LCDR ROBERT M. McEWEN, United States Navy, was awarded the Navy Cross for his extraordinary heroism on 30 March 1968 as a naval flight officer in Attack Squadron ONE HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE, embarked in USS RANGER (CVA-61). Lieutenant Commander McEwen was the bombardier/navigator on a daring, single-airplane, night attack against the heavily defended and vital Hanoi port facility in North Vietnam. Although his aircraft developed difficulty with the inertial navigation system, Lieutenant Commander McEwen continued to navigate the aircraft to the target at an extremely low altitude and high speed over rough terrain in instrument flight conditions. While the pilot successfully evaded four surface-to-air missiles, intense radar-directed 57 and 85 millimeter antiaircraft fire, and constant tracking and barrage automatic-weapons fire, Lieutenant Commander McEwen calmly and professionally provided accurate navigation and attack parameters to the pilot, resulting in a devastating string of bombs dropped precisely on target. During retirement from the target area, he assisted his pilot in further evasive maneuvers to avoid heavy concentrations of automatic-weapons fire. Due to a low fuel state, the pilot had to rendezvous and refuel prior to completing recovery. Lieutenant Commander McEwen’s heroic actions, professionalism, and fearless devotion to duty in the face of grave personal danger were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

LCDR McEwen joined the Legion of Valor in 1970.