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Clinton Romesha to get Medal of Honor for Afghan fight Clinton Romesha to get Medal of Honor for Afghan fight
(35 minutes later)
US President Barack Obama is due to present the Medal of Honor to a former soldier for his heroism during a huge firefight in Afghanistan.US President Barack Obama is due to present the Medal of Honor to a former soldier for his heroism during a huge firefight in Afghanistan.
Former Staff Sgt Clinton Romesha, 31, led a battle against hundreds of Taliban fighters four years ago.Former Staff Sgt Clinton Romesha, 31, led a battle against hundreds of Taliban fighters four years ago.
About 50 US soldiers were at Combat Outpost Keating near Pakistan when it was almost overrun by insurgents.About 50 US soldiers were at Combat Outpost Keating near Pakistan when it was almost overrun by insurgents.
He is the fourth serviceman to receive America's highest military award for action in Iraq or Afghanistan.He is the fourth serviceman to receive America's highest military award for action in Iraq or Afghanistan.
The father-of-three lives with his family in Minot, North Dakota and works in oil-field safety. The father-of-three lives with his family in Minot, North Dakota, and works in oil-field safety.
At about 06:00 on 3 October 2009, about 400 Taliban fighters targeted Combat Outpost Keating in Kamdesh District, Nuristan Province, while many key US officers were off base. href="http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/romesha/narrative.html" >According to the Army's official narrative, at about 06:00 on 3 October 2009, some 400 Taliban fighters targeted Combat Outpost Keating in Kamdesh District, Nuristan Province, while many key US officers were off base.
Peppered with shrapnelPeppered with shrapnel
The place was surrounded on four sides by insurgents who had occupied the high ground and began to attack with rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), mortars, heavy machine-gun fire and small-arms fire.The place was surrounded on four sides by insurgents who had occupied the high ground and began to attack with rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), mortars, heavy machine-gun fire and small-arms fire.
href="http://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/romesha/narrative.html" >According to the Army's official narrative, Sgt Romesha frequently exposed himself to withering enemy fire as he led the fightback. Sgt Romesha frequently exposed himself to withering enemy fire as he led the fightback.
Sgt Romesha killed a team of machine-gun fighters, and was peppered with shrapnel when an RPG landed close to his position.Sgt Romesha killed a team of machine-gun fighters, and was peppered with shrapnel when an RPG landed close to his position.
Ignoring his wounds, Sgt Romesha then killed more enemy fighters, including a machine-gun nest and a sniper position. Ignoring his wounds, Sgt Romesha then killed more enemy fighters, including a nest of machine-gunners and a sniper.
He then killed three Taliban fighters as they were breaching the outpost's perimeter.He then killed three Taliban fighters as they were breaching the outpost's perimeter.
Sgt Romesha also led a team to secure an ammunition supply point and then turned his attention to defending a vulnerable entry point.Sgt Romesha also led a team to secure an ammunition supply point and then turned his attention to defending a vulnerable entry point.
From there, he was able to pinpoint the origin of enemy fire at a nearby village, Urmul, and at an Afghan National Police checkpoint seized by the insurgents. From there, he was able to pinpoint the origin of enemy fire at a nearby village, Urmul, and at an Afghan National Police checkpoint that had been seized by the insurgents.
According to the official narrative, he helped to direct air support and 120mm mortars to target the enemy positions.According to the official narrative, he helped to direct air support and 120mm mortars to target the enemy positions.
Finally, Sgt Romesha helped wounded soldiers to withdraw to a safe location and recovered the bodies of two soldiers killed in the attack. Finally, Sgt Romesha helped wounded troops to withdraw to a safe location and recovered the bodies of two soldiers who died in the attack.
Eight US soldiers were killed and other 22 were wounded, including Sgt Romesha, in the battle. Eight US soldiers were killed and other 22 were wounded, including Sgt Romesha.
The official citation says that Sgt Romesha personally killed 10 Taliban fighters and was instrumental in the deaths of another 35.The official citation says that Sgt Romesha personally killed 10 Taliban fighters and was instrumental in the deaths of another 35.
Last month after learning he would get the award, he told a news conference: "You're not going to back down in the face of adversity like that. We were just going to win, plain and simple."Last month after learning he would get the award, he told a news conference: "You're not going to back down in the face of adversity like that. We were just going to win, plain and simple."