Sergeant Clinton LaVor Romesha is a retired member of the United States Army and a recipient of the prestigious Medal of Honor. Romesha earned his award by taking courageous action during the Battle of Kamdesh in eastern Afghanistan.
Background
Sergeant Romesha was born in Lake City, California, in 1981, and hails from a line of military veterans. His grandfather served in World War II, fighting in the Battle of Normandy, and his father served in Vietnam. His two brothers have also served.
Romesha enlisted in the Army in 1999 and underwent training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. No stranger to combat, he deployed to Kosovo and Iraq before serving in Operation Enduring Freedom. On October 3, 2009, Sergeant Romesha valiantly served at Combat Outpost (COP) Keating in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan. Engaging bravely during the battle that ensued there that day led to an ultimate recognition of courage and heroism – his Medal of Honor.
Medal of Honor Action
On October 3, 2009, a band of Taliban fighters stormed COP Keating. Strategically positioned in the hills of eastern Afghanistan, the outpost served as a major obstacle to Taliban operations. As such, its destruction was paramount for their leadership. An attack plan quickly formed. They would srtike at dawn.
Hearing explosions and gunfire near the base’s perimeter wall, Romesha alerted his fellow servicemembers and organized a counterattack. As American soldiers fell, he engaged the Taliban snipers, running directly into enemy fire. Sergeant Romesha fired his pistol, forcing some of the Taliban snipers to take cover. As the Taliban scattered, Romesha guided the military aircraft, which had flown in to help suppress the attack. Although Romesha sustained injury, he persevered in battle and refused to back down. Unfortunately, the backup that were sent for his aid had their path blocked by an ongoing attack from a nearby operation post known as “Fritsche.” Romesha fought the Taliban for 12 hours, eventually assisting in the defeat of the attackers.
On October 3, 2009, Kamdesh became the scene of one of the deadliest battles in Operation Enduring Freedom. A fierce clash between US forces and over 150 Taliban militants resulted in 8 American fatalities and 27 injured soldiers. The destruction was so great that Combat Outpost Keating had to be evacuated soon after the battle concluded – a lasting reminder of this tragic conflict’s impact on both sides.
Sergeant Romesha continued to serve in the Army until his separation in 2011. President Barack Obama presented him with his Medal of Honor during a ceremony at the White House on February 11, 2013. He is also a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart.