(CNN) – A former U.S. Army staff sergeant will be just the fourth living recipient of the nation’s highest award for combat valor for his actions in repelling an insurgent onslaught in Afghanistan in 2009.
President Obama said on Friday that Clinton Romesha will receive the Medal of Honor next month.
Romesha is being recognized for his courage while a section leader with Bravo Troop, 3-61 Cavalry, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, at combat outpost Keating .
The assault on the outpost in the eastern province of Nuristan goes down as one of the deadliest attacks on U.S. troops in Afghanistan.
According to the citation accompanying the award, Romesha and fellow soldiers awakened to an attack by an estimated 300 enemy fighters occupying the high ground on all four sides of their complex. They were firing rocket-propelled grenades, anti-aircraft guns and motors.
Romesha moved uncovered under intense enemy fire multiple times to muster reinforcements and fire on attackers.
He took out an enemy machine gun team and, while engaging a second, was wounded by shrapnel when a generator he was using for cover was struck by a rocket-propelled grenade.
He fought on undeterred, exposing himself to “heavy enemy fire” while moving “confidently about the battlefield. Romesha engaged and destroyed “multiple enemy targets.” He also directed air support to destroy more than 30 enemy fighters and saved other wounded troops.
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Former Army staff sergeant to receive Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan | WTKR.com
