The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Coast Guard Medal to Chief Stewardsman Bernardino Silan Romero, United States Coast Guard, for heroic conduct on 30 April 1969 while serving as a member of a fire-fighting party dispatched from U.S.C.G.C. COURAGEOUS (WMEC 623) engaged in extinguishing a fire aboard the gasoline and naphtha-laden tanker MOBIL APEX in Limetree Bay, St. Croix, Virgin Islands. Disregarding his own safety, Chief Petty Officer Romero boarded the burning vessel, assisted in laying hoses and cooling the port superstructure to allow entrance to the blazing compartments and was instrumental in applying foam and water into the raging engine room fire of the MOBILE APEX. Chief Petty Officer Romero’s outstanding initiative, courageous perseverance, and unwavering devotion to duty, in spite of imminent personal danger, reflect the highest credit upon himself and the United States Coast Guard.