34-year-old William Swenson, a former U.S. Army captain whose actions in a deadly battle during the War in Afghanistan, received the Medal of Honor at a White House ceremony on Tuesday, Sky News reported. President Barack Obama honored Capt. Swenson for his brave actions in a lengthy battle against the Taliban in the Ganjgal valley near the Pakistan border on September 8, 2009, news reports said.
Five Americans, 10 Afghan army troops and an interpreter were killed in the battle.
Swenson had been serving as a trainer and mentor embedded with the Afghan National Security Forces in Kunar Province in eastern Afghanistan when they came under fine in the early hours of September 8, 2009.
Video footage from cameras mounted on the helmets of evacuation helicopter pilots showed Capt. Swenson delivering a severely wounded solider to the helicopter. Obama also described Swenson had dodged enemy fire, risking his life to recover bodies and help other troops. He saved his comrades, all while not wearing a helmet, the president said.
"In moments like this, Americans like Will remind us of what our country can be at its best, a nation of citizens who look out for one another, who meet our obligations to one another not just when it's easy, but also when it's hard - maybe especially when it's hard," said Obama.
The four Americans killed in the ambush included: 25-year-old 1st Lt Michael Johnson, 30-year-old Staff Sgt Aaron Kenefick, 22-year-old Corpsman James Layton and 31-year-old Sgt Edwin Wayne Johnson Jr,, news reports said.
Capt. Swenson is the sixth living recipient to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan. He is a resident of Seattle Washington, having retired from the military in February 2011, Sky News reported.
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