More detail on this person: Richard E Romine, 61 OBITUARIES St. Petersburg Times (FL) - Friday, August 2, 1991 ROMINE, RICHARD E., 61, of Palm Harbor, died Wednesday (July 31, 1991) at Manor Care of Palm Harbor. He was born in Athens, Ohio, and came here in 1986 from Danbury, Conn. He worked at General Signal Corp., Stamford, Conn. He was a retired Marine Corps lieutenant colonel and served in the Korean and Vietnam wars. He received the Navy Cross, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal (18th award), Purple Heart (2nd award), Defense Service medal, Korean Service medal, Vietnam Service Medal (6th award) and Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with gold cross. He was a life member of Marine Corps Aviation Association, Marine Corps Mustang Association, Marine Corps Historical Foundation, Marine Corps League, Retired Officers Association and Legion of Valor. Survivors include his wife, Edna; and a son, David S., Old Lyme, Conn. Rhodes Funeral Directors, Belcher Chapel, Clearwater. LTCOL, US MARINE CORPS KOREA, VIETNAM NAVY CROSS PURPLE HEART Romine was a PFC in my charge as a Staff Sgt 1948 at AES-41 Cherry Pt. He was a squared away bright young Marine. I had brought him back to Athens Ohio in my trips and met his family. I encouraged him to apply for Flight school when his enlistment was nearing the end. He applied and graduated in time to fly in the Korean War. I have no details on that tour. In Vietnam he was involved with an SOG (Special Forces) insertion in Laos where he & other H46 helicopters were shot down with 51 Special Forces personnel, some U.S. Army but mostly Vietnamese. They found themselves in the middle of a Battalion of Regular North Vietnam Army. Romine took charge of the Group and formed a defense perimeter in a large bomb crater where he called in Artillery & gunships & fought for one day and night under terrible conditions until they were able to clear for an evacuation. He was recommended for the Congressional Medal of Honor but due to the location of a site we were not supposed to be in it was lowered to a Navy Cross. A miscarriage of justice!!! I was very proud of my former PFC and his career. GySgt Paul Moore Citation: Navy Cross Lt Col Richard E. Romine Lt Col Romine is awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism as a helicopter pilot, troop commander, and tactical air controller on June 3 and 4, 1967, while serving with the HMM_165, 1st MAW. While extracting a besieged combat team from an enemy surrounded bomb crater, his transport helicopter was hit and he maneuvered his crippled aircraft away from the enemy prior to crash landing into the mountains. Romine then directed his crew to bring all the battle equipment that they could carry and follow him through the almost impassible and enemy populated forest to the besieged forces position. With darkness closing, Lt Col Romine requested illumination flares and adjusted them to pinpoint accuracy. He exposed the advancing enemy, brought them under fire, and prevented any surprise attacks. Although awake throughout the cold, rainy night, Lt Col Romine resumed calling in air strikes at dawn. Without thought of personal risk, he exposed himself along a barren crater rim to direct the strikes within meters of his position. For 24 hours Lt Col Romine gallantly controlled air operations and directed his nearly decimated ground forces against overwhelming enemy attacks until their guns were silenced. The enemy beaten, the trapped men were than helicopter-lifted to safety. His dynamic leadership, indomitable fighting spirit and relentless exposure to the enemy to control ground forces and air operations and save the lives of his men reflected great credit upon himself and the United States Marine Corps.
Burial information: Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, FL
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