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. Three years later though, hes yet to see that award. Afghan war hero denied medal of honor for criticizing. 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. William swenson, spoke at loyola on october 28, 20. Captain swenson will receive the medal of honor at the white house on october 15th. Beale, 18036583 38th rs wia, survived potter county, tx navigator 2nd lt. The medal of honor is the nations highest military honor. Swensons actions are believed to have directly contributed to saving more than a dozen afghan lives. Behind that ceremony is a heros tale worthy of note.
Fabayo, 30, and staff sergeant juan rodriguezchavez, 34, were awarded the navy cross for their actions during the battle. Soldier awarded medal of honor, and you can now see what. Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on youtube. Swenson, who returned to active duty in april, 2014, was highly critical of commanders after he survived a sept. 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 the uncle of andrew john whose initials form the sms brand so well known in texas cattle history. President awards william swenson, a former active duty army captain, the medal of honor for conspicuous gallantry. Us president barack obama presents former us army capt. Armys first officer to receive medal of honor from.
Retired army captain william swenson is one of those heroeshe. Dod says medal of honor recommendation got lost in the. Dga8fy from alamys library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. William swenson s recommendation because he was critical of his superiors. He has been married to audra mcdonald since october 6, 2012. Swens dgn8rx from alamys library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. At the time of the battle of ganjgal, kunar province, afghanistan, on sept. The division commander after reactivation was brig. Capt swenson returns to active duty business insider. Swenson was an afghan border police advisor, in support of 1st battalion. Original footage from usarmy youtube page that stated, this video is courtesy of mrs.
Newest medal of honor recipient told to cut his hair hit. Former army captain receives medal of honor full ceremony. The column consisted of 106 personnel, which included 60 ana soldiers, 14 ana mentors, 30 abp members, and u. Captain swenson received the medal of honor for his courageous actions while. 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 15, 20 the battle of ganjgal remains one of the deadliest in the afghan war. Oct 20, 20 cbs news last week, at a ceremony in a washington, captain william swenson was a recipient of the medal of honor. 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. Swenson will be presented the medal of honor by president barack obama in a white house ceremony oct.
William swenson grew up in seattle and graduated from seattle university with a degree in political science. William swenson sits in task force chosin mineresistant, ambushprotected vehicle while conducting a shura, or muslim. Prosurfer tyler wrights inspiring story of post viral syndrome recovery 60 minutes australia duration. Will swenson would receive the medal of honor for his actions in one of the most hardfought battles of the afghan war. William swenson conducts an afghan border police humanitarian aid airdrop to a capt. Naval academy in 1916 and served in surface combatants and submarines, including command of uss h6 ss149 in 1919. William swenson, of seattle, washington, calls for air support on his radio as they take cover after. 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. Sumnerclass destroyer, was laid down on 11 september 1943 by bath iron works, bath, maine and launched on 12 february 1944. Pacific wrecks b17c flying fortress serial number 402074. He served one tour in iraq and two tours in afghanistan. Army captain william swenson became the sixth living recipient from the iraq and afghan wars to receive the medal of honor on tuesday. The 67 hour firefight caused 15 coalition deaths, including the four u.
Every once in a while, there comes a hero whose bravery earns him or her americas highest military award, the medal of honor. At the time of the battle of ganjgal, swenson was a captain in 3rd brigade combat. The ship was commissioned at boston navy yard on 2 may 1944, commander francis t. Swenson, 34, was honored for his service during a september 2009. Three degenerates battle the demons of grief in a fantasyworld theyve built around themselves. 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. Captain will swenson and his long deserved afghanistan. Swenson and a contingent of afghan forces made their way slowly on foot, crunching the gravel. Later, he commanded uss isabel py10 and destroyer division 64. For my seventh birthday, my dad gave me an 8mm regular, not super8 movie camera, splicer, and projector. This page was created for all of us who care about swenson park and would like it to remain open.
Roy reid, 11010419 survived hartford county, ct bombardier aviation cadet g. Captain swenson directs medical evacuation of a wounded. He is an actor and producer, known for sons of provo 2004, the switch 2010 and the greatest showman 2017. The nations newest medal of honor recipient, former army capt. Medal of honor recipient shows bravery, tenderness cbs news. Find the perfect capt william d swenson stock photo. With evan brandon, tucker bryan, olga elliot, alex gainer. Retired captain william swenson who fought off 60 taliban almost singlehandedly for seven hours, became only the sixth living recipient of the. Cbs news last week, at a ceremony in a washington, captain william swenson was a recipient of the medal of honor. President barack obama awards the medal of honor to former army capt. 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. Will swenson was born on october 26, 1972 in provo, utah, usa. Swenson s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and.
Americans will be reminded of the war in afghanistan when the president today awards former army captain will swenson. 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. From left to right, secretary of defense chuck hagel, secretary of the army john mchugh, former u. Swenson received the medal of honor on tuesday, more than four years after the ambush in afghanistan that still poses painful questions for. Just this week, the white house announced that army capt.
I later wrote a story about the ranches and their founder, s. 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. Army, managed to help fend off an onslaught of insurgents, saved lives. Due to his actions during the battle, former army captain william d.
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. Wrecked b17c flying fortress at hickam field the world war. 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. 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, was one of those that arrived during the raid. 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. This b17 took off second as one of thirteen b17s in the formation. Swenson, usn, 1892 1942 lyman knute swenson was born in pleasant grove, iowa, on 23 october 1892. 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. National guard members share close connection with medal of. William swenson was awarded the medal of honor yesterday for his conduct during a firefight in afghanistan in 2009. Swenson with the medal of honor during a ceremony in the east room of the white house october 15, 20 in washington, dc. Swenson, united states army officer, recipient of the medal of honor will swenson actor, american actor disambiguation page providing links to topics that.
Chandler iii with the medal of hono dgn8yd from alamys library of millions of high resolution stock photos, illustrations and vectors. From left to right, secretary of defense chuck hagel. Finally, swenson and a small contingent recovered the four fallen u. Afghan war hero denied medal of honor for criticizing commanders. William swenson received the medal of honor on tuesday from president obama at the white house for his extraordinary. 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.
There had been speculation that the army spiked capt. Sumner class destroyers and the first ship in the navy to bear the name. Swenson born 2 november 1978 is a major in the united states army who was. 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. William swenson, afghan war veteran, awarded medal of honor. Captain will swenson and his long deserved afghanistan medal.
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