Sioux Falls to Host Medal of Honor Recipients This November
Mark your calendars for a very special event taking place on Thursday, November 13. The South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance will be hosting "A Night With Heroes", an exclusive celebration dedicated to highlighting the service, sacrifice, and the enduring strength of our military community.
Also, for the first time ever - the Alliance will be providing a "Welcome Home" for South Dakota’s active duty servicemembers who are retiring or have honorably completed their active-duty commitments.
Never before has there been such an organized opportunity to come alongside South Dakotans who have served their country and are now returning or relocating to the greatest state in the Union. This event will both honor and assure them that South Dakota’s people, organizations, and businesses are thankful for their service and committed to their successful reintegration into civilian life.
The evening will be headlined by Medal of Honor recipient Clint Romesha, a true American hero and keynote speaker.
Born into a family with a strong military background in 1981, Clint grew up in the state of California. He joined the U.S. Army in 1999 and by 2009 had worked his way up to the rank of Staff Sergeant.
On the morning of October 3, 2009, Romesha and his platoon were awakened to an attack by at least 300 Taliban combatants. The enemy held the high ground and were closing in on all sides of Romesha and his comrades, firing recoilless rifles, rocket propelled grenades, mortars, and even anti-aircraft machine guns.
Staff Sergeant Romesha moved uncovered under intense enemy fire to conduct a reconnaissance of the battlefield and seek reinforcements from the barracks before returning to action with the support of an assistant gunner. 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 rocket-propelled grenade, inflicting him with shrapnel wounds. 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 again rushed through the exposed avenue to assemble additional soldiers. Staff Sergeant Romesha then mobilized a five-man team and returned to the fight equipped with a sniper rifle.
Romesha successfully rallied his fellow soldiers to counterattack the enemy, eventually leading the wounded to a temporary aid station. Fighting through his own wounds, Romesha continued to fight for another 12 hours of battle. Sadly, eight of his fellow soldiers would lose their lives that day.
Clint Romesha was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on the battlefield by President Barack Obama on February 13, 2013.
For more information on this special event, check out the South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance Website and you can purchase tickets for "A Night With Heroes" at the Trail Blaze Website here.
To learn more about Clint Romesha and his remarkable tour of service in Afghanistan, check out the YouTube video below.
Story Sources: South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance Website, Trailblz Website
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