Assembly Resolution No. 1337
BY: M. of A. Ramos
WELCOMING members of the Rohna Survivors Memorial
Association upon the auspicious occasion of their
visit to the New York State Capitol on May 12, 2026,
and paying tribute to Robert Firstman
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
honor individuals and organizations whose purpose and actions strengthen
our shared commitment to remembrance, service, and the preservation of
history; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
welcome members of the Rohna Survivors Memorial Association (TRSMA) to
the New York State Capitol on Tuesday, May 12, 2026; and
WHEREAS, The Rohna Survivors Memorial Association was formally
established in 1999, when its articles and by-laws were adopted,
defining its enduring mission and goals, including: continuing the
search for previously unidentified survivors and the families of those
who perished, in order to provide long-awaited information about their
loved ones; bringing the story of the Rohna before the public to honor
those who lost their lives and those who carried out heroic rescue
efforts; and fostering connection and fellowship among members through
reunions and ongoing communication; and
WHEREAS, The legacy of the 1,015 American servicemembers who made
the ultimate sacrifice for the Nation, as well as those who survived the
attack on the HMT Rohna during World War II, must never be forgotten;
and
WHEREAS, On November 26, 1943, the HMT Rohna, a requisitioned
passenger liner traveling in convoy KMF-26 in the Mediterranean Sea en
route to India, carried more than 2,000 crew members and troops when it
came under attack by German Luftwaffe bombers; and
WHEREAS, During the attack, a radio-guided missile struck the
vessel, causing a catastrophic explosion and ultimately resulting in the
deaths of 1,015 American servicemembers and 134 British and Indian
crewmembers, marking the greatest loss of United States troops at sea
due to enemy action; and
WHEREAS, Among those aboard was Robert Firstman, who would become
the last known survivor of the tragedy; and
WHEREAS, Robert Firstman, who passed away on February 15, 2026, at
the age of 103, was born in 1923 in New York City to Russian immigrants,
raised in the Bronx, and enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces
in 1942 while a 19-year-old student at Brooklyn College; and
WHEREAS, Serving as a Morse Code specialist with the 130th Army
Airways Communications System, Robert Firstman was among those aboard
the HMT Rohna when it was struck; he survived the sinking after hours in
the sea and was ultimately rescued by the USS Pioneer, later continuing
his service in the China-Burma-India Theater for the remainder of World
War II; and
WHEREAS, For decades, the sinking of the HMT Rohna remained
classified, leaving families without answers and survivors unable to
speak of their experiences, until the story gradually became known
through the efforts of survivors and historians; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body further recognizes that during their
visit to the New York State Capitol, members of the Rohna Survivors
Memorial Association will present a screening of the documentary Rohna:
Classified, a moving account of the tragedy and its legacy; and
WHEREAS, The documentary was produced through the dedicated efforts
of Rohna author and past TRSMA President Michael Walsh in collaboration
with filmmaker Jack Ballo, following years of interviews with survivors
and their families; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body takes this opportunity to honor the
memory of Robert Firstman, the last living survivor of the HMT Rohna,
and to commend the Rohna Survivors Memorial Association for its tireless
dedication to remembrance, education, and historical truth; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
warmly welcome members of the Rohna Survivors Memorial Association to
the New York State Capitol on May 12, 2026, and to honor their continued
efforts to preserve the legacy of the HMT Rohna; and be it further
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pay tribute to Robert Firstman
for his service, resilience, and enduring legacy as the last known
survivor of the HMT Rohna tragedy; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to the Rohna Survivors Memorial Association and the family
of Robert Firstman.
