Army staff sergeant clint romesha is credited with leading the counterattack, directing air support, and providing suppressive fire throughout the 12hour battle. Medal of honor recipient, former united states army staff sergeant and author of red platoon joins steve to discuss his book, red platoon. Led by staff sergeant clint romesha, this band of brothers countered with supreme valor. You can learn more about him at the official us army microsite dedicated to his service and you can watch the live stream of the ceremony, too. Romesha patrols near combat outpost cop keating in kamdesh, nuristan province, afghanistan. Romesha enlisted in the army in september 1999, as. Staff sergeant romesha took out an enemy machine gun team and, while engaging a second, the generator he was using for cover was struck by a rocketpropelled grenade, inflicting him with shrapnel wounds. Just a day after the president placed the medal of honor around the neck of former staff sgt. Cleared hot episode 74 power hour with black rifle coffee ceo evan hafer duration. This true story will make you proud of the american soldier. Soldiers with bravo troop, 3rd squadron, 61st cavalry regiment, 4th brigade combat team, 4th infantry division pose for a photo after a mission in afghanistan in 2009 091004a.
A true story of american valor and millions of other books are available for instant access. The new york times bestseller the only comprehensive, firsthand account of the fourteenhour firefight at the battle of keating by medal of honor recipient clinton romesha, for readers of black hawk down by mark bowden and lone survivor by marcus luttrell. We all had our favorite beverages of choice coffee anyone. He deployed twice to iraq in support of operation iraqi freedom, and once to. Romesha s extraordinary feats of valor paid off, and after a grueling twelve hours of fighting, the taliban finally withdrew. Romesha distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of. On 11 february 20, president barack obama awarded the medal of honor to staff sergeant clinton romesha, a survivor of the battle. A few days ago the president announced that army staff sgt. Like many who were in either iraq, afghanistan, or both, i often read books about. Lincoln journal star i read the first half of red platoon in one sitting and that night had such intense combat dreams that i actually thought twice about picking the book up again. In 2016, romeshas book red platoon was published recounting the battle of kamdesh. Romesha displayed extraordinary heroism through a daylong engagement in which he killed multiple enemy fighters, recovered fallen soldiers, and led multiple recovery.
Romesha pronounced rowmashay was born in lake city, calif. Romesha distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a section leader with bravo troop, 3d squadron. A true story of american valor ebook written by clinton romesha. Medal of honor recipient clint romesha on why soldiers go to war. Clinton romesha and the men of black knight troop faced harrowing conditions and a determined enemy during the battle for cop keating, and in the process discovered exactly who they are.
Army veteran clinton romesha receives medal of honor for afghan fight president barack obama presents the medal of honor to former army staff sgt. At the time of the deadly attack on combat outpost cop keating, kamdesh district, afghanistan, on oct. Clinton lavor clint romesha is a former united states army soldier who received the medal. Romesha will be awarded the medal of honor at the white house on feb. On that morning, staff sergeant romesha and his comrades awakened to an attack by an estimated 300 enemy fighters occupying the high ground on all four sides of the complex, employing concentrated fire from recoilless rifles, rocket propelled grenades. Romesha distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a section leader with bravo. Romesha dod photo by glenn fawcettreleased we were ready to go.
Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read red platoon. Malzberg clinton romesha discuss his book, red platoon. Romesha patrols near combat outpost keating in kamdesh, nuristan province, afghanistan, july 27, 2009. Romesha during a ceremony at the white house in washington, d. Romesha patrols near combat outpost keating in kamdesh, nuristan province, afghanistan, 27 july 2009. He deployed twice to iraq in support of operation iraqi freedom, and once to afghanistan in support of operation enduring freedom.
Undeterred by his injuries, staff sergeant romesha continued to fight and upon the arrival of another soldier to aid him and the assistant gunner. He, with fortynine comrades, were attacked by some three hundred taliban soldiers. Clinton lavor romesha was born in august 1981 in lake city, california, to a family with a strong military background. Memoir by clint romesha, moh recipient, on sale may 3. Parade red platoon by medal of honor recipient clinton romesha will probably prove to be the definitive literary contribution of the war in afghanistan. Clinton romesha, the noncommissioned officer was inducted into the hall of heroes at the pentagon where the names and memories of all service members who have earned.
Romesha was in the army from 1999 through 2011, when he left active duty to spend more time with family and work in north dakotas oil industry. To us, that phrase nailed one of the essential truths, maybe even the essential truth, about being stuck at an outpost whose strategic and tactical vulnerabilities were so glaringly obvious to every soldier who had ever set foot in that place that the name itself keating had become a. Army veteran clinton romesha receives medal of honor for. Romesha distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the. Former army staff sergeant describes the bravery of his men during the 12hour battle for combat outpost keating in eastern afghanistan. His grandfather, aury smith, is a world war ii veteran who fought in the battle of normandy his father is a vietnam war veteran who later became a church leader in the church of jesus christ of. But the medal of honor recipient, recognized for his actions during the ferocious and deadly 2009 battle at combat outpost.
The only comprehensive, firsthand account of the thirteen hour firefight at the battle of keating by medal of honor recipient clinton romesha, for readers of black hawk down by mark bowden and lone survivor by marcus luttrell. A true story of american valour audible audio edition. Fourth living veteran of afghanistan war to receive medal. The only comprehensive, firsthand account of the fourteenhour firefight at the battle of keating by medal of honor recipient clinton romesha, for readers of black hawk down by mark bowden and lone survivor by marcus luttrell. Clinton romesha obviously used this book to come to grips with what he saw and did at cop keating, and to pay homage to men he loved closer than brothers after passing with them through this crucible. At the time of the deadly attack on combat outpost. Today, ssg romesha will receive the medal of honor at about 1230pm cst. He was deployed twice to iraq in support of operation iraqi freedom, and once to afghanistan in support of operation enduring freedom. Also, important, is the team with him that fought back. Romesha will receive the medal of honor for his actions at combat outpost keating in nuristan province, afghanistan in october of 2009. Romesha distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty dod production.
Obama awards the medal of honor to former army staff sgt. Clint romesha and other soldiers talk about taking their post back from the taliban in afghanistan. Clinton romesha will receive the medal of honor in february for his actions as a section leader in afghanistan in. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. At the time of the deadly attack on combat outpost cop keating on october 3, 2009, staff.