In January 1945, Roberts was ordered back to Guadalcanal, now a large supply and training base, where newly established 6th Marine Division under Major General Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr. conducted intensive training for further combat deployment in Pacific.
He was attached to the division staff and took part in the preparations of plans and amphibious training for the Okinawa Campaign.

Roberts spent two months on Guadalcanal and embarked for the staging area at Ulithi, a little atoll in the Caroline Islands at the beginning of March 1945.
The Sixth Marine Division went ashore on April 1, 1945 and met heavy Japanese resistance, mainly artillery, mortars, machine guns, and snipers.
General Shepherd was not satisfied with the progress of 22nd Marine Regiment under Colonel Merlin F. Schneider.

General Shepherd thought that Schneider, who served in the Pacific area nonstop since June 1942 needed rest and ordered Roberts to relieve him.
Roberts succeeded Schneider on May 17, 1945 after a six weeks of heavy fighting and the first thing he did was establishing of his command post immediately behind front lines.
He wanted to demonstrate to his men, that their commander was with them on the front line and also wanted better overview of the tactical situation.
He led his regiment during the combats near Naha and the capture of Sugar Loaf Hill.
For his service at Sugar Loaf Hill, Roberts received his third Navy Cross.

On June 18, 1945, the Twenty-Second Marines were participating in the action of Hill 69 and Roberts had been up forward watching the advance of 2nd Battalion with his executive officer, Lieutenant Colonel August Larson, when a sniper opened fire on them.
Roberts was hit in the chest and died a few moments later.
Larson assumed command of the regiment.

Colonel Roberts was temporarily buried on Okinawa and later reburied at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California.
His wife, Faith Newton Roberts (1900–1972) was buried beside him.
They had one daughter, Katherine.
In January 1945, Roberts was ordered back to Guadalcanal, now a large supply and training base, where newly established 6th Marine Division under Major General Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr. conducted intensive training for further combat deployment in Pacific. He was attached to the division staff and took part in the preparations of plans and amphibious training for the Okinawa Campaign.
Roberts spent two months on Guadalcanal and embarked for the staging area at Ulithi, a little atoll in the Caroline Islands at the beginning of March 1945. The Sixth Marine Division went ashore on April 1, 1945 and met heavy Japanese resistance, mainly artillery, mortars, machine guns, and snipers. General Shepherd was not satisfied with the progress of 22nd Marine Regiment under Colonel Merlin F. Schneider.
General Shepherd thought that Schneider, who served in the Pacific area nonstop since June 1942 needed rest and ordered Roberts to relieve him. Roberts succeeded Schneider on May 17, 1945 after a six weeks of heavy fighting and the first thing he did was establishing of his command post immediately behind front lines. He wanted to demonstrate to his men, that their commander was with them on the front line and also wanted better overview of the tactical situation. He led his regiment during the combats near Naha and the capture of Sugar Loaf Hill. For his service at Sugar Loaf Hill, Roberts received his third Navy Cross.
On June 18, 1945, the Twenty-Second Marines were participating in the action of Hill 69 and Roberts had been up forward watching the advance of 2nd Battalion with his executive officer, Lieutenant Colonel August Larson, when a sniper opened fire on them. Roberts was hit in the chest and died a few moments later. Larson assumed command of the regiment.
Colonel Roberts was temporarily buried on Okinawa and later reburied at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, California. His wife, Faith Newton Roberts (1900–1972) was buried beside him. They had one daughter, Katherine.
Harold C. Roberts