Harold S. Roise

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting a Gold Star in lieu of a Second Award of the Navy Cross to Harold S. Roise (0-6134), Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding Officer of the Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in the Republic of Korea from 27 November to 11 December 1950. With his battalion in point position in defense of Yudam-ni as Marine elements moved out in the attack to Koto-ri on 27 November, Lieutenant Colonel Roise consistently remained with the leading assault forces under heavy enemy fire emanating from hostile positions deeply entrenched on commanding ground, personally deploying directing his companies and utilizing all available supporting fires in defeating the outnumbering enemy in each furious encounter. Realizing the impossibility of gaining the assigned objective before nightfall in the face of the fierce resistance and treacherous terrain conditions, he ordered his units to set up a hasty defense on the ice and snow-covered hillside and, throughout the night as wave after wave of outnumbering forces persisted in their attempts to penetrate the area, expertly shifted elements of his command from one portion of the perimeter to another and supervised each maneuver to prevent the enemy from breaching his lines. Assigned as rear guard commander for his regiment’s withdrawal from Yudam-ni on 1 December, Lieutenant Colonel Roise welded his remaining men and reinforcing units into an impregnable defense of several key terrain features imperative to the continued drive to the sea. With the column held up by a roadblock following an all-night march in bitter sub-zero weather over a narrow, frozen path along the mountain north of Hagaru-ri, he formulated and directed a brilliantly executed Maneuver to wipe out the obstruction and enable the entire column to proceed. Inculcating in his officers and men his own courageous spirit of heroism and determination, he again employed his ‘moving perimeter’ to cover the retrograde movement of all elements of the FIRST Marine Division from the Chosin Reservoir area and, on 11 December, arrived at Hungnam with his battalion an intact, fighting organization. His brilliant combat tactics, inspiring leadership and great personal valor against tremendous odds reflect the highest credit upon Lieutenant Colonel Roise, his intrepid command and the United States Naval Service.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Harold S. Roise (0-6134), Lieutenant Colonel, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy of the United Nations while serving as Commanding Officer of the Second Battalion, Fifth Marines, FIRST Marine Division (Reinforced), in action against enemy aggressor forces in the Republic of Korea from 15 to 26 September 1950. With his battalion assigned the lead position during the amphibious assault at Inchon the night of 15 September, Lieutenant Colonel Roise hit the beach in darkness under heavy enemy fire. Maintaining superb control of his companies in the bitter action that followed, he took position on the beachhead line in a heavy rainstorm and personally directed his units into a defensive perimeter to drive off repeated counterattacks launched by the fanatical aggressors. Continually subjecting himself to devastating artillery, mortar, automatic- weapons and small-arms fire, he pressed forward in his rapid advance to the city, expeditiously capturing assigned objectives and, on one occasion, leading a brilliantly executed maneuver to repulse a heavy counterattack with six hostile tanks and approximately 100 of the enemy destroyed without a single loss among his own units. Seriously wounded in a mortar barrage against his forward observation post as he directed his assault companies against the enemy’s main line of resistance outside the city of Seoul, on 24 September, Lieutenant Colonel Roise refused medical attention for his own wounds and diligently supervised the care and evacuation of all the wounded. Calling for and briefing his executive officer in the tactical situation, he submitted to emergency first aid but refused evacuation and, although suffering severe pain, encouraged and deployed his men in routing and destroying the enemy in each fierce encounter on their drive to capture the city. His gallant leadership, great personal valor and cool courage, maintained against tremendous odds, served to inspire all the men of his battalion and reflect the highest credit upon Lieutenant Colonel Roise, his heroic command and the United States Naval Service.