Swenson also has five Overseas Service Bars. Retired Army Captain William Swenson is one of those heroeshe received his Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama Tuesday. Then it's time to move. William Swenson", "On Leadership With William Swenson, the army gained a Medal of Honor but lost a leader", "Afghan war vet awarded Medal of Honor, seeks to return to active duty", "Medal of Honor recipient returns to active duty", "CIA job interview leads to criminal investigation of Green Beret", "Former Green Beret major faces murder charge for 2010 Afghanistan incident", "Graduating NSA Student, MAJ William Swenson, Is Medal of Honor Recipient", "National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation gets another medal recipient on board", "Official Narrative / Captain William D. Swenson", "Raw Video: Battlefield Actions of Former Army Cpt. Wagner's network in Africa faces uncertain future, Prigozhin's soldiers rage while others cry conspiracy, How one temple feeds 100,000 people a day. Captain William D. Swenson - Medal of Honor - Operation Enduring Freedom, Swenson Hall of Heroes induction brings changes to MOH processing. He's not currently working; instead, "I like to call this my extended vacation," he told ABC News. Captain Swenson ignored enemy radio transmissions demanding surrender and maneuvered uncovered to render medical aid to a wounded fellow soldier. William Swenson", "Capt. Gaming and Airsoft. Find out five more key facts about the courageous veteran, below. Read about our approach to external linking. And it was tragic. Swans TV - ON THIS DAY: Swans win Capital One Cup - YouTube MP3 Audio (33.08 MB) Billons of men, women and children have lived and died without ever knowing the true God or His way of life. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. On that morning, more than 60 well-armed, well-positioned enemy fighters ambushed Captain Swenson's combat team as it moved on foot into the village of Ganjgal for a meeting with village elders. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Former Army Capt. His military education, mostly at Fort Benning, includes Basic and Advanced Infantry Officer Courses, Ranger School, and Airborne School. But some have suggested Capt Swenson's application was delayed after he openly criticised superior officers for rejecting many of his calls for air support. Capt Swenson has been unemployed since leaving the military in 2011 and now lives in Seattle, Washington. We [were] not leaving any Soldiers behind.". Captain Memeson - YouTube Captain William D. Swenson - Medal of Honor - Operation Enduring Freedom. [35], The United States Army lists Swenson's awards and decorations as including:[36]. Video; World; US & Canada; UK; Business; Tech; Science; More. I look at my fellow Marines, Army, Navy and Air Force, a team that I fought side-by-side with as brothers. So Will gets in another Humvee, with a crew that includes Dakota Meyer. 20K 1.6M views 9 years ago Former Army Capt. Oct. 15, 2013 -- President Obama's remarks at Capt. William D. Swenson Following the presentation of his framed citation and the personal Medal of Honor flag, Swenson spoke briefly. [7] He has been awarded the Bronze Star Medal (with two oak leaf clusters), the Purple Heart (for having been wounded in action),[8] and the Combat Infantryman Badge. [19] Swenson was promoted to lieutenant colonel on October 31, 2019. First Class Kenneth Westbrook, who had been hit in the throat, onto a helicopter. Vice President Joe Biden, First Lady Michelle Obama, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, and the families of four of the fallen soldiers from that day were among the 250 guests at the ceremony. [21] Finally, Swenson and a small contingent recovered the four fallen U.S. servicemen who had been discovered by a search and rescue aircraft at noon. "The Battle of Ganjgal was ferocious. [4] Swenson, Thomas Payne, Matthew O. Williams and Earl Plumlee are the only Medal of Honor recipients still on active duty. I will always place the mission first. Wendy, just off the bus in New York City, saw an ad for Captain Kink's, went in, met Swenson, and thus began one of the most explosive stories in rock history. Will Swenson, next Medal of Honor recipient (Military Times), Why William Swenson is a hero to all who care about the miltary (inFormation). He retired from the military in February 2011 and has been living in Seattle. Lying on his back, he presses a bandage to Kenneth's wound with one hand and calls for a MedEvac with the other, trying to keep his buddy calm. Raw Video: Battlefield Actions of Former Army Cpt. William Swenson 2023 BBC. Captain William D Swenson - Medal of Honor Recipient, Twin sisters among 11 killed by Russian