Former SSG Romesha will be awarded MOH on Feb 11
 

SSG Will be awarded the Medal of Honor on Feb 11 2013. Here is His story:

Hero of COP Keating battle to receive MoH



By Michelle Tan - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Jan 11, 2013 13:06:21 EST



A former staff sergeant who helped repel one of the largest, most vicious battles against U.S. forces in Afghanistan will receive the Medal of Honor, the White House announced Friday.

Clinton L. Romesha, 31, will be the fourth living service member to receive the nation’s highest award for valor for actions in Afghanistan or Iraq. Seven other service members have posthumously been awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions in those wars.

Romesha will be awarded Feb. 11 at the White House.

Romesha was a section leader in B Troop, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division during the Oct. 3, 2009, attack on Combat Outpost Keating in eastern Afghanistan.

Eight American soldiers were killed and two dozen others wounded in the battle as the troop-sized element fought against an overwhelming enemy force that launched a brazen attack to overrun the COP

Here is the rest of the story:

[url]http://www.*********.com/news/2013/01/army-medal-of-honor-romesha-011113[/url]

More info on SSG Romesha:

Fourth living veteran of Afghanistan war to receive Medal of Honor

ByJennifer Hlad
Stars and Stripes

Published: January 11, 2013

[url]http://www.*********.com/news/2013/01/army-medal-of-honor-romesha-011113/[/url]









Clinton Romesha
WASHINGTON — Former Army Staff Sgt. Clinton Romesha will receive the Medal of Honor in February for his actions as a section leader in Afghanistan in 2009, the fourth living veteran of the war in Afghanistan to receive the award.

Romesha was section leader with Bravo Troop, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division at combat outpost Keating in Kamdesh district, Afghanistan, on Oct. 3, 2009, when his unit came under heavy fire.

According to written accounts by military historian Richard S. Lowry, enemy fighters launched an assault against the post, attacking from three sides and coming close to taking the ammunition supply point.

Romesha led a counterattack to reclaim the ammunition bunker, Lowry wrote.

Eight soldiers were killed in the firefight, which Lowry said lasted 12 hours.

Romesha, who enlisted in 1999 and left the Army in 2011, deployed to Afghanistan twice and to Iraq four times. He has several military decorations, including a Bronze Star, three Army Commendation medals and five Army Achievement medals.

The attack on COP Keating remains one of the deadliest attacks against coalition forces in Afghanistan and is chronicled in the book “The Outpost,” by Jake Tapper. In it, Tapper writes that Romesha is the son of a leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cedarville, Calif.

“His parents had hoped he would follow his father into the church leadership, and Romesha had in fact gone to seminary for four years during high school — from five till seven every morning — but ultimately it just wasn’t for him. He didn’t even go on a mission, a regular rite for young Mormon men. Romesha was better suited to this kind of mission, with guns and joes under his command.”

Romesha lives in Minot, N.D., with his wife and three children.

The announcement of his award came the same day Afghan President Hamid Karzai met with White House and Pentagon officials to discuss the future of U.S. troops in Afghanistan.

The scarcity of battlefield valor awards has been a sore spot for veterans groups and lawmakers in recent years. Only seven men, including Romesha, have been awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan since 2001, and only four have received the award for valor in Iraq\

Leo Shane contributed to this report.

[email]hladj@stripes.osd.mil[/email]
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I was surprised to see this hit CNN.com this morning.

[url]http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2013/01/11/epic-combat-valor-soldier-to-receive-medal-of-honor/?hpt=hp_t3[/url]

Just don't read the idiotic comments below the story.

There is a one-hour CNN special tonight at 2200 EST.

I watched the person to person interview of SSG Romesha tonight. Humble. Nothing fake about this guy. He has my salute.

Rock on Brother, you have my respect.

Ceremony starts around 1315 EST today. [URL="http://www.dvidshub.net/webcast/2857"][B]Link to webcast[/B][/URL].

Good Ceremony

A true Hero. A humble man and a man of Honor. Congrats and salute. Well deserved.

A well deserved award for a true warrior. Congrats SSG

More info:

[url]http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/romesha/team.html[/url]



Clinton Lovar Romesha

Former Staff Sergeant Clinton L. Romesha (pronounced Row-ma-shay) was born in Lake City, Calif., in August 1981.

