Former Army Capt. William D. Swenson received the nation’s highest military award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for actions during a fierce, six-hour battle following a deadly ambush in Afghanistan.
WASHINGTON (Army News Service, Oct. 15, 2013) — Former Army Capt. William D. Swenson received the nation’s highest military award for valor, the Medal of Honor, for actions during a fierce, six-hour battle following a deadly ambush in Afghanistan.
Swenson, who is the first Army officer to receive the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan, was honored at the White House, Oct. 15.
Guests at the ceremony included other Medal of Honor recipients, members of Swenson’s team, and the families of service members who died in battle.
Secretary of the Army John McHugh, Chief of Staff of the Army Gen. Ray Odierno, Under Secretary of the Army Dr. Joseph W. Westphal, and Sgt. Maj. of the Army Raymond F. Chandler III also attended.
Before draping the medal around Swenson’s neck, President Barack Obama recounted the heroic actions of the Army officer who saved more than a dozen lives during the Battle of Ganjgal in Kunar Province, Sept. 8, 2009.
Swenson is the second person to receive the Medal of Honor for that battle. Then-Marine Cpl. Dakota Meyer was honored for his valor two years ago.
Swenson is a remarkable example to the nation of the professionalism and patriotism that everyone should strive for, the president said.
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Want to know even more? Watch these two videos:
Watch this to see Capt. William D. Swenson in action: