Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet today attended the White House Medal of Honor Presentation Ceremony for Staff Sergeant Clinton Lavor Romesha. Sergeant Romesha is the fourth living Medal of Honor Recipient from the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars. Romesha was a Fort Carson soldier, assigned to the 4^th Infantry Division just outside Colorado Springs, at the time of the battle.

“Witnessing one of our state’s finest receive our nation’s highest honor was a remarkable experience. Staff Sergeant Clinton Romesha displayed the exceptional heroism, bravery and sense of duty that define a Medal of Honor recipient. Injured, declining medical treatment and confronted by extraordinary danger, Sergeant Romesha risked his life to rescue the wounded and to recover his fallen comrades – his courage never wavered,” Bennet said. “Medal of Honor recipients represent the pinnacle of the remarkable one percent who serve our country in uniform. On behalf of all Coloradans, we owe Sergeant Romesha a huge debt of gratitude. His service is an example of honor and sacrifice that has been the hallmark of the Medal of Honor since its creation.”

On October 3, 2009, Staff Sgt. Romesha’s unit was surrounded and attacked by enemy forces that outnumbered the Americans almost 10 to 1 at Combat Outpost Keating in Kamdesh District, Nuristan Province, Afghanistan. During the day-long engagement Romesha was responsible for recovering fallen soldiers and leading multiple recovery, supply, and counter-attack operations.

Staff Sergeant Clinton L. Romesha was deployed three times in support of the War on Terror with two tours to Iraq and one tour to Afghanistan. In addition to the Medal of Honor, Sergeant Romesha has received Three Army Commendation Medals, the Iraq Campaign Medal with Three Campaign Stars, and the Purple Heart.

The Medal of Honor is the highest award for valor in action against an enemy force which can be bestowed upon an individual serving in the Armed Services of the United States.