the Japanese forces, and gives Miller Roebuck's dog tags.

Black Ops

When Alex Mason is walking through the Pentagon with Jason Hudson and Robert McNamara in "U.S.D.D.", a portrait of Roebuck can be seen. In the zombie map "Five", pictures of him during battles of World War II can be seen.

Black Ops 4

He is briefly mentioned by Robert McNamara in 1963 after he sent him alongside Broken Arrow on intel in Classified.

Quotes

“	Making Atoll - little more than sand, trees and a small Japanese military base. Miller's reconissnace team landed there almost a week ago. Since then - we've heard nothing. The waiting's over, we're going in. For all we know they're already dead. If what little we know about the Japanese is true, it might be better if they are.	„
	~ Roebuck.

“	Miller... you're okay. Thank God. We're gonna make them pay for what they've done.	„
	~ Roebuck upon finding Miller.

“	We need to get to the extraction point ASAP! Sullivan... we had to jerry-rig the charges! Charges set... we're leaving! NOW!	„
	~ Roebuck setting the charges.

“	Sullivan! No... hold on... you're gonna be okay... Corpsman!	„
	~ Roebuck to a dying Sullivan.

“	We're all numbed by Sullivan's death. We just never saw it coming, I still can't believe it. The most solid, dependable and courageous Marine we've ever known. Blink of an eye, gone. Now it's down to me and me alone, to lead these men, my brothers, safely through this campaign. AA fire from Peleliu airfield is knocking our planes right out of the sky. Taking this airfield is our only priority. Whatever the cost.	„
	~ Roebuck.

“	Tojo's got a tight hold on pretty much everything to the west. Direct route runs right into Japanese guns. We take the flank. It might get us wet, but it's not going to get us killed. We regroup with the 5th when we're through this swamp. Stay sharp.	„
	~ Roebuck's plan.

“	Though we've taken the airfield, the enemy still holds onto most of the inland areas of the island. A maze of trenches and artillery positions run right through this whole godforsaken rock. The enemy's dug in deep, and we have to get our hands dirty. Flamethrowers. We'll burn 'em out.	„
	~ Roebuck.

“	Our tanks are getting hammered by mortar fire! We need to clear these trenches and knock out each mortar pit! Get ready with that flamethrower! Incoming!	„
	~ Roebuck.

“	Getting this far has been tougher than any of us could ever have imagined. Taking the airfield and the mortar pits showed us that the enemy will fight to the death for every last inch of this rock. They're making their last stand in the jungles and caves that surround the heavy guns on the point. We take them...and we take Peleliu.	„
	~ Roebuck.

“	Roebuck: The 200 mm on the point still has White Beach targeted. We all saw firsthand what that means when we hit shore. Any attempts to bring in reinforcements just leads to the same outcome... Polonsky: A fucking bloodbath. Roebuck: Yeah... well... Major Gordon's suspended any further landings until the guns are knocked out. Now listen... Tojo's got a network of tunnels and caves running through the whole damn rock... we're trying to flush 'em out with the dogs... but we all know how stubborn these bastards are. Be prepared for close quarter fighting... they'll come at us from all sides. Watch each other's backs...don't get caught out.	„
	~ Roebuck and Polonsky.

“	The Battle of Peleliu finally came to an end in November of 1944. Three bitter months after it was supposed to. When we shipped out for Okinawa, the airfield became a vital asset in the campaign. Among those stationed there are the crews of the US Navy black cats. Men who would risk everything before they would leave any of us in enemy waters.	„
	~ Roebuck about their drive in Okinawa.

“	Status report? The last few months on Okinawa have taken their toll. Morale is low. It's the rain, sir... and the mud. Tanks are getting bogged down. Supplies aren't getting through. We can't even get the wounded out. Yes, sir... understood.	„
	~ Roebuck with Gordon.

“	Just get up the hill, Polonsky.	„
	~ Roebuck to Polonsky.

“	Outstanding, Marines... out-fucking-standing...	„
	~ Roebuck referencing Sullivan's words to the Marines.

“	Word is main force pulled back to the north ridge. But I want everyone ready to fight. Soon as that supply drop shows, we move.	„
	~ Roebuck to the Marines.

“	Watch the grass... watch the trees... Watch any damn place Tojo could be waiting.	„
	~ Roebuck.

“	Polonsky! Miller, Polonsky's down! Those animals killed him! Animals!	„
	~ Roebuck (determinate).

“	Hold the line! You fucking animals! This ain't over! Y'hear me? This ain't over!	„
	~ Roebuck (determinate).

“	Damn...we did it...it's over...it's finally over.	„
	~ Roebuck after defeating the Japanese (determinate).

Gallery

Trivia

He is the multiplayer announcer for the Marine Raiders.
In Final Fronts, he doesn't have scars and never dies.
He is unlocked as a Gamer Picture when the player prestiges on the Xbox 360.
If the player saves Roebuck, they will get the "Guardian Angel" achievement/trophy.
In the Black Ops mission "Rebirth" and zombie map "Five", Roebuck's body can be seen in the labs, but's it's unclear if it's canon or just a character model with his textures.
He is mentioned by Robert McNamara in the Black Ops 4 Zombies map, "Classified".