Former United States Army Staff Sergeant Clint Romesha says that there are moments when his Medal of Honor — the highest recognition of valor the U.S. military awards — is cumbersome to hold.

“These things aren’t given out when something goes right. A lot of stuff went wrong. And it’s a heavy weight at some times.”

In 2009, eight of his fellow soldiers were killed when the Taliban attacked early one October monring — while they attempted to defend an outpost in Afghanistan.

An outpost that Romesha described in his book — Red Platoon: A True Story of American Valor — as “the most remote, precarious and tactically screwed combat outpost in all of Aghanistan.”

Almost immediately the terror fighters were within their perimeter, and a haunting announcement reverberated throughout the installation, “ENEMY IN THE WIRE.” It was then that Romesha made a courageous stand to his men, and to himself.

“We can either set here in our last final positions or we can go out in a blaze of glory.”

The staff sergeant and his men, about 50 total, took on 300 Taliban. And successfully defended the outpost.

Here’s Romesha on CBS Sunday Morning describing the fateful day — and the brave soldiers lost:

On February 11, 2013, Romesha, once assigned to 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, was awarded the MOH by President Barack Obama.

“I think you could’ve replaced me with any red-blooded, American soldier and he would’ve stepped up and done the same thing.”