Swensons extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, task force phoenix, 1st battalion, 32nd infantry regiment, 3rd brigade combat team, 10th mountain division and the united states army. William swenson will receive the medal of honor for his courageous actions during the 2009 battle of ganjgal valley, the white house announced monday. The president of the united states of america, authorized by act of congress, march 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of congress the medal of honor to. Mike morones staff the controversy arose after captain swenson arrived at a ceremony to induct him into the pentagons hall of heroes with out a hair cut, ignoring the sergeant major of the armys directions to clean it up after the ceremony to. Swenson, who served in the army from 2002 to 2011, also called in air and artillery support, recovered the bodies of dead soldiers and coordinated a counterattack, his medal of honor citation. A firsthand account of the most extraordinary battle in the afghan war, coauthored by bing west, meyer made a case for army capt. Washington a former army captain received the nations. Americans will be reminded of the war in afghanistan when the president today awards former army captain will swenson the medal of honor, the militarys highest. Captain estocins official medal of honor citation reads. With william swenson, the army gained a medal of honor but. Swenson was inducted into the pentagon hall of heroes, secretary of the army john mchugh announced a directive to improve the medal of honor.
William swenson received the medal of honor from president obama on october 15, 20 for actions during the battle of ganjgal in kunar province, afghanistan on sept. Swanson united states army for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Dakota meyer was awarded the medal of honor in 2011 for his actions in the same battle. Ryan pitts in the east room of the white house, july 21, 2014.
William swenson will visit the white house tuesday to receive the medal of honor. Oct 15, 20 president awards william swenson, a former active duty army captain, the medal of honor for conspicuous gallantry. With william swenson, the army gained a medal of honor but lost a leader. Swenson to be awarded the medal of honor for risking his life to save fellow troops and recover bodies during the battle of ganjgal. Will swenson would receive the medal of honor for his actions in one of the most hardfought battles of the afghan war in ganjgal valley. Us army captain william swenson awarded medal of honor bbc news. Swenson s actions during a brutal, hourslong battle in afghanistan. Lee, who retired as a lieutenant colonel in the marines, received the medal of honor. Swenson received the medal of honor at the white house in october for his actions during a deadly firefight in afghanistan in 2009. The story of captain swensons heroism were lost for years in a tangle of army bureaucracy. President obama presents the medal of honor to staff sgt. Captain will swenson and his long deserved afghanistan medal. Swenson and the marine etts, the mission was particularly significant because it represented the culmination of a series of operations, a necessary.
Captain william d swenson medal of honor recipient. Swenson distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as embedded advisor to the afghan national border police, task force phoenix, combined security transition commandafghanistan in support of 1st battalion. Marines promoted inflated story for medal of honor crucial parts of dakota meyers story that the marine corps publicized and obama described are untrue, unsubstantiated or exaggerated, according. Groberg distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a personal security detachment commander for task force mountain warrior, 4th infantry brigade combat team, 4th infantry division, during combat operations against an armed enemy in asadbad, kunar province, afghanistan on august 8, 2012. Further controversy came with news that army captain william swenson, also nominated for a medal of honor. Army captain william swenson received the medal of honor for actions in combat in september of 2009, during which he risked. Washington president barack obama presented the medal of honor to former army capt. President obama awards the medal of honor to captain william. Retired captain william swenson has spoken of his anger that repeated. Army captain william swenson became the sixth living recipient from the iraq and afghan wars to receive the medal of honor on tuesday. Williams are the only medal of honor recipients still on.
Medal of honor recipient william swenson interview pritzker. President awards william swenson, a former active duty army captain, the medal of honor for conspicuous gallantry. Oct 15, 20 a former army captain whose heroic actions in a deadly afghan battle were captured on a helmet camera received the nations highest military award, the medal of honor, from president barack obama. Just declassified is this raw footage of a flyover of the battle area from this helo. Us soldier honored after long dispute over afghan battle. William swenson receives medal of honor us news sky news. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty on 20 and 26 april 1967 as a pilot in attack squadron 192, embarked in uss ticonderoga cva14. William swenson has returned to active duty and is stationed at joint base lewismcchord in washington state. Kissing a badly wounded comrade on the forehead as he helped load the soldier into a helicopter.
