Friends, co-workers remember Nellis Airman in service Published July 24, 2008 By Senior Airman Andrew Dumboski Nellis Air Force Base Public Affairs NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- A memorial service for a Nellis Airman who died July 18 from injuries sustained in an off-duty accident was held at the Nellis Base Chapel July 22. The late 1st Lt. Dominic Romano, 99th Civil Engineer Squadron, Resources Flight Chief, had been hospitalized since he was injured in a motorcycle accident in late June. "Dom was a living force," said coworker 1st Lt. Nicholas Pulire during the memorial service. "Last night I was looking at my computer screen, just staring at the blinking cursor. I didn't have writer's block, there was just too much to talk about." Co-workers and friends highlighted some of the 31-year-old's achievements, and shared fond memories of him with a filled Chapel. "Dominic was a very bright student," said Lt. Col. Patrick Fogarty, 99th CES commander. He earned his Eagle Scout when he was 13 and graduated high school when he was 16, having skipped two grades. He learned to ride dirt bikes when he was 13 years old, beginning a life-long love of motorcycles. By the time he'd turned 23, he had already been licensed by the Coast Guard to captain up to 100-ton sailing vessels in international waters and sailed ships up and down the west coast for his father's business, the colonel added. "Of all his interests and hobbies, this one intrigued me the most." He was a storyteller, said Steve Mumford, who attended the University of Nevada Las Vegas campus with Lieutenant Romano. "You could actually be involved in the story when it happened. And afterward when he would re-tell it ... you would be wondering 'Wow, what happened next?' Every time you were involved in a story you would realize how much more spectacular he could make it sound, even if you were there and it was the most boring thing that had ever happened." "He was probably one of the smartest people I've ever encountered," Mr. Mumford said. Once he had a project for school that was supposed to be a model of a building. He turned in a model of an entire neighborhood on a board that was still empty the night before. After his friends spoke, a slide show of personal photos was played to the tune of "Someday I Suppose" by the Mighty Mighty Bosstones. The slide show was followed by a presentation ceremony of three medals awarded to Lieutenant Romano posthumously. Lieutenant Romano was awarded the Army Meritorious Service Medal for his service in support of Operation Enduring Freedom while deployed to Afghanistan, the Air Force Commendation Medal for his service in the 99th Civil Engineer Squadron and the Air Force Combat Action Medal for taking fire from enemy forces and returning fire on known enemy positions from the gun turret of his HMMWV during a mission in eastern Afghanistan. Lieutenant Romano is survived by his wife Cassie Romano, mother Ginger Boettcher, sister Carmen Romano and brother Vincent Romano and is scheduled to be laid to rest Tuesday, July 29, at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego with full military honors.
