In 1942, he left A&M and enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard, serving in the Atlantic during World War II. During training in Boston, Mass., his unit assisted in the recovery of the victims of the devastating Coconut Grove nightclub fire where 490 perished. His unit was then assigned to the ice-breaker Comanche in the North Atlantic when the U.S. troop ship Dorchester was torpedoed by a German submarine. The Comanche assisted in the rescue of the few survivors. In 1943, his unit was assigned to the newly commissioned USS Peterson. The Peterson operated as an escort for convoys carrying U.S. troops, cargo and tankers to the war raging in Europe. Thirteen round trips were made across the Atlantic before …show more content…
Upon returning to Del Rio, Rose owned and operated a boat business before returning to ranching.
Abb Rose was preceded in death by two sons, James Edward Rose and Bill Rose, and his brother, Pat Rose Jr.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Clara Christians Rose of New Braunfels, daughter Linda Rose Hopkins and son-in-law Roger Hopkins of New Braunfels, and seven grandchildren, Shannon Hopkins Work and husband Chris Work of Houston, Kim Hopkins Cauthorn and husband Sid Cauthorn of Del Rio, Jill Rose of New Braunfels, Nan Rose Chandler and husband Joe Chandler of Houston, R.E. Hopkins and wife Karen Hopkins of New Braunfels, Amy Rose of Houston, and Mindy Rose Cox and husband Jim Cox of