Burial with full military honors for these two brave men
will take place tomorrow -- Friday, May 3 -- at Arlington National
Cemetery. Funeral services will begin at 9:00 AM in the Fort
Myer Chapel and will be
followed by a procession to the internment site
at Arlington. The families have indicated they would welcome anyone
wishing to attend.
The Swanson family seemed genuinely touched that some of us were at the awards ceremony yesterday, in our Cav Stetsons. They wanted to know about the unit, about air cavalry tactics, how White and Red formed into Pink Teams, and a host of other details that put new layers on their memories of their husband, father, brother, cousin, etc. Meeting with the family was a tremendously enriching experience for Jack Shields, Walker Jones, Jack Morrissey and me, I know I speak for them when I encourage any of you who live close enough to join us for the services tomorrow.
Security is tight on military installations in the wake of September 11, and Mike Sloniker suggests you plan to arrive at the gate before 8:00, especially if you don't have a DoD decal on your car and/or a retired ID card.
Please come if you can, and wear your Cav hat. Jon Swanson and Larry Harrison -- and the families they left behind -- deserve the best turnout we can give them.
Jim Kurtz also sent the following background in another note:
Yesterday, Jack Shields, Walker Jones, Jack Morrissey
and I were privileged to represent our fellow veterans of the 1st Squadron,
9th Cavalry as the Medal of Honor was presented to the family of Captain
Jon Swanson, killed in action February 6, 1971 while serving as Saber White
-- the scout platoon
leader in B Troop.
The ceremony took place in the White House Rose Garden. Captain Swanson's wife Sandee and the two daughters he barely knew, Holly and Brigid, received the medal from President Bush.
The citation for the award reads as follows:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of the Congress the Medal of Honor to Captain Jon E. Swanson, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:
Captain Jon E. Swanson distinguished himself by acts of
bravery on February 26, 1971, while flying an OH-6A aircraft in support
of Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) Task Force 333 in the Kingdom
of Cambodia.
With two well-equipped enemy regiments known to be in
the area, Captain Swanson was tasked with pinpointing the enemy's precise
positions. Captain Swanson flew at treetop level at a slow airspeed,
making his aircraft a vulnerable target. The advancing ARVN unit
came under heavy automatic weapons fire from enemy bunkers 100 meters to
their front. Exposing his aircraft to enemy anti-aircraft fire, Captain
Swanson immediately engaged the enemy bunkers with concussion grenades
and machinegun fire. After destroying five bunkers and evading intense
ground-to-air fire, he observed a .51-caliber
machinegun position. With all his heavy ordnance
expended on the bunkers, he did not have sufficient explosives to destroy
the position. Consequently, he marked the position with a smoke grenade
and directed a Cobra gunship attack. After completion of the attack,
Captain Swanson found the weapon still intact and an enemy soldier crawling
over to man it. He immediately engaged the individual and killed
him. During this time, his aircraft sustained several hits from another
.51-caliber machinegun.
Captain Swanson engaged the position with his aircraft's
weapons, marked the target, and directed a second Cobra gunship attack.
He volunteered to continue the mission, despite the fact that he was now
critically low on ammunition and his aircraft was crippled by enemy fire.
As Captain Swanson attempted to fly toward another .51-caliber machinegun
position, his aircraft exploded in the air and crashed to the ground, causing
his death.
Captain Swanson's extraordinary