Severin Louis Rombach


Severin Louis Rombach was an American naval aviator who was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for service during World War II.

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. 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 for duty flying with Torpedo Squadron 6. Rombach was promoted to Lieutenant 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 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 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.