Severin Louis Rombach
Severin Louis Rombach (November 26, 1914 – June 4, 1942) was an American naval aviator who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for service during World War II.
Severin Louis Rombach | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 26, 1914 Cleveland, Ohio |
| Died | June 4, 1942 (aged 27) near Midway Island |
| Allegiance | United States of America |
| Service/ | United States Naval Reserve |
| Years of service | 1939–1942 |
| Rank | Lieutenant (junior grade) |
| Unit | USS Enterprise (CV-6) Torpedo Squadron 6 |
| Battles/wars | Battle of Midway |
| Awards | Navy Cross (posthumous) |
Early life and career
Rombach was born on November 26, 1914, in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended Ohio University, where he earned a B.A. in commerce. While a student at Ohio, he was a member of the German club and a manager for the football team.[1] He enlisted in the Naval Reserve at Grosse Ile, Michigan on May 5, 1939. Rombach was appointed aviation cadet on September 21, 1939, and was designated naval aviator on May 10, 1940. On June 12, 1940, he was promoted to ensign, and shortly thereafter he was assigned to USS Enterprise (CV-6) for duty flying with Torpedo Squadron 6. Rombach was promoted to Lieutenant (junior grade) on May 28, 1942.
Navy Cross
Rombach was reported missing in action on June 4, 1942, after his plane had been hit in the Battle of Midway. Lieutenant (junior grade) Rombach was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his participation in:
. . . a vigorous and intensive assault against the Japanese invasion fleet, ... Rombach pressed home his attack with relentless determination, in the face of a terrific barrage of antiaircraft fire.
Namesake
The US Navy named the destroyer escort USS Rombach (DE-364) in Rombach's honor. The ship was laid down on March 20, 1944, by Consolidated Steel Corporation in Orange, Texas. USS Rombach was launched on June 6, 1944, sponsored by Rombach's widow, and was commissioned on September 20, 1944, Lieutenant Commander Calvert Burke Gill in command.
See also
References
- Athena Yearbook, 1936. University of Ohio. 1936. p. 37. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
- This article incorporates text from the public domain Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships. The entry can be found here.