LTC RICHARD EUGENE ROMINE received 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 he mountains. He 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, COL Romine requested illumination flares and adjusted them to pinpoint accuracy. He exposed the advancing enemy, brought them under fire, and prevented any suprise attacks. Although awake throughout the cold, rainy night, COL Romine resumed calling in air strikes at dawn. Without though of personal risk, he exposed himself along a barren crater rim to direct the strikes within meters of his position. For 24 hours COL Romine gallently controlled air operations and directed his nearly decimated ground forces against overwhelming enemy attacks until their guns were silence, the enemy beaten and teh trapped men were 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 Marine Corps.

LTC ROMINE had been a member of the Legion of Valor since 1971. He resided in Florida.