strike in Ukraine, Macron calls police killing of teen 'unforgivable', First images of Titan sub as it is brought ashore, Van life is far from glamorous on LA's streets, China crackdown pushes LGBT groups into the shadows, The endangered languages that are fighting back. He's living in Seattle and currently unemployed. The poignant clip shows Swenson helping another soldier, Sgt. [21] The 6-7 hour firefight caused 15 coalition deaths, including the four U.S. servicemen; also, Swenson's sergeant, Kenneth Westbrook, died of his wounds after returning from Afghanistan. Why that's a rarity", "Seattle University Grad to Receive Medal of Honor", "US Medal of Honour recipient asks to re-enlist in the army", "Capt. Captain Swenson voluntarily exited the vehicle, exposing himself to enemy fire, to locate and recover three fallen Marines and one fallen Navy corpsman. [14] Later in 2014, Swenson was named "Alumnus of the Year" by Seattle University. He leans in and kisses the wounded Soldier on the head -- a simple act of compassion and loyalty to a brother in arms. Army spied on Will Swenson, Medal of Honor recipient, over Amazon book California Representative Duncan Hunter had asked the defence department to explain the further delay in January. And we were inspired by those who fought there, by those who would not accept defeat.". February 15th, DVIDS Hub works best with JavaScript enabled, Version: 2cd3d5416529eef287e85fa889cce9bd95381607_2023-06-26T09:46:10, Strategic Surrounded on three sides by enemy forces inflicting effective and accurate fire, Captain Swenson coordinated air assets, indirect fire support and medical evacuation helicopter support to allow for the evacuation of the wounded. Woof Woof TV shares a look at Lexi, a dog who can effortlessly jump on top of fences. US Army Captain William Swenson awarded Medal of Honor - BBC - Homepage William Swenson receives Medal of Honor at White House", "Criticism rises over long delays for Medals of Honor", "Army Captain William Swenson receives the Medal of Honor", "US Army Captain William Swenson awarded Medal of Honor", "Hagel apologizes for delay in Medal of Honor award", "Petraeus advised downgrading Swenson's Medal of Honor bid, probe finds", "Congressman Medal of Honor Probe Complete", "Seattle man in same battle as medal winner", "DOD Says Medal Of Honor Recommendation Got Lost In The Mail", "Army spied on Medal of Honor recipient over Amazon book review", "Army Targets Medal of Honor Recipient Over Amazon Book Review", "Exclusive: Army Spied on Hero Over Amazon Review", "Swenson Hall of Heroes induction brings changes to MOH processing", "Hagel apologizes to Medal of Honor recipient for bungling of paperwork that delayed award", "Official Citation / Captain William D. Swenson", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_D._Swenson&oldid=1128633790, United States Army personnel of the Iraq War, United States Army Medal of Honor recipients, War in Afghanistan (20012021) recipients of the Medal of Honor, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from February 2021, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, This page was last edited on 21 December 2022, at 04:23. "Will Swenson was there for his brothers," during the six-hour battle, Mr Obama said. Captain Swenson ignored enemy radio transmissions demanding surrender and maneuvered uncovered to render medical aid to a wounded fellow soldier. As he returns fire, Will calls for air support. In his debrief after the action Captain Swenson railed justifiably about the failure of duty officers in the rear to approve the delivery of artillery and air support in the heat of battle. William Swenson: Former Soldier to receive Medal of Honor (Stars and Stripes), Navy Cross recipient gives post-combat advice (Marine Times), Army captain from Seattle may receive Medal of Honor (King 5 News), Army Sgt. Captain Deric Swenson joins Dan Michaels to talk about the crime of "porch pirates." What to watch for, what you can do to protect yourself and more. The new directive, McHugh stated, required Medal of Honor nominations be sent immediately to Army Human Resources Command. Almost instantly, four Americans, three Marines, and a Navy corpsman at the front of the column are surrounded. Chad Usher Defense.gov Subscribe 217 2013- Former Army Captain William Swenson received the Medal. Watch the raw video of Swenson's battlefield bravery: Read about our approach to external linking. "Will Swenson was there for his brothers," during the six-hour battle, Mr Obama said. As the enemy unleashed a barrage of rocket-propelled grenade, mortar and machine gun fire, Captain Swenson immediately returned fire and coordinated and directed the response of his Afghan Border Police, while simultaneously calling in suppressive artillery fire and aviation support. William Swenson received the Medal of Honor on Tuesday from President Obama at the White House for his extraordinary courage during a firefight with. Plan. He has requested to return to active duty, rare for a Medal of Honor recipient, and his request is being reviewed, Army spokesman George Wright said. A list of external news stories about William D. Swenson. God bless all of our men and women in uniform. [9] At the time of the Battle of Ganjgal, Swenson was a captain in 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, detailed as an Embedded Trainer for the Afghan Border Police. The endangered languages that are fighting back. Swenson approaches a medical evacuation helicopter that he guided to land using a VS-17 signal panel that he still carries. Today is only the second time in nearly half a century that the Medal of Honor has been awarded to two survivors of the same battle. As the enemy unleashed a barrage of rocket-propelled grenade, mortar and machine gun fire, Captain Swenson immediately returned fire and coordinated and directed the response of his Afghan Border Police, while simultaneously calling in suppressive artillery fire and aviation support. 2023 Big Geek Dad. [10], Swenson left the army in February 2011 and lived in Seattle, Washington. Gritty war-zone video emerges of Capt. Will Swenson, next Medal of . Every magician likes to involve a pretty girl in his magic tricks but it's not often that the pretty girl. This could be the easy way to make that New Years resolution to shed a few pounds a reality. Skip to Main Content . William D. Swenson was inducted into the Pentagon Hall of Heroes, Oct. 16, 2013, Secretary of the Army John McHugh announced a directive to improve the Medal of Honor nomination and review process. Read More. President Obama will present the award during a ceremony at the White. He helps carry that wounded Soldier to the helicopter, and places him inside. . Sam the Dog demonstrates that she has mastered the art of dramatic acting as she goes all out to get. . A 2200-ton SUMNER class destroyer, the SWENSON had a length of 376 feet and . Swenson awarded Medal of Honor (CNN.com), You never allow a service member taken hostage' (MSNBC.com), Obama: Medal of Honor a reminder of 'what our country can be at its best' (Politico), Soldier in Afghan Battle Receives Medal of Honor (The New York Times), Army veteran William Swenson receives Medal of Honor (CBSNews.com), Army soldier Swenson hailed as what our country can be' at Medal of Honor ceremony (TribLIVE), Medal of Honor recipient braved gunfire to retrieve bodies of the fallen (CNN), Obama to present Medal of Honor to Swenson Today (Army Times), Medal of Honor Swenson (NBC: Nightly News), President Obama awards 2nd Medal of Honor for same Afghan battle (UPI.com), Obama Awards Medal Of Honor To Afghan War Vet (NPR), Video: Medal of Honor recipient: "Incredible" to relive moment of humanity (CBSNews.com), Medal of Honor: The Gamification of a Controversial American Hero (Foreign Policy Online), Video: President Awards Former Army CPT Swenson the MOH (Small Wars Journal Blog), Video: M.O.H. Captain Swenson will receive the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions while serving as an Embedded Trainer and Mentor of the Afghan National Security Forces with Afghan Border Police . After being airlifted out, he made it to Walter Reed. Captain Swenson stopped administering aid long enough to throw a grenade at approaching enemy forces, before assisting with moving the soldier for air evacuation. He was first nominated on 18 December 2009, but the US commander in Afghanistan had to resubmit Capt Swenson's application in July 2011, according to McClatchy newspapers. MILITARY AIDE: 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 Captain William D. Swenson United States Army for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty. Captain William D Swenson - Medal of Honor Recipient, Twin sisters among 11 killed by Russian strike in Ukraine, Macron calls police killing of teen 'unforgivable', South Koreans become younger under new law, Van life is far from glamorous on LA's streets, Cyclone survivors go hungry as junta blocks aid, China crackdown pushes LGBT groups into the shadows, The endangered languages that are fighting back. William D. Swenson, former Army captain, awarded medal of honor - YouTube [5], In December 2017, Swenson earned a Master of Arts in Security Studies Western Hemisphere from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Combat Kiss - Big Geek Daddy - Funny, Cool, and Interesting Videos Capt Swenson is now the sixth living recipient of the military honour. A cool video of