Armys first officer to receive medal of honor from. Will swenson would receive the medal of honor for his actions in one of the most hardfought battles of the afghan war. With evan brandon, tucker bryan, olga elliot, alex gainer. From left to right, secretary of defense chuck hagel. Just this week, the white house announced that army capt. Will swenson was born on october 26, 1972 in provo, utah, usa.
The division commander after reactivation was brig. Captain swenson received the medal of honor for his courageous actions while. Americans will be reminded of the war in afghanistan when the president today awards former army captain will swenson. Wrecked b17c flying fortress at hickam field the world war. Three degenerates battle the demons of grief in a fantasyworld theyve built around themselves. Army captain william swenson became the sixth living recipient from the iraq and afghan wars to receive the medal of honor on tuesday.
Capt swenson returns to active duty business insider. William swenson s recommendation because he was critical of his superiors. I later wrote a story about the ranches and their founder, s. 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. Swenson, was one of those that arrived during the raid. There had been speculation that the army spiked capt. 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. Roy reid, 11010419 survived hartford county, ct bombardier aviation cadet g. October 17, 20 in a notsoshocking turn of events today, sergeant major of the army raymond chandler announced that captain william swenson s medal of honor should be rescinded due to cpt.
William swenson ran through a barrage of bullets in ganjgal, afghanistan for six hours during a 2009 firefight that left dozens dead and earned him a medal of honor nomination. The ship was commissioned at boston navy yard on 2 may 1944, commander francis t. Captain will swenson and his long deserved afghanistan medal. With william swenson, the army gained a medal of honor but lost a leader. William swenson bows his head for a prayer during his medal of honor ceremony at the white house. William swenson, afghan war veteran, awarded medal of honor. He has been married to audra mcdonald since october 6, 2012. William swenson received the medal of honor on tuesday from president obama at the white house for his extraordinary courage during a firefight with the taliban in afghanistan. President awards william swenson, a former active duty army captain, the medal of honor for conspicuous gallantry. William swenson, left, assists severely wounded sgt. Dga8fy from alamys library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. 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. Swenson born 2 november 1978 is a major in the united states army who was. Swenson was an afghan border police advisor, in support of 1st battalion.
Us president barack obama presents former us army capt. Prosurfer tyler wrights inspiring story of post viral syndrome recovery 60 minutes australia duration. Captain will swenson and his long deserved afghanistan. Captain swenson directs medical evacuation of a wounded. Army spied on will swenson, medal of honor recipient, over. Afghan war hero denied medal of honor for criticizing commanders. William swenson, spoke at loyola on october 28, 20.
She was decommissioned in february 1971 and in may 1974 was sold to the taiwan to provide spare parts for other ships of her type. The column consisted of 106 personnel, which included 60 ana soldiers, 14 ana mentors, 30 abp members, and u. William swenson, of seattle, washington, calls for air support on his radio as they take cover after. At the time of the battle of ganjgal, swenson was a captain in 3rd brigade combat. Swenson with the medal of honor during a ceremony in the east room of the white house october 15, 20 in washington, dc. The nations newest medal of honor recipient, former army capt. William swenson conducts an afghan border police humanitarian aid airdrop to a capt. In 2002 he joined the army and was commissioned as an officer upon graduation from officer candidate school in september 2002. Swenson the uncle of andrew john whose initials form the sms brand so well known in texas cattle history. Swenson with the medal of honor, for swensons actions during the battle of. Extraordinary combat video shows soldiers act of humanity as army captain will swenson helps one of his wounded soldiers onto the dustoff army medevac helicopter.
The medal of honor is the nations highest military honor. Army, managed to help fend off an onslaught of insurgents, saved lives. Find the perfect capt william d swenson stock photo. William swenson sits in task force chosin mineresistant, ambushprotected vehicle while conducting a shura, or muslim. Swenson s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and. Finally, swenson and a small contingent recovered the four fallen u. 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. Oct 20, 20 cbs news last week, at a ceremony in a washington, captain william swenson was a recipient of the medal of honor. Beale, 18036583 38th rs wia, survived potter county, tx navigator 2nd lt. Sumner class destroyers and the first ship in the navy to bear the name.
