Harry Bruce Retreat Hell Leadership Award

August 11, 2017

On August 11, 2017 the Brazos Valley Marine Corps League participated in the Texas A&M Commissioning Ceremony for the presentation of the Harry Bruce Retreat Hell Leadership Award. The award name was inspired by the Korean War, of which Harry Bruce was a decorated veteran. Faced with tough fighting between the blocking Chinese divisions and the withdrawing Marines at the Chosin Reservoir in Korea, Major General Oliver P. Smith, commander of the 1st Marine Division, remarked: "Retreat, hell! We're not retreating, we're just advancing in a different direction."
Nicholas Romer, a recent graduate from Texas A&M, was the 2017 recipient of the Harry Bruce "Retreat Hell" Award, a Mameluke sword. Doug Tennis, Senior Vice Commandant of Detachment 1391, BVMCL, presents the Mameluke sword to Nicholas Romer.
Nicholas Romer's family attended the commissioning ceremony where Nicholas received his Second Second Lieutenant’s bars with his graduation from Texas A&M. Nicholas Romer has just been promoted to Master Sergean on August 7, 2017, four days before receiving his commission.
After the commissioning, Nicolas Romer poses for pictures.