Clinton Romesha
Clinton LaVor Romesha (/'roʊməʃeɪ/; born August 17, 1981) is a retired United States Army soldier who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle of Kamdesh in 2009 during the War in Afghanistan.
Clinton Romesha | |
|---|---|
Romesha in 2013 | |
| Nickname(s) | "Clint" "Ro" |
| Born | August 17, 1981 Lake City, Modoc County, California |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/ | United States Army |
| Years of service | 1999–2011 |
| Rank | Staff Sergeant |
| Unit | 63rd Armor Regiment, 1st Infantry Division 72nd Armor Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | Kosovo War Iraq War War in Afghanistan |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart |
| Spouse(s) |
Tamara Romesha (m. 2000) |
| Other work | Field safety specialist |
Born into a family with a strong military background, Romesha joined the United States Army in 1999, and was posted at various times in Germany, South Korea and Colorado. Serving as an M1 Abrams tank crewman and a Cavalry Scout, Romesha had seen four deployments, including to Kosovo, Iraq twice, and Afghanistan. On October 3, 2009, he was assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, deployed to Combat Outpost Keating in eastern Afghanistan. When a force of 300 Taliban insurgents attacked the base, Romesha was credited with rallying his comrades and leading the counterattack, directing close air support and providing suppressive fire to help the wounded to an aid station. Despite being wounded, Romesha continued to fight through the 12-hour battle.
Romesha left the army in 2011 to spend more time with his family. He later took a job in the oil industry in North Dakota. On February 11, 2013, he received the Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama.