We are all familiar with Marine Corps hero, Sergeant Dakota Meyer, who last week was awarded the nation’s highest military decoration, the Medal of Honor. President Obama presented it to him at a ceremony in the White House for his heroism in a 2009 firefight in Ganjgal, Afghanistan. During the fight, Sgt Meyer helped rescue 36 of his fellow servicemen, and recovered the bodies of four more.
What is less well known about that firefight is that there were other heroes. Riding in the Humvee with Sgt Meyer were Marine 1st Lt. Ademola Fabayo and Marine Staff Sgt. Juan Rodriguez-Chavez, both of whom received the Navy Cross in June. But there was also a fourth hero in the same Humvee that came under heavy fire. According to all accounts, this soldier assisted Sgt Meyer in rescuing their fellow men and in recovering the dead. But so far, he has received no decoration, not even the slightest recognition.
Army Captain William Swenson is that fourth hero, and now there is word that Marine Corps General John Allen has made a formal recommendation that Swenson receive the Medal of Honor. While this is wonderful news, what is more interesting about Capt Swenson’s case is why he was not recognized for his heroism until Gen Allen took personal interest in his story last month.
In an article about Capt Swenson, the Air Force Times comments: “It was not clear what caused the delay, or where the recommendation was in the approval process. Any recommendation would need to be approved by the Army, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and President Obama.”
But then the Times seems to answer its own confusion. Apparently Capt Swenson was an outspoken critic of the rules of engagement, his leadership, and the constant second-guessing he received from staff officers in various operations centers. In an interview following the firefight, Capt Swenson is quoted as having said:
“When I’m being second-guessed by higher or somebody that’s sitting in an air-conditioned TOC, why [the] hell am I even out there in the first place? Let’s sit back and play Nintendo. I am the ground commander I want that f–er, and I am willing to accept the consequences of that f–er.”
The Japanese have a saying that seems appropriate for Capt Swenson’s circumstances: “The nail that sticks up gets hammered down.” His outspokenness is likely the reason his heroism that day went unrecognized. The upper echelons in the military no doubt wanted to punish him for embarrassing them, no matter how correct his observations may have been. Rather than take a field commander’s concerns, investigate them, and fix what may be broken, the military chose to punish the complainer by a twisted crime of omission: denying him the honor he earned.
It’s encouraging that Gen Allen is now taking an interest in Capt Swenson’s lack of decoration. He certainly deserves the proper accolades that a grateful nation can give him, and it’s never too late to recognize a hero. Just like Sgt Meyer who earned his Medal of Honor in the same firefight in 2009, Capt Swenson deserves the same honor. It’s time for the Army, the DoD, and the White House to make this right.
Mike Angley is the award-winning author of the thriller series, the Child Finder trilogy. He is a retired USAF Colonel and 25-year career Special Agent with the Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI). Follow him on Twitter: @MikeAngley, FaceBook: https://www.facebook.com/mike.angley, and visit his website: www.mikeangley.com.
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