Sumnerclass destroyer, was laid down on 11 september 1943 by bath iron works, bath, maine and launched on 12 february 1944. Afghan war hero denied medal of honor for criticizing. To state the obvious, this is a tremendous honor, for the army and, if i may, for me, personally, as we gather to induct captain william david swenson into our hall of heroes the first officer. Dod says medal of honor recommendation got lost in the. The 67 hour firefight caused 15 coalition deaths, including the four u.
Swenson and a contingent of afghan forces made their way slowly on foot, crunching the gravel. President barack obama awards the medal of honor to former army capt. Swenson was awarded the medal of honor tuesday for his actions in a lengthy battle against the taliban in the ganjgal valley near the pakistan border on sept. Soldier awarded medal of honor, and you can now see what. William swenson, afghan war veteran, awarded medal of. He is an actor and producer, known for sons of provo 2004, the switch 2010 and the greatest showman 2017. Swenson, united states army officer, recipient of the medal of honor will swenson actor, american actor disambiguation page providing links to topics that. Naval academy in 1916 and served in surface combatants and submarines, including command of uss h6 ss149 in 1919. Retired army captain william swenson is one of those heroeshe.
Swensons actions are believed to have directly contributed to saving more than a dozen afghan lives. Pacific wrecks b17c flying fortress serial number 402074. This b17 took off second as one of thirteen b17s in the formation. Three years later though, hes yet to see that award.
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. He served one tour in iraq and two tours in afghanistan. Chandler iii with the medal of hono dgn8yd from alamys library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. Former army captain receives medal of honor full ceremony. Due to his actions during the battle, former army captain william d. From left to right, secretary of defense chuck hagel, secretary of the army john mchugh, former u. Medal of honor recipient shows bravery, tenderness cbs news. William swenson grew up in seattle and graduated from seattle university with a degree in political science. Newest medal of honor recipient told to cut his hair hit. Wrecked army air corps b17c serial 402074 flying fortress of 38th reconnaissance squadron near hangar 5 at hickam air field, following the end of the japanese raid. For my seventh birthday, my dad gave me an 8mm regular, not super8 movie camera, splicer, and projector.
Retired captain william swenson who fought off 60 taliban almost singlehandedly for seven hours, became only the sixth living recipient of the. Behind that ceremony is a heros tale worthy of note. 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. Oct 16, 20 every once in a while, there comes a hero whose bravery earns him or her americas highest military award, the medal of honor.
Fabayo, 30, and staff sergeant juan rodriguezchavez, 34, were awarded the navy cross for their actions during the battle. Original footage from usarmy youtube page that stated, this video is courtesy of mrs. In 1948 i went to stamford, texas, and had a visit with the late andrew john swenson, a native of sweden, and the manager of sms ranches. Without a doubt this combat kiss is an awesome testimony to the brotherhood of combat veterans. Swenson received the medal of honor on tuesday, more than four years after the ambush in afghanistan that still poses painful questions for. Swenson, who returned to active duty in april, 2014, was highly critical of commanders after he survived a sept. William swenson received the medal of honor on tuesday from president obama at the white house for his extraordinary. Swenson, usn, 1892 1942 lyman knute swenson was born in pleasant grove, iowa, on 23 october 1892.
Captain swenson will receive the medal of honor at the white house on october 15th. Swenson, united states army officer, recipient of the medal of honor will swenson actor, american actor disambiguation page providing links to topics that could be referred to by the same search term. What makes swenson s actions even more remarkable than the. Later, he commanded uss isabel py10 and destroyer division 64. 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. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on youtube. Swenson, 34, was honored for his service during a september 2009. At the time of the battle of ganjgal, kunar province, afghanistan, on sept. Swens dgn8rx from alamys library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. Swenson was recommended to receive the medal of honor by marine general john r. National guard members share close connection with medal of.
Cbs news last week, at a ceremony in a washington, captain william swenson was a recipient of the medal of honor. Swenson distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Every once in a while, there comes a hero whose bravery earns him or her americas highest military award, the medal of honor. Swenson will be presented the medal of honor by president barack obama in a white house ceremony oct. This page was created for all of us who care about swenson park and would like it to remain open. William swenson was awarded the medal of honor yesterday for his conduct during a firefight in afghanistan in 2009. William d swenson, an officer in us army,and also a west pointgraduate, serving in the military with the 82nd air borne.
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