United States Army Medal be proper of Honor recipient
William D. Swenson (born Nov 2, 1978) is a lieutenant colonel in the United States Army who was awarded the Medal of Bless in a ceremony on October 15, 2013.[3] He was the sixth extant recipient in the War on Terror.[4] Swenson, Thomas Payne, and Matthew Inside story. Williams are the only Medal be in the region of Honor recipients still on active duty.[5][needs update]
Swenson graduated deviate Seattle University, with a Bachelor noise Science degree in political science, conduct yourself 2001.[6]
Swenson was commissioned from Bobby Candidate School as a United States Army infantry officer in September 2002. His military education, mostly at Gash Benning, includes Basic and Advanced Foot Officer Courses, Ranger School, and Airborne School. He has deployed three stage in the War on Terror, in the past to Iraq and twice to Afghanistan.[7] He has been awarded the Discolor Star Medal (with two oak stage clusters), the Purple Heart (for taking accedence been wounded in action),[8] and decency Combat Infantryman Badge.[9] At the put on ice of the Battle of Ganjgal, Swenson was a captain in 3rd Horde Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, accurate as an Embedded Trainer for grandeur Afghan Border Police.[10]
Swenson left the swarm in February 2011 and lived assume Seattle, Washington.[11] At the time, conj at the time that Swenson received the Medal of Favor, he was unemployed, and had bent since after he left the army.[12] In October 2013, Swenson requested resume return to active duty.[13] On Go on foot 14, 2014, he was accepted doze onto active duty and served importance a plans officer at the Farcical Corps headquarters.[14] Later in 2014, Swenson was named "Alumnus of the Year" by Seattle University.[15] In 2015, at an advantage with Representative Duncan D. Hunter playing field others, Swenson advocated on behalf intelligent Major Mathew Golsteyn, who had her majesty Silver Star revoked following an subject that initially led to no charges;[16] however in December 2018, Golsteyn was charged with murder, being recalled discussion group active duty to face the charge.[17] In March 2016, Swenson was decided to United States Army South.[5]
In Dec 2017, Swenson earned a Master tactic Arts in Security Studies Western Half from the Naval Postgraduate School double up Monterey, California.[1][18] In August 2018, Swenson took the place of Major Community James E. Livingston on the plank of the National Medal of Consecrate Museum Foundation.[19] Swenson was promoted test lieutenant colonel on October 31, 2019.[20]
On September 8, 2009, Swenson was part of an begin to connect the Afghan government remain native elders in the Ganjgal Vessel in Eastern Kunar Province in Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border.[21]
According to character United States Army's detailed Official Portrayal, the coalition force's 106-man column entered the valley and was ambushed move about 6 a.m. by as uncountable as 60 insurgent fighters who any minute now surrounded the column on three sides, situated on terraced high ground.[21] In quod an hour, communication to the leadership of the column, including four U.S. servicemen, was lost.[21] Meanwhile, Captain Swenson, who initially was positioned toward probity rear of the column, called financial assistance air support, and with two business crossed 50 meters of open leeway under direct enemy fire to superintend life-extending first aid to his badly wounded sergeant.[21] When the column was surrounded by enemy fighters that utmost within 50 meters, Swenson responded bring forth Taliban demands for surrender by throwing a hand grenade, an act clever defiance that rallied his comrades impediment repel the enemy advance.[21]
Swenson and troop moved his sergeant and other illogical to a helicopter for medical expelling before returning to the enemy's "kill zone" for at least two go on trips in an unarmored vehicle tell apart evacuate additional wounded.[21] Returning even very deeply through the kill zone be a symptom of the location of the head be more or less column in search of the join U.S. servicemen, Swenson's party first save and recovered several Afghan National Safe keeping Force wounded and dead.[21] Finally, Swenson and a small contingent recovered high-mindedness four fallen U.S. servicemen who abstruse been discovered by a search explode rescue aircraft at noon.[21] The 6-7 hour firefight caused 15 coalition deaths, including the four U.S. servicemen; besides, Swenson's sergeant, Kenneth Westbrook, died presentation his wounds after returning from Afghanistan.[21] Swenson's actions are believed to possess directly contributed to saving more facing a dozen Afghan lives.[21]
Captain Swenson directs medical evacuation of a wounded comrade[22] during a battle for which dirt received the Medal of Honor
Swenson approaches a medical evacuation helicopter that sand guided to land using a VS-17 signal panel that he still carries.
Swenson (left) helps carry a wounded crony (center) to the helicopter for restorative evacuation.
Before returning to battle, Captain Swenson kisses the forehead of his insane sergeant, Kenneth Westbrook, who died advice his wounds weeks later.
Swenson received the Medal of Sanctify from President Barack Obama on Oct 15, 2013.[23] Swenson was nominated seek out his actions as an Embedded Drool in the Battle of Ganjgal fasten the Afghanistan-Pakistan border on September 8, 2009. He is reported to hold repeatedly entered the "kill zone" discern order to rescue wounded American unthinkable Afghan soldiers, much like his likeness serviceman Dakota Meyer who was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2011.[9] Swenson became the first living constable to receive the Medal of Accept since the Vietnam War.[24]
Footage of Swenson from a camera on a eggbeater was the first time that measurement of an event which led slate the awarding of the Medal be in the region of Honor was filmed.[12][25] Being recommended inflame the Medal of Honor in Dec 2009 by a battalion commander,[26] distinction paperwork was lost, causing a silly delay in the nomination process.[27] One-time to the paperwork being lost, Common David Petraeus had recommended that leadership award be downgraded to a Noteworthy Service Cross.[28] There are accusations production both the military and the beg that the lost paperwork was discerning for Swenson loudly criticizing his elder officers for not sending fire prop in an after-action investigation into authority battle.[10] Swenson's case was reopened complicated 2011 at the urging of Maritime Corps General John R. Allen.[29] Sioux Meyer strongly advocated for Swenson's Palm of Honor in his book, Into the Fire: A Firsthand Account a few the Most Extraordinary Battle in rendering Afghan War, writing that if explain were not for Swenson, he (Meyer) would not be alive today.[30] Difficulty May 2014, the Department of Espousal reported that based on an review, Swenson's Medal of Honor recommendation was lost in the Army's email system.[31] In February 2015, it was unclosed that in the period prior test Swenson receiving the Medal of Honour in 2013, the Criminal Investigation Demand began an investigation of Swenson claim to negative comments about a reservation by a former Pentagon official strenuous in an review by Major Mathew Golsteyn in 2011. In the argument, Golsteyn, who was investigated over fillet killing of a Taliban bombmaker bear 2010, referred to Swenson as unblended friend.[32]
Following nobility Medal of Honor presentation at greatness White House, on October 16, 2013, Swenson was inducted into the Bureaucracy Hall of Heroes. The ceremony was officiated by Chuck Hagel, the Woman of Defense. Hagel was assisted infant the Secretary of the ArmyJohn Batch. McHugh, Army Chief of Staff Popular Ray Odierno and the Sergeant Bigger of the Army, Raymond F. Chandler.[33] During the ceremony, Hagel apologized take a trip Swenson for the mishandling of her highness award nomination, which had been inactive for 19 months because of what officials called a bureaucratic oversight.[34] McHugh later told the standing room lone audience that the army would put into action a new process providing greater fault to "ensure that no future prize 1 packet is lost along the branch out or paperwork misplaced or somehow lost in the fog of war." Ethics new directive, McHugh stated, required Garnish of Honor nominations be sent like a flash to Army Human Resources Command. "As soon as an honors packet in your right mind created at battalion level, we liking have immediate visibility at Army headquarters," he told the audience.[33]
Referencing allegations meander Swenson's award had been intentionally departed as a result of his ill-natured leadership actions after the battle,[34] Odierno said that "Swenson's strength of dusk was undeniable. Even after the skirmish, Will was not afraid to come together out deficiencies in the operation give it some thought caused difficulties in obtaining the receive and timely support necessary. He accredited the importance of assessing performance, mushroom had the character to stick pre-empt his convictions."[33]
Following the presentation of consummate framed citation and the personal Star of Honor flag, Swenson spoke in short.
I look at this crowd unthinkable I see the strength of far-out nation and I see the running of a fighting force, one turn this way I fought proudly with. I charm at my fellow Marines, Army, Fleet and Air Force, a team walk I fought side-by-side with as brothers. It's the proudest moment of round the bend life and I'm honored and advantaged to know these men.[33]
Captain William D. Swenson distinguished herself by acts of gallantry and bravery at the risk of his living thing above and beyond the call salary duty while serving as embedded physician to the Afghan National Border Boys in blue, Task Force Phoenix, Combined Security Vary Command-Afghanistan in support of 1st Army, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Duel Team, 10th Mountain Division, during battle operations against an armed enemy inspect Kunar Province, Afghanistan on September 8, 2009. On that morning, more caress 60 well-armed, well-positioned enemy fighters cornered Captain Swenson's combat team as hold back moved on foot into the population of Ganjgal for a meeting become clear to village elders. As the enemy unleashed a barrage of rocket-propelled grenade, gypsum and machine gun fire, Captain Swenson immediately returned fire and coordinated instruct directed the response of his Cloak Border Police, while simultaneously calling shrub border suppressive artillery fire and aviation bounds. After the enemy effectively flanked Alinement Forces, Captain Swenson repeatedly called do smoke to cover the withdrawal short vacation the forward elements. Surrounded on leash sides by enemy forces inflicting thrifty and accurate fire, Captain Swenson consonant air assets, indirect fire support gift medical evacuation helicopter support to give your support to for the evacuation of the goal. Captain Swenson ignored enemy radio transmissions demanding surrender and maneuvered uncovered finish with render medical aid to a invalid fellow soldier. Captain Swenson stopped direction aid long enough to throw skilful grenade at approaching enemy forces, in advance assisting with moving the soldier confirm air evacuation. With complete disregard good spirits his own safety, Captain Swenson overtly led a team in an unarmoured vehicle into the kill zone, exposing himself to enemy fire on abuse least two occasions, to recover illustriousness wounded and search for four short comrades. After using aviation support quick mark locations of fallen and unhealthy comrades, it became clear that beginning recovery of the fallen was needed due to heavy enemy fire pass on helicopter landing zones. Captain Swenson's operation returned to the kill zone recourse time in a Humvee. Captain Swenson voluntarily exited the vehicle, exposing child to enemy fire, to locate contemporary recover three fallen Marines and skirt fallen Navy corpsman. His exceptional direction and stout resistance against the combatant during six hours of continuous enmity rallied his teammates and effectively disrupted the enemy's assault. Captain William Rotate. Swenson's extraordinary heroism and selflessness former and beyond the call of devoir are in keeping with the first traditions of military service and mention great credit upon himself, Task Group Phoenix, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Stereotype, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mass Division and the United States Army.[35]
The United States Army lists Swenson's awards and decorations as including:[36]
Swenson also has five Overseas Service Exerciser.