Romesha enlisted in the Army in September 1999, as an M1 armor crewman. After completion of training at Fort Knox, Ky., he was assigned as a tank gunner with B Company, 1-63rd Armor, Camp Vilseck, Germany, which included an operational deployment to Kosovo.

After Germany, he was assigned as a gunner/assistant tank commander with A Company, 2-72nd Armor, Camp Casey, Korea. Following Korea, which included a combat tour to Iraq, he was assigned as a section leader with 3-61st Cavalry, Fort Carson, Colo. There he completed the Long Range Reconnaissance Course, Advanced Leader Course, and Air Assault Training.

Romesha deployed twice to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, and once to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

At the time of the deadly attack on Combat Outpost (COP) Keating, Kamdesh district, Afghanistan, on Oct. 3, 2009, Staff Sgt. Romesha was assigned as a section leader for Bravo Troop, 3-61st Cavalry, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division.

Romesha's awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, Army Commendation Medal (with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Achievement Medal (with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters), Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Kosovo Campaign Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal (with 2 Bronze Service Stars), Iraq Campaign Medal (with 3 Bronze Service Stars),Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon (with Numeral Two Device), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon (with Numeral 5 Device), NATO Medal (with Bronze Service Star), the Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Commendation and the Combat Action Badge.

Romesha separated from the Army on April 4, 2011. He and his wife Tamara (Tammy), their three children, Dessi, Gwen, Colin, and Tammy's parents Kevin and Lorin, currently live in Minot, ND. Romesha works as a Field Safety Specialist with an oilfield construction company. He credits the Army's transition assistance program as being helpful in preparing his resume and engaging the company. Romesha equates his civilian job to that of a noncommissioned officer who establishes risk mitigation policies and enforces safety standard operating procedures. He says his current profession is similar to an Army observer/controller, identifying areas the organization can improve and making on-the-spot corrections.

Romesha has two older brothers, one older sister and a younger sister. His fondest childhood memories are of spending time with his grandpa, the late Aury Smith, a WWII veteran, on his small ranch in Vya, Nevada. His grandpa told him to always do his best, and that the integrity of the family name was Romesha’s legacy to be cherished.

When he gets time away from restoring his 100-year-old home, he enjoys watching and attending hockey games

And then, there's [URL="http://www.allproudamericans.com/Medal-of-Honor-Recipient-Declines-White-House-Invite.html"]this[/URL]

[QUOTE]One day after receiving the U.S. Army's highest accolade, former Staff Sergeant Clint Romesha will not be attending President Barack Obama's State of the Union, despite an invitation from the first lady.

Romesha, who received a Medal of Honor from the president on Monday, declined Michelle Obama's State of the Union invitation, CNN reported Tuesday.

"I've done some soul searching," Romesha told CNN. "As much as a great honor it would be to be a guest of the first lady, it's also kind of hard to break away from the friends and the family and all the great guys here."[/QUOTE]

For some reason I can't help thinking "yeah, right, [I]that's[/I] why you turned down the invitation". ;)

Congrats to SSG Romesha for receiving the Medal of Honor, but looks like the son wanted to steal the show :smile:

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QWqX70p-0Jk[/url]

[QUOTE=firstshirt;1058249076]And then, there's [URL="http://www.allproudamericans.com/Medal-of-Honor-Recipient-Declines-White-House-Invite.html"]this[/URL]



For some reason I can't help thinking "yeah, right, [I]that's[/I] why you turned down the invitation". ;)[/QUOTE]

Good on him. I think he is smart enough to know, that he would be used a political pawn - like all the Police Officers standing behind Pres. Obama on his AWB speech.

I imagine, reading the details of his MOH actions, that there is also some justly pissed off resentment against higher leadership all the way to the top regarding how they were used and how their location was set up in Afghanistan. Cannot blame him.

A humble warrior.

[QUOTE=Tuukka;1058249131]Congrats to SSG Romesha for receiving the Medal of Honor, but looks like the son wanted to steal the show :smile:

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QWqX70p-0Jk[/url][/QUOTE]

I saw that video too, I thought it was pretty cool. Especially the Marine officer trying to corral him.

Congratulations to SSG Romesha, I hope he finds peace and prosperity in whatever he does.

Just watched SSG Romesha on Letterman. He was humble, and funny, and represented himself, his family, and the Army with honor and grace. We need more heros like him.

Congratulations SSG Romesha.

Just watched the Netflix MOH series episode. What a humble man and a leader.

A great man.