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Kent Weekly (SS/DSV) (DBF), EMCS
to remember
Romoser, William Kilian, RADM USN(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Baltimore, MD
Last Address Virginia Beach, VA
Date of Passing Nov 01, 1986
Location of Interment Arlington National Cemetery (VLM) - Arlington, Virginia
Navy Cross
Awarded for Actions During World War II
Service: Navy
Division: U.S.S. Radford (DD-446)
General Orders: Commander South Pacific Area and Force, Serial 001281 (July 19, 1943)
Citation: The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Commander William Kilian Romoser (NSN: 0-60197/1100), United States Navy, for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service in the line of his profession as Commanding Officer of the Destroyer U.S.S. RADFORD (DD-446), during the landing of troops at Rice Anchorage, Kula Gulf, New Georgia Island on the night of 4 - 5 July 1943, during the battle with enemy surface forces off Kula Gulf and while conducting rescue operations of the survivors of the U.S.S. HELENA on the night of 5 - 6 July 1943. While engaged as screening vessel for the landing force at Rice Anchorage in the narrow confines of KulaGulf contiguous to enemy held territory, Commander Romoser successfully covered our landing force against enemy attacks, during which time his ship silenced an enemy shore battery and made depth charge attacks on enemy submarines. His fearlessness, intrepidity, and skillful handling of his ship contributed materially to the success of the operation which continued for five hours until daylight, by which time all men and equipment were landed and all of our light transports retired undamaged. Upon the completion of this operation, Commander Romoser by his perseverance and tenacity succeeded in obtaining fuel, and ammunition for his ship in time to rejoin his regular task force for operations the succeeding night. On this night he took part in the battle with enemy surface forces off KulaGulf during which time his ship engaged the enemy with guns and torpedoes and our forces succeeded in damaging or sinking all enemy vessels. After all enemy ships had been sunk or beached his ship was directed to rescue survivors of the U.S.S. HELENA who were then afloat in life rafts within five miles of enemy-held territory. Due to Commander Romoser's skillful handling, fearlessness, and devotion to duty his ship succeeded in rescuing four hundred and forty officers and men. During the rescue operations which were conducted for over three hours until after daylight, his ship was forced to abandon this rescue mission on three occasions to close enemy ships coming out of KulaGulf. Due to his daring offensive action, disregard of his own safety, and professional skill his ship and one assisting destroyer succeeded in destroying one enemy light cruiser and one destroyer, and damaging another destroyer, as well as avoiding any damage to his own ship from enemy gunfire or torpedoes. Commander Romoser's heroism, fearlessness, intrepidity, courage, and outstanding leadership were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
New Georgia Campaign (1943)/Battle of Kolombangara
From Month/Year
July / 1943
To Month/Year
July / 1943
Description The Battle of Kolombangara ( known as the Second Battle of Kula Gulf) was a naval battle of the Pacific campaign of World War II, fought on the night of 12/13 July 1943, off Kolombangara in the Solomon Islands.
Battle
At 01:00 on 13 July, the Allied ships established radar contact about 20 mi (17 nmi; 32 km) east of the northern tip of Kolombangara. Ainsworth assumed he had complete surprise, but the Japanese had been aware of the Allied force for almost two hours. The destroyers increased speed to engage the Japanese force while the cruisers turned to deploy their main batteries, but the Imperial destroyers had already launched Long Lance torpedoes and turned away. Jintsu engaged the Allied ships, but all Allied fire was concentrated on the largest ship. Jintsu was reduced to a wreck while Leander was struck by a torpedo and, severely damaged, retired from the battle escorted by Radford and Jenkins. Jintsu was finally broken in two by torpedo hits and sank at about 01:45, with the loss of nearly her entire crew, including Vice Admiral Izaki.
Ainsworth pursued the Imperial destroyers, but both St. Louis and Honolulu were struck by torpedoes and damaged, while Gwin was struck amidships and scuttled at 09:30 the next morning.
Aftermath
Honolulu and St. Louis were out of action for several months, while Leander was under repair for a year and never returned to action during World War II.
Except for Jintsu, the Japanese force escaped damage, and the transport destroyers successfully landed 1,200 men at Vila. The Emperor's men had won a tactical victory, but of the action the naval historian Samuel Eliot Morison wrote: "A string of such victories added up to defeat."
Though at a severe cost, Ainsworth also accomplished his mission of preventing an attack on the Marines, and combined with the earlier Battle of Kula Gulf, successfully deterred the Japanese from future use of Kula Gulf in reinforcing Munda. After the Battle of Kolombangara, the Japanese chose to use Vella Gulf, Blackett Strait, and the more constricted passage at Wana Wana, resulting in a series of nightly attacks by U.S. destroyers and PT boats against their reinforcement efforts.