Petraeus advised downgrading swensons medal of honor bid. Captain swenson received the medal of honor for his courageous actions while. Oct 16, 20 retired captain william swenson, 34, received the medal of honor for repeatedly risking his life to save fellow soldiers and recover the dead. Will swenson, who has since returned to active duty after receiving his medal for courageous service in afghanistan, had his home put under. William swenson, medal of honor recipient, seeks return. Aaron hostutler marines who served with former army capt. Medal of honor citation south dakota public broadcasting. Swenson was awarded the medal of honor on october 15, 20, for his service in kunar province, afghanistan. Swenson is a former captain in the united states army, receiving the medal of honor.
Former army captain receives medal of honor at white house. At the time of the battle of ganjgal, swenson was a captain in 3rd brigade. In the book, meyer makes a case for army captain william d. William swenson, an afghanistan war vet awarded with the medal of honor tuesday, has openly said he struggles with combat stress. Captain will swenson medal of honor medevac raw combat. Retired captain william swenson, 34, received the medal of honor for repeatedly risking his life to save fellow soldiers and recover the. William swenson, medal of honor recipient, returns to active. Washington president obama took a break from dealing with the fiscal crisis on tuesday to award former army captain william swenson the medal of honor. Medal of honor citation, awarded november 6, 1930 first distinguished service cross citation edit the distinguished service cross is presented to edward vernon rickenbacker, captain. For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Following the medal of honor presentation at the white house, on october 16, 20, swenson was inducted into the pentagon hall of heroes. Medal of honor ceremony for army captain william swenson. Swenson s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself, task force phoenix, 1st battalion, 32nd infantry regiment, 3rd brigade combat team, 10th mountain division and the united states army.
Swenson us army, is a recipient of the congressional medal of honor, which is the highest and most prestigious military decoration awarded for exceptional valor. Swenson distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as embedded advisor to the afghan national border police, task force phoenix, combined security transition commandafghanistan in support. Swanson distinguished himself by acts of bravery on february 26, 1971, while flying an oh6a aircraft in support of arvn task force 333 in the kingdom of cambodia. Medal of honor recipient william swenson braved gunfire. Swenson, for his actions during the battle of ganjgal, in kunar province, afghanistan, sept. All posts must include a medal of honor citation from any conflict after 1861 or an open discussion on individual medal of honor recipients, battles, and wars in which the moh was awarded. Will swenson, next medal of honor recipient, sends. Dakota meyer strongly advocated for swensons medal of honor in his book, into.
Oct 14, 20 medal of honor recipient shows bravery, tenderness. Swenson received the nations highest honor for his courageous actions while serving as. Howard lee, medal of honor recipient who led a longodds. This will bring up your browsers find function, where you can enter the last name of an individual and skip to them on the list. Swenson became the 6th living american to be awarded the congressional medal of honor for actions in iraq or afghanistan. Archives and found the documentation of sabos actions and citation.
Swenson distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as embedded advisor to the afghan national border police, task force phoenix, combined security transition commandafghanistan in support of 1st battalion, 32nd infantry regiment, 3d. Last month, the united states army released a remarkable piece of video. Medal of honor citation, awarded november 6, 1930 first distinguished service cross citation edit the distinguished service cross is presented to edward vernon rickenbacker, captain air service, us army, for extraordinary heroism in action near montsec, france, april 29, 1918. Oct 16, 20 us army captain william swenson awarded medal of honor. Will swenson will receive the medal of honor on oct. William swenson, afghan war veteran, awarded medal of honor. William swenson received his medal of honor on tuesday. Here is the citation from his actions which took place on september 8, 2009. Army confirmed wednesday that medal of honor recipient capt. Swenson, former army captain, awarded medal of honor. To learn more about swenson and his heroic actions, visit. President barack obama awards the medal of honor to former army capt.
Army spied on will swenson, medal of honor recipient, over. Swenson was inducted into the pentagon hall of heroes, oct. Swenson received the medal of honor for his actions in the battle of ganjgal in 2009. Marines promoted inflated story for medal of honor. Dakota meyer strongly advocated for swensons medal of honor in his book, into the fire. Swenson is the first army officer to receive the medal of honor since the vietnam war, and the second recipient to have fought in the battle of ganjgal, where more than 60 wellarmed taliban.
