Former Army Staff Sgt. Clint Romesha went from milking cows and digging fence posts as a child to being awarded the Medal of Honor in 2013 by President Barack Obama.
“Never in a million years did I think I would be a Medal of Honor recipient,” he said. “I can tell you this. I didn’t do anything special. I did the same thing so many Americans did, and that’s raise that right arm.”
Romesha, a Lake City, California native, comes from a proud military family. His grandfather was a combat engineer who survived both Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge.
“My dad served two tours in Vietnam as an infantryman,” he said.
He said it was his ambition to join the Army following his graduation from high school in 1999.
“There wasn’t anything heroic about going to fight terrorism or anything like that,” he said. “It was literally just go see the world.”
Romesha said neither his grandfather or father shared what it was like to experience combat. Instead, they shared stories about the camaraderie they had with their fellow service members.
“They were still talking with guys they served with decades and decades ago, just like it was yesterday,” he recalled.
Romesha was only 17 when he made his initial attempt to enlist in the Army and needed parental permission to join. His father declined to sign the paperwork. The youngest of three sons, Romesha said he thought his dad just wanted to keep him on the family ranch for another summer of “free labor.”
Romesha’s father explained his decision, telling his son that while it was 1999 and not a lot was happening in the world, that could change, and by joining the military, he might be called on to do difficult things.
“Since he really didn’t share what he experienced in combat, neither did granddad, I really didn’t comprehend what he was telling me then,” Romesha said. “He just said, when you turn 18, you can sign because you’ll be an adult. You can make that decision for yourself. I’m not going to do that for you.”
Romesha would ship off to basic training on Sept. 12, 1999. His first duty station in 2000 was Germany, where he was immediately shipped for peacekeeping operations in Kosovo.
Then came the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. By 2009, Romesha was in Afghanistan with the 4th Infantry Division. He was defending Combat Outpost Keating when it came under attack by Taliban forces. Romesha repeatedly exposed himself to enemy fire, led a counterattack, and provided cover for fellow soldiers, ensuring the safety of his unit. Romesha also received the Purple Heart for injuries he sustained during the battle.
“That one day is not my defining moment,” he said. “It’s what happens today, it's what happens tomorrow.”
After leaving the Army, Romesha said his initial career plans did not work out, leading him to eventually pursue work in the oil fields of North Dakota. Today, he serves on the board of America’s Warrior Partnership.
“It plugs veterans back into their local communities to solve their problems at the lowest level,” he explained. “That builds the relations between those who served and those who didn’t have a chance to serve.”
The non-profit works to end veteran suicide and assists veterans who are experiencing financial issues, transportation problems, and employment opportunities.
Reach Julia LeDoux at Julia@connectingvets.com.