In mid July of 1940 after graduation from high school, Jason Robards had the opportunity to enroll in college but decided to join the Navy.  He was 17 years old at the time.   After basic training in San Diego California, Jason was transferred to the flag ship USS Northampton in mid November of 1940.  The USS Northampton's home-port was Pearl Harbor in Hawaii at the time.   The Japanese attacked Pearl on December 7th, 1941.  Jason was at sea on the Northampton the day Pearl was attacked.   The days to come would change Jason life forever. He would now see the agony and horror of war through his own eyes.

The Heavy Cruiser USS NORTHAMPTON (CA-26) was at sea with Admiral William Halsey along with the Enterprise during the time the Japanese attack on Pearl.   The battle group returned to Pearl the next day.  On the 9th the battle group started to search northeast of Oahu, then swept south to Johnston Island, then north again to hunt the Japanese enemy west of Lisianski and then Midway.   The Northampton was part of the battle force with Doolittle's raid against Tokyo, the Battle of Midway, and the Naval Battles of Guadalcanal. 

During the battle of Tassafaronga near Guadalcanal in the Salomon Islands, the USS Northampton was Command by Capt. W. A. Kitts.   The USS Northampton was part of Task Force 67 and during the battle she was struck by two 24-inch torpedoes fired from the Submarine Oyashio Command by Capt Arima Tokiyoshi on November 30th 1942.  The USS. Northampton sank at sea the next day and  fifty eight crew members were lost.   The USS. Northampton received "Six Battle Stars" for her service in World War II.

Jason told a reporter years later that  " Having the cruiser Northampton blown out from under me near Guadalcanal in 1942.  "I treaded water from 11:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. before they picked me up."

After the USS. Northampton was lost, Jason was transferred to the Cruiser USS. HONOLULU CL-48 she was called "The Blue Goose."    In the battle of Tassafaronga at the end of November 1942, the  Honolulu was the only U.S. cruiser present that was not torpedoed.   During the first half of 1943, she was part of the surface striking forces that spearheaded the push up the Solomon's.

In May she bombarded the Japanese bases at Munda and Vila and in July assisted in the Rend ova, New Georgia invasion.   The Honolulu engaged enemy warships in the Battle of Kula Gulf on July 6th, and the Battle of Kolombangara on July 13th. Torpedo damage to her bow, received in the latter action, forced her to return to the U.S. for repairs.

The USS. Honolulu was back in the south Pacific by early December 1943.   For the rest of that year and into 1944, she took part in the Bougainville operation and other actions intended to isolate the Japanese strong point at Rabaul. In June 1944, she steamed northwards to participate in the Marianas invasion, during which she bombarded Saipan and Guam.   Honolulu also covered the landings in the Palaus in September and at Leyte in October.   While off Leyte on October 20, 1944, she was the victim of a aerial torpedo attack. Hit amidships, Honolulu again required repairs in the United States. The USS. Honolulu received "Eight Battle Stars" for her service in World War II.

Jason received The Navy Cross for his extraordinary heroism during the battle of Tassafaronga on the USS. Northampton.   The Navy Cross is the second highest medal that this country can bestow on someone in war time.

Jason served in 14 major naval engagements ( battles and invasions) including: Guadalcanal,  Doolittle's raid,  Midway,  Kula Gulf,  Tassafaronga,  Kolombangara,  Leyte, Bougainville, Saipan, Guam,  Rabaul,  Rendova-New Georgia,  Marianas, Vila.   Jason spent seven years in the Navy before being honorably discharged in mid 1947.