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| Second Medal of Honor for 2009 Afghan Battle | |
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| WASHINGTON — President Obama on Tuesday awarded the military’s highest honor for valor to a former Army captain who battled through an ambush in Afghanistan despite failing to receive the air and artillery support he had requested. | WASHINGTON — President Obama on Tuesday awarded the military’s highest honor for valor to a former Army captain who battled through an ambush in Afghanistan despite failing to receive the air and artillery support he had requested. |
| The former captain, William Swenson, has been outspoken in his criticism of his superiors who failed to send in help on Sept. 8, 2009, when Afghan soldiers and American military officers and trainers were ambushed outside the village of Ganjgal in Kunar Province. An investigation found that senior military leaders had let command paralysis overcome them during the battle. Three Army officers were reprimanded. | The former captain, William Swenson, has been outspoken in his criticism of his superiors who failed to send in help on Sept. 8, 2009, when Afghan soldiers and American military officers and trainers were ambushed outside the village of Ganjgal in Kunar Province. An investigation found that senior military leaders had let command paralysis overcome them during the battle. Three Army officers were reprimanded. |
| The public criticism by Captain Swenson held up his nomination for the Medal of Honor for years. But in a ceremony held in the East Room on Tuesday, Mr. Obama acknowledged Captain Swenson’s efforts to save his Afghan and American comrades through a hail of bullets. | The public criticism by Captain Swenson held up his nomination for the Medal of Honor for years. But in a ceremony held in the East Room on Tuesday, Mr. Obama acknowledged Captain Swenson’s efforts to save his Afghan and American comrades through a hail of bullets. |
| In retelling the events of the tragic day, Mr. Obama described a scene caught on video of Captain Swenson helping a wounded serviceman onto a medical helicopter even as the battle raged on. | In retelling the events of the tragic day, Mr. Obama described a scene caught on video of Captain Swenson helping a wounded serviceman onto a medical helicopter even as the battle raged on. |
| “You see, out of a cloud of dust, an American soldier,” Mr. Obama said. “He’s without his helmet, standing in the open, exposing himself to enemy fire, standing watch over a severely wounded soldier. | “You see, out of a cloud of dust, an American soldier,” Mr. Obama said. “He’s without his helmet, standing in the open, exposing himself to enemy fire, standing watch over a severely wounded soldier. |
| “He helps carry that wounded soldier to the helicopter and places him inside. And then, amidst the whipping wind and the deafening roar of the helicopter blades, he does something unexpected. He leans in and kisses the wounded soldier on the head — a simple act of compassion and loyalty to a brother in arms. | “He helps carry that wounded soldier to the helicopter and places him inside. And then, amidst the whipping wind and the deafening roar of the helicopter blades, he does something unexpected. He leans in and kisses the wounded soldier on the head — a simple act of compassion and loyalty to a brother in arms. |
| “And as the door closes and the helicopter takes off, he turns and goes back the way he came, back into the battle.” | “And as the door closes and the helicopter takes off, he turns and goes back the way he came, back into the battle.” |
| Tuesday’s ceremony was the second time in two years that Mr. Obama has recognized a young man involved in that Afghan battle. In 2011, the president awarded the Medal of Honor to Cpl. Dakota Meyer, a Marine who helped rescue dozens of troops on that day and risked his life to recover the remains of four American servicemen. | Tuesday’s ceremony was the second time in two years that Mr. Obama has recognized a young man involved in that Afghan battle. In 2011, the president awarded the Medal of Honor to Cpl. Dakota Meyer, a Marine who helped rescue dozens of troops on that day and risked his life to recover the remains of four American servicemen. |
| Captain Swenson was serving alongside Corporal Meyer on that day as an embedded adviser with the Afghan Border Police Mentor Team, according to an Army news release published last month. As the military column moved toward Ganjgal, it was ambushed by more than 50 insurgent fighters. | Captain Swenson was serving alongside Corporal Meyer on that day as an embedded adviser with the Afghan Border Police Mentor Team, according to an Army news release published last month. As the military column moved toward Ganjgal, it was ambushed by more than 50 insurgent fighters. |
| Captain Swenson became the sixth living person to receive the Medal of Honor for service in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, according to the White House. | Captain Swenson became the sixth living person to receive the Medal of Honor for service in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, according to the White House. |
| In a brief statement after the ceremony, Captain Swenson told reporters that the award around his neck represented the work of a team. | In a brief statement after the ceremony, Captain Swenson told reporters that the award around his neck represented the work of a team. |
| “Today, I stand with the Medal of Honor,” he said, standing in front of the West Wing. “But this award is earned with a team, a team of our finest. Marines, Army, Air Force, Navy and our Afghan partners, standing side by side. And now that team includes Gold Star families who lost their fathers, sons and husbands that day. This medal represents them, represents us.” | “Today, I stand with the Medal of Honor,” he said, standing in front of the West Wing. “But this award is earned with a team, a team of our finest. Marines, Army, Air Force, Navy and our Afghan partners, standing side by side. And now that team includes Gold Star families who lost their fathers, sons and husbands that day. This medal represents them, represents us.” |