Former Army Capt. William Swenson, Medal of Honor recipient, addresses Loyola

The nation's newest Medal of Honor recipient, former Army Capt. William Swenson, spoke at Loyola on October 28, 2013.
Swenson received the honor-the nation's highest medal for valor in combat-for saving more than a dozen lives after his squad was ambushed in Afghanistan in 2009. He is the second person to receive the Medal of Honor for that battle, according to the Army's official website.
To learn more visit www.luc.edu/index.shtml?....

[@Merlinfoop]

This guy is so inspiring. You can tell he's actually very intelligent.

[@dnwlogisticsllc8609]

He is very intelligent. He was LT in Afghanistan in 2003-2004

[@bobkin611]

You say that as if you doubted his intelligence.

[@brunogingras798]

yes

[@Michael-ke8on]

What an amazing guy. God bless him.

[@divemasterben]

That Lieutenant Colonel asking the questions sucks! Unprepared!

[@RS-jh2kl]

Major Will Swenson is extremely articulate and thoughtful. Running around without a Kevlar on was pretty badass too...

[@bryanfletcher5722]

Wish this guy was my captain he's a team player they need more Chiefs like him

[@FLAMINGBABYHEAD]

Did they not have time to prepare for this any better? Out of the 3 of them, the only person who doesn't seem to be winging it is CPT Swenson.

[@mofo7689]

when he walks in a room, you INSTANTLY get to your feet.

[@reidrr41]

THIS IS ONE GREAT GUY....HE REALLY KNOWS THE ANSWER

[@don95111b]

What a great leader! I salute you sir. From a former OIF 11B vet.

[@garygendreau4282]

I think none of you understand what he has done and been through. Also so i served with that ROTC Brigade Commander, He tried to hang a bunch of us out to dry for following his orders. Ended up being relieved if I remember correctly, explains why he's an ROTC Brigade Commander

[@donnasuekiff3610]

William D Swenson is a true Hero. God bless him for his bravery.

[@emm28bee]

Interviewer/Soldier seemed understandably nervous. He probably didn't mean: "..WON the Medal of honor".

[@RS-jh2kl]

Awarded the medal would be an appropriate term.

[@ATVer85]

You cannot lay it out any better than he did.

[@fastone942]

it was great to hear Maj. Swenson when back in to the Army a true leader

[@balmaceda01]

Can't be

[@josephlangston1427]

The guy who asked him about experiencing "diversity and hardships" and what motivated him to get through those...I think he meant "adversity" not "diversity".

[@izzysykopth]

Oh a grammatical giant. PFFFT!

[@damienhunt4264]

So humble. So different from the politicians that send men and women to fight.

[@barokuploader4980]

Kudos!

[@TheJohnnyb1976]

I was an NCO in the Navy. Leadership is earned. I was working on the Captains Bridge on the USS Constellation. We were leaving San Diego harbor and the Junior officer of the Deck was conning the ship out of the harbor. Our new skipper was sitting in the Captains chair watching the action of his officers leaving port. A sailboat sailed into our path. The JOOD ordered a course correction to try and avoid the small sailboat. The Captain went bat shit crazy. Started screaming at the junior officer and ate his ass out in front of everyone. Threw his hat at him then countered manned his orders. I knew right then this asshole has no idea about command or leadership. I was an E-4. A few weeks later his leadership had a very adverse affect on ships morale. I’m talkingVietnam era. The blacks held a mutiny and were marched off the ship. While transiting the Pacific on the way to Hawaii it got worse. We were leaving Pearl Harbor and the Captain decided to conn the ship . He ran us aground and bent the number 4 shaft. When we got to the Philippines he was relieved of his command. Six months and he’d totally screwed up a well run ship. The new skipper came onboard and his first address to the crew completely turned everything around. We’d follow this skipper into battle no questions asked. Profound leadership was clearly evident to the whole ship. We knew he’d do the right thing and have our backs! John B.

[@carolbriggs5825]

Love him

[@PopsKustojo]

DNW

[@boricua1123]

I served with 1-32 in Kandahar 2011-12. CHOSIN!

[@DirtyMikeandTheBoyz]

He reminds me so much of bruce wayne from the new batman movies... XD cool guy

[@ltaggs1203]

There needs to be accountability with the Commissioned Officers. I seen too many times, how an officers messes up badly and is never held accountable. They are just promoted and stationed at another base. That is B.S. of the highest order. As for N.C.O.'s there are good and bad, again find the find bad ones and correct the problem, quit passing the problem down the line to unsuspecting soldiers.

[@oceaneyessee2473]

Absolutely an incredible and honorable man. Thanks to all of you, who've put your life on the line to protect us!❤❤❤

[@aaa77712]

Lt Col Clay ruined the program for this great hero..Clay was bad as a interviewer..

[@talbotsplace7316]

This fellow strikes me as what we used to call a "proper officer."

[@tyronmegawatts6580]

Take care of the people who take care of you.

[@parkerhunt9122]

He's still in the Army but he's a major now

[@nalinsav]

not "still in the army" - but was "reinstated into army" after he won his medal of honour and had left it or was pushed out then!

[@joshbenton810]

@@nalinsav he quit due to politics in the army. his MOH paperwork was 'lost' coincidentally when he openly criticized his command due to them not authorizing air support/ artillery, which got americans and afgan soldiers killed. it is suspected the reason he ended up getting it, was partially due to dakota meyer pushing for it in his book, bringing it back up after some commanders tried to bury it

[@hermanngommel4664]

Will Swenson is now a lieutenant colonel

[@alfredjamesabordo3582]

@@hermanngommel4664 that's good to know. Last I read about him was that he was fighting to be reinstated in the Army.

[@hermanngommel4664]

@@alfredjamesabordo3582 He got back in April 2014 and was promoted to major in the same year. In Nov. 2019 he was promoted to LTC after only 14 years of comissioned service. This is 3 years below the DOPMA primary zone. Only the best of the best receive such early promotion.

[@boricua1123]

Won the medal of honor? Holy shit, no wonder this guy is the commander of an ROTC program.

[@gasripper2]

I believe many of these questions lack some intellectual thought.

[@corettaha7855]

gasripper2 You should have gone if you think you have intellectual thoughts better than theirs.

[@izzysykopth]

I can't seem top shake a reply out of any on this thread. I wonder if they took a look into what I posted and are realizing Loyola is NOT ON OUR TEAM. I wonder...

[@phillipbailey275]

Theres a lot of resemblance between Capt. Swenson and Lionel Messi.

[@Naamturd101]

ROTC Brigade Commander needs a frigg'n cheat sheet for LDRSHIP? The fuck?

[@larsjj2794]

Naamtar And what have you done?

[@Naamturd101]

Lars JJ what does it matter? I served as a Combat Medic for two years during OIF and OEF before injuries rendered me combat ineffective and I was given a medical discharge. I have permanent disabilities that will cut my life short and hinder me from doing anything that resembles my life prior to joining up. I've done a lot, and I've sacrificed a lot. How about you?

[@Recceman901]

+Naamtar I thought the same thing. Thanks for being a medic, the truest form of bravery, running in to harms way to work on an injured soldier under fire. I have always told my boys and family that Combat Medics and Chaplains are the bravest of the brave. Thank you.

[@redhotnblue9954]

+Naamtar I can truly empathize with you and all the other soldiers who sacrificed their lives, bodies, and their mental health. I'm at a job that deals with some of those issues, and I try to keep in perspective what these veterans have to go through. A friend of mine, "Commando Kelly," said that you can leave the war, but somehow the war never leaves you. Now we can try to deal with PTSD and help these vets get on with their lives.

[@larsjj2794]

Naamtar Then why on God's green earth would you bitch about him needing a cheat sheet? Instead of recognizing his actions?

[@domzbu]

the interviewer looks like a middle-aged Steve-O

[@balmaceda01]

😂😁

[@charliecostella]

Why is the guy swallowing the Mike!

[@peterana00]

30:08 what is she trying to ask?