visual compositions created out of paint, oil, inks, and soap that resemble miniature planets from photographer. U.S.S. Related videos from U.S. Army Public Affairs Officers. When they reach the village, Will jumps out -- drawing even more fire, dodging even more bullets. [11] At the time, when Swenson received the Medal of Honor, he was unemployed, and had been since after he left the army. Captain William D. Swenson - Medal of Honor - Operation Enduring Freedom, Medal of Honor recipient returns to active duty, MEDIA RELEASE: Washington State to unveil names of three Medal of Honor Recipients added to Capitol Campus Medal of Honor Monument (Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs), Medal of Honor recipient: 'It is a privilege to be a soldier' (KOMOnews.com), Medal of Honor recipient visits Chicago (Chicago Tribune), Medal of Honor Ceremony - Army Capt. If you like to watch Funny, Cool, and Interesting Videos. Capt Swenson is now the sixth living recipient of the military honour. Will stops treating Kenneth long enough to respond -- by lobbing a grenade. I make videos. Even now, a month rarely goes by when Will doesn't call or text, checking in with Charlene and her three boys. As a nation, we thank God that patriots like him are there for us all.. He was there for their families. So Will Swenson was there for his brothers. VideoThe endangered languages that are fighting back, When Miss World in India threatened 'cultural apocalypse', Belarus leader welcomes Wagner boss into exile. The ceremony was officiated by Chuck Hagel, the Secretary of Defense. Maintenance window scheduled to begin at February 14th 2200 est. We have never spoken, but I would like to believe I know something about each of you through the actions of your loved ones that day. He recognized the importance of assessing performance, and had the character to stick to his convictions."[33]. Dear Colorado, many people are in love with you and this video of your beautiful scenes will explain why. Retired Army Captain William Swenson is one of those heroeshe received his Medal of Honor from President Barack Obama Tuesday. But this may be the first time that we can actually bear witness to a small part of those actions for ourselves. 1.4K 219K views 9 years ago President awards William Swenson, a former active duty Army Captain, the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry. "He's without his helmet, standing in the open, exposing himself to enemy fire, standing watch over a severely wounded soldier.". I will never leave a fallen comrade. Capt Swenson has been unemployed since leaving the military in 2011 and now lives in Seattle, Washington. All Rights Reserved. Capt Swenson was serving in Afghanistan as a trainer and mentor embedded with the Afghan National Security Forces in . Capt Swenson was serving in Afghanistan as a trainer and mentor embedded with the Afghan National Security Forces in Kunar province when he was among US and Afghan soldiers walking through the valley on the way to meeting with village elders. The Key to Creating Employee Loyalty - LinkedIn California Representative Duncan Hunter had asked the defence department to explain the further delay in January. [6], Swenson was commissioned from Officer Candidate School as a United States Army infantry officer in September 2002. Capt Swenson, 34, is the sixth living recipient to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan. 1st Class Kenneth Westbrook. "It does not really belong to me; it belongs to that event and the people I stood with, he told the Washington Post. "A nation of citizens who look out for one another, who meet our obligations to one another not just when its easy, but also when its hardmaybe especially when its hard.". [21], Swenson and comrades moved his sergeant and other wounded to a helicopter for medical evacuation before returning to the enemy's "kill zone" for at least two more trips in an unarmored vehicle to evacuate additional wounded. Exposed once more. 4. "He's without his helmet, standing in the open, exposing himself to enemy fire, standing watch over a severely wounded soldier.". On October 15, 2013, President Barack Obama will award William Swenson, a former active duty Army Captain, the Medal of Honor for conspicuous gallantry. Every once in a while, there comes a hero whose bravery earns him or her America's highest military award, the Medal of Honor. Sgt Westbrook died after returning the US of complications from a blood transfusion. THE PRESIDENT: Let me say once again, not only to Will, but to all our men and women in uniform, who have served us with such incredible courage and professionalism, that America is grateful for you.
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