Swenson of seattle, washington receiving his medal of honor. Oct 15, 20 william swenson, afghan war veteran, awarded medal of honor by president obama. Medal of honor recipient shows bravery, tenderness cbs news. William swenson, an afghanistan war vet awarded with the medal of honor tuesday, has openly said he struggles with combat. Newest medal of honor recipient told to cut his hair hit. The captain, according to meyers letter, was the centerpiece for command and control in a raging firefight that never died down. Its from the combat helmet cameras of a medevac helicopter crew in afghanistan. Electronic arts enters the boxed music business march 1 with the eightdisc medal of honor. Industry guide young professionals live streams book program. Graduating nsa student, maj william swenson, is medal of. Medal of honor recipient william swenson interview.
New zealand girl reacts to the first medal of honor ever. The american hero awarded the medal of honor earlier this week for his bravery in. Freeman, united states army, distinguished himself by numerous acts of conspicuous gallantry and extraordinary intrepidity on 14 november 1965 while serving with company a, 229th assault. Swenson received the medal of honor on tuesday, more than four years after the ambush in afghanistan that still poses painful questions for the high command and those who. The appearance of hyperlinks to external sites does not constitute endorsement by the department of the u. Swenson, former army captain, scheduled to receive medal of honor.
Army captain william swenson receives the medal of honor. Oct 15, 20 today, president obama presented the medal of honor to u. William swenson, of seattle, washington, calls for air support on his radio as they take cover after. Oct 15, 20 president barack obama will present the medal of honor to former capt.
Swenson awarded the medal of honor washington cnn a shaky video captured only a few moments of william d. Meanwhile, captain swenson, who initially was positioned toward the rear of the. Roger hugh charles donlon born january 30, 1934 is a former united states army officer. Medal of honor ceremony for army captain william swenson c. Exarmy captain awarded medal of honor business insider. Swenson applaud during the ceremony to induct swenson, medal of honor recipient, into the hall of heroes at the pentagon, oct. No gossip or tabloidesque material unless related to the medal of honor. He is the first person to receive the medal of honor in the vietnam war, as well as the first member of the united states army special forces to be so honored. A light blue neck ribbon with a gold star shaped medallion hanging from it. Swenson, 34, was honored for his service during a september 2009 battle in the ganjgal valley in eastern afghanistan. Oct 15, 20 william swenson receives medal of honor retired army captain william swenson, 34, has reportedly expressed interest in reenlisting for active duty. During the ceremony, the secretary of the army and the army chief of staff presented swenson with a framed copy of his medal of honor citation.
Swenson, 34, was honored for his service during a september 2009. Swenson hall of heroes induction brings changes to moh processing. Army captain william swenson to receive longawaited medal of. William swenson bows his head for a prayer during his medal of honor ceremony at the white house. Medal of honor recipient william swenson former army capt. Captain will swenson received the medal of honor on oct. Swenson had criticized army officers at the nearby forward operating base joyce for not providing fire support, the resulting political fallout not conducive to awarding him the medal. With that, id like my military aide to read the citation, please. Capatin swenson received the medal of honor on 15 october, 20 from the president for his actions at the. William swenson is awarded the medal of honor by president barack obama on tuesday, october 15, 20, at the white house in washington, dc. Oct 15, 20 this may be the first time we bear witness to a small portion of the action of a medal of honor recipient, president barack obama said tuesday as he awarded the nowretired army captain the. President barack obama honored a former us army captain on tuesday after a long dispute that saw the soldiers nomination for the medal of honor stalled for years. Meyers book says he sent a letter to the white house shortly after receiving the medal of honor urging officials there to take a longer look at swenson s heroism. Engaging in almost daily combat with the enemy from october 9 to november 19, 1942, captain foss personally shot down twentythree japanese planes and damaged others.
Army of the linked web site or the information, products or services contained therein. Medal of honor nomination lost in email, not on purpose. Swenson is the first army officer to receive the nations highest military honor for actions in iraq or afghanistan. May 15, 2014 medal of honor nomination lost in email, not on purpose, says dod.
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