Afghan War Vet Presented with Medal of Honor

For heroism in firefight in 2009

A former Army captain, whose actions were recorded in a dramatic helmet cam-video, received the nation's highest military honor on Tuesday for his bravery in one of the deadliest firefights of the Afghanistan war.

William D. Swenson was awarded the Medal of Honor Tuesday for his "extraordinary heroism" in a lengthy battle against the Taliban in the Ganjgal valley near the Pakistan border on Sept. 8, 2009, which claimed the lives of five Americans, 10 Afghan army troops and an interpreter.

At the time, Swenson was an embedded trainer and mentor with the Afghan National Security Forces in Kunar Province in eastern Afghanistan. He risked his life to recover bodies and help save fellow troops.