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- Staff Sgt. Ryan M. Pitts fought off insurgents with grenades in 2008 Afghan battle
- Pitts asks Americans to remember the heroes -- the men who died that day
- President Obama extolled the former sergeant's humility and loyalty
- Pitts said he was profoundly changed by his battle experience
Washington (CNN) -- The newest Medal of Honor winner, former Army Staff Sgt. Ryan M. Pitts, said he wanted the nation not to remember his name, but those of the nine men who were killed in one of the fiercest fights of the war in Afghanistan.
"Valor was everywhere that day and the real heroes are the nine men who made the ultimate sacrifice so the rest of us could come home," Pitts told reporters in a short statement after receiving the nation's highest award for valor in combat.
President Barack Obama awarded Pitts the medal on Monday in a White House ceremony, saying the former Army sergeant represented the best of America's military.
Pitts, severely wounded while serving as a forward observer six years ago in a fierce battle in Afghanistan's Kunar province, is the the ninth person to receive for actions during wars in Afghanistan or Iraq.
"In Ryan Pitts, you see the humility and the loyalty that define America's men and women in uniform," Obama said.
In the predawn hours of July 13, 2008, Pitts, who was wounded in one arm and both legs and near death, lobbed grenades at militants so close he could hear them talking, and he fired a machine gun at the enemy.
He tossed grenade after grenade under a hail of enemy gunfire as comrades fell. He also asked other soldiers to fire at his position to prevent the enemy from gaining ground, according to the Army's account of events.
By the time fellow soldiers reached his position, Pitts was bleeding profusely yet firing furiously as he struggled to defend his post.
"It just seemed like the only option," Pitts told CNN before the ceremony. "Stay and fight. For whatever reason."
Former U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Ryan J. Pitts receives the Medal of Honor on Monday, July 21, for his actions during a battle in Afghanistan in 2008. According to the Army, Pitts launched grenade after grenade under a hail of enemy gunfire as comrades at other nearby posts fell. He also asked other soldiers to fire at his position to prevent the enemy from gaining ground. Click through to see other Afghanistan veterans who have received the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest award for valor in combat.
Retired Marine Cpl. Kyle Carpenter shakes hands with President Barack Obama as he receives the Medal of Honor on June 19. While serving in Afghanistan, Carpenter used his body to shield a fellow Marine from a grenade blast on November 21, 2010.
Army Sgt. Kyle White receives the Medal of Honor during a ceremony at the White House on May 13. He was recognized for repeatedly exposing himself to enemy fire in Afghanistan while trying to save the lives of fellow soldiers in November 2007.
President Obama gives former Army Capt. William Swenson the Medal of Honor during a White House ceremony on October 15, 2013. Swenson was cited for "his exceptional leadership and stout resistance against the enemy during six hours of continuous fighting" in 2009, according to the Army.
Army Staff Sgt. Ty M. Carter, left, watches as President Obama greets family members of fallen service members after Carter was awarded the Medal of Honor during a White House ceremony on August 26, 2013. Carter was cited for his actions during the October 3, 2009, defense of Command Outpost Keating in Afghanistan, including "running through a hail of enemy rocket propelled grenade and machine gun fire to rescue a critically wounded comrade."
President Obama presents the Medal of Honor to Army Staff Sgt. Clinton Romesha at the White House on February 11, 2013. Wounded early in the battle at Command Outpost Keating on October 3, 2009, Romesha "continually exposed himself to heavy enemy fire as he moved confidently about the battlefield engaging and destroying multiple enemy targets," according to the Army.
President Obama awards the Medal of Honor to Marine Sgt. Dakota Meyer on September 15, 2011. In fighting at Gangjal, Afghanistan, on September 8, 2009, while manning a gun truck, "Meyer killed a number of enemy fighters with the mounted machine guns and his rifle, some at near point blank range, as he and his driver made three solo trips into the ambush area," his citation said.
President Obama walks with Army Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Arthur Petry, who received the Medal of Honor on July 12, 2011. Petry was cited for his actions during a battle in Paktya province, Afghanistan, on May 26, 2008, which included picking up an enemy grenade thrown at him and fellow soldiers. As he was about to throw it away, the grenade exploded and blew off his right hand, according to his citation.
President Obama applauds after presenting the Medal of Honor to Army Staff Sgt. Salvatore Giunta on November 16, 2010. Cited for his actions in the Korengal Valley, Afghanistan, in October 2007, Guinta was the first living recipient of the Medal of Honor since the Vietnam War.
Phil and Maureen Miller receive the Medal of Honor on behalf of their son, Army Staff Sgt. Robert J. Miller, on October 6, 2010. The soldier was cited for engaging more than 100 enemy fighters in the Gowardesh Valley, Afghanistan, on January 25, 2008. Miller killed 10 of the enemy and wounded dozens more before being mortally wounded by enemy fire.
Paul and Janet Monti receive the Medal of Honor for their son, Army Sgt. First Class Jared C. Monti, on September 17, 2009. Monti was killed June 21, 2006, in Nuristan province, Afghanistan, while attempting to rescue one of his fellow soldiers and fighting off an attack from insurgents.
President George W. Bush presents the Medal of Honor to Daniel and Maureen Murphy, parents of Navy Lt. Michael Murphy, on October 22, 2007. Murphy, a Navy SEAL, was killed June 28, 2005, when his four-man team was assaulted by 30 to 40 enemy fighters. Murphy exposed himself to repeated enemy fire while trying to radio for help for his besieged team, his citation said.
Afghanistan vets receive Medal of Honor
Afghanistan vets receive Medal of Honor
Afghanistan vets receive Medal of Honor
Afghanistan vets receive Medal of Honor
Afghanistan vets receive Medal of Honor
Afghanistan vets receive Medal of Honor
Afghanistan vets receive Medal of Honor
Afghanistan vets receive Medal of Honor
Afghanistan vets receive Medal of Honor
Afghanistan vets receive Medal of Honor
Afghanistan vets receive Medal of Honor
Afghanistan vets receive Medal of Honor
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Afghanistan vets receive Medal of Honor
Nine soldiers died in the battle. Pitts read their names: Spc. Sergio Abad, Cpl. Jonathan Ayers, Cpl. Jason Bogar, 1st Lt. Jonathan Brostrom, Sgt. Israel Garcia, Cpl. Jason Hovater, Cpl. Matthew Phillips, Cpl. Pruitt Rainey, and Cpl. Gunnar Zwilling.
"Thank you, chosen few," he said.
Twenty-seven others were injured.
The chaotic Battle of Wanat was later the subject of a military investigation.
The President paid tribute those who died, mentioning them by name.
"It is remarkable that we have young men and women serving in our military who day in and day out are able to perform with so much integrity, so much humility and so much courage," Obama said. "Ryan represents the very best of that tradition. And we are very, very proud of him."
Marine who took grenade blast for comrade receives Medal of Honor
Pitts has since retired from the military and lives in Nashua, New Hampshire, where he works for the computer software industry and is the father of a 1-year-old son. Monday was his second wedding anniversary.
For Pitts, who has "always wanted to serve" since age 17, the award also recognizes the efforts of his fallen comrades.
"They were incredible soldiers. I mean they were warriors that day," Pitts said. "But they were also great people."
He remembers how Zwilling, Phillips and Rainey all "loved to play poker."
"They were all pretty good at it. Rainey was probably the best. He had won quite a bit of money playing poker in Afghanistan."
Bogar "was very introspective and reflective on our time there. Probably more so than the rest of us," he recalled. Abad was deployed before he could wed so "he married his wife over the phone in Afghanistan."
Brostrom was a father who loved to surf and who adored his alma mater, the University of Hawaii, he said.
Hovater "was probably the funniest guy in the platoon. Great sense of humor. He'd make fun of himself just as much as he'd make fun of anybody else. Nobody was safe," Pitts said.
"We were like family," he said.
Garcia "loved his wife, his family. He was a happy guy. A very infectious smile."
Pitts remembers holding Garcia's hand as he died and promising him that he would tell his wife and mother that he loved them.
"There wasn't a whole lot that I could do for him, so I just held his hand and -- I couldn't tell you much of what we talked about or even if we talked that much. I just know that he told me to tell his wife and mom that he loved them," Pitts said.
After his deployment, Pitts kept his promise.
"I went back to Italy and his mom -- Mary Cruz and his wife, Leslie, (were) there. So I was able to sit down -- (Spc. Michael Denton) came with me. We were both able to sit down and told them."
Pitts said he wouldn't do anything differently because a brotherhood was forged through battle.
"The term brother is the best to describe our relationship -- but it almost ... seems to fall short of, you know, how we feel about each other and the people I've met," he said clearing his throat. "The impact they had on my life -- personally and professionally, the experiences that I went through with them -- I wouldn't trade anything for it."
After braving gunfire to save comrades, Army vet gets highest U.S. military honor