[@Masseffectdude]

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

[@Autobotmatt428]

Now Army lt col Swenson

[@phyllivingston391]

He’s nervous and ptsd

[@TheTtribe]

19:?? "did you think you would ever WIN, the medal"?? Most everyone who has ever served knows that there is no win in being the recipient of this medal.

[@tomguthrieactual]

I'll give the guy in the crowd, who may have never served a pass, but I can't describe how much it bothered me that an O-5 made that comment in the beginning (9:22ish...)

[@jmkenny]

This dude is so robotic he's hard to relate too... Especially compared to Dakota Meyer who openly admits his flaws etc...

[@jvolstad]

I thought philosophy was very interesting in college.

[@phyllivingston391]

No he’s a sociopath

[@thiemtran3873]

Woman thanhk

[@stevenelson3453]

OK I see the comments on here and no need to argue with other soldiers. I served with 10th Mountain G2 from 2000-2003-Korea, 2004 and on to Fort Carson. My question is how does this Medal of Honor winner not know basic facts any soldier stationed at Fort Drum would know. Answering with generalized answers any person could learn off the internet. But certain things you only know if you were there( WATERTOWN IS UNIQUE ) In how much it sucks. What swamps are there at Drum? Fort Polk? None!He doesn't know any anecdotal facts about Fort Drum and 10th MTN. I did not know any soldiers with long hair esp in country. Group guys had long hair and beards in country noT in CONUS.THIS LOOKS BIZARRE.

[@stevenelson3453]

Ah clever the POG comment. Well partially correct having gone through FT Benning infantry training Sand Hill I was off to Germany. Being a tad smarter then the average 11, B I was sent to Villseck to cross train as a medic and than attached to a field artillery unit in Giessen Germany. Went to college and left Germany attached to 10th MTN G2 deployed and deployed with what is called SOCCE. ETS '08 and now as an RN/law student work at a 501(C) ,3 non prof legal aid for veterans needing pro bono legal aid. As well as assisting other DAV vets and VFW members. So I guess technically I am a POG.

[@stevenelson3453]

As too winning the award that was he response to the person in the audience who asked the question. Your rgument would be with the recipient of the award not me. Listen to his response.

[@stevenelson3453]

I don't really go into details of what I did however if interested you should look into what SOCCE does and you might discover a part of the military you were unaware of. LOL peace time I went in during the Gulf War and ETS's during the Iraq and Afgan, conflicts .I have been to many places to name. Perhaps the most insane with 10th MTN LRSD teams. If you look into what is done within the small community of JSOC and SOCCE it is unconventional/MTOE tasking is very small with each members skill set consisting of multiple MOS's. As to school and places I have been LOL Polk yes, love the BBQ, Bragg, Benning, NTC, Bagram, Casey, on and on. I have to laugh I was trying to explain to our new residents why some of us take meds for PTSD's. Any who you seem articulate and well intentioned being that it is almost Veteran's maybe get online in your town and volunteer at you local DAV, VFW, or VA hospital and hang out with some vets less fortunate than you and I who are still battling addictions, depression or PTSD'S. If interested look up my old boss Steven Greer CSM. He is more public than any us who wish to remain largely in the back round.

[@stamfield909]

Steve Nelson he was MY PL at Drum and on his 1st OEF trip. I assure you, he knows plenty about Drum and the surrounding area and... so what if his hair is long? During the taping of this and while receiving the medal he was a civilian... it’s hair dude... even if he was in, it’s short-ish, tapered-ish and his hair does not fall over his eyebrows... still in regs. Are these really all the things you can find to talk about? C’mon man!

[@brandonmetcalf7719]

Cpt Swenson you sr are a amazing leader and example to live by proud to know you "DEEDS NOT WORS"

[@EricaMilesRevolutionary]

I love the Satanic pentagram hanging around his neck, though I do not think he is worthy of wearing it.

[@balmaceda01]

@@iceman27406 lol Savage

[@donnasuekiff3610]

Erica Miles stupid bitch you need to go crawl back under the rock you crawled out from under and stay there