Army Capt. William Swenson calls for air support on his radio as troops take cover while Afghan security forces and their U.S. military trainers were ambushed on Sept. 8, 2009. A Sept. 14 report by The Wall Street Journal says Swenson is being recommended for the Medal of Honor. (Jonathan S. Landay / McClatchy Tribune)
Obama To Award ‘Lost’ Medal of Honor To Former Army Captain -- McClatchy News
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama next month will bestow the nation’s highest military award for gallantry to former Army Capt. William Swenson for valor he displayed during a six-hour battle in eastern Afghanistan in 2009.
Swenson will become the sixth living recipient to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan.
The White House said Monday that Swenson and his family will join Obama at the White House on Oct. 15 “to commemorate his example of selfless service.”
Swenson’s nomination had been stalled since at least last summer, prompting a California congressman in January to ask the Army and the Defense Department to explain the delay. Obama awarded then-Marine Cpl. Dakota Meyer the Medal of Honor in September 2011 for heroism in the same battle for which Swenson was nominated.
Swenson, of Seattle, is the first living Army officer nominated for the Medal of Honor in four decades. He resigned from the service in February 2011.
Read more ....
More News On Former Army Capt. Will Swenson To Receive The Medal Of Honor
Former Army Capt. Will Swenson to receive Medal of Honor for heroics in Afghanistan -- Army Times
Obama to award sixth Medal of Honor to living recipient -- USA Today
Capt. William Swenson: Former soldier to receive Medal of Honor -- Stars and Stripes
U.S. Army captain to be awarded Medal of Honor -- UPI
Obama to award former Army captain Medal of Honor for actions during combat in Afghanistan -- Washington Post/AP
Previous Posts
Did Army Capt. Will Swenson`s Criticisms On The Botched Battle Of Ganjgal Prevent Him From Receiving An Award For Valor? -- September 15, 2011
The Case For A Second Ganjgal Medal Of Honor -- September 16, 2011
Still No Answers On Why Former Army Capt. William Swenson Has Not Received A Medal Of Honor -- September 17, 2011
Where Is Former U.S. Army Capt. William Swenson's Nomination For A Medal Of Honor? -- August 7, 2012
When Will Captain Will Swenson Get His Medal Of Honor? -- January 15, 2013
My Comment: As one can tell from the many posts that I have written on this subject .... the denial to recognize the many acts of valor that Captain Will Swenson conducted on that day was a wrong that needed to be corrected. Dakota Meyer, a Marine sergeant who fought with Captain Will Swenson and who was awarded the Medal of Honor in 2011 for this same battle sums it up best ....
.... Meyer told Marine Corps Times before he was awarded the Medal of Honor that it was "ridiculous" Swenson already hadn't received some form of valor award.
"I'll put it this way," Meyer said of Swenson. "If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be alive today."
Wow .... talk about getting support from your fellow soldiers.
Here is an interesting tidbit of information .... Will Swenson is the first living Army officer nominated for the Medal of Honor in four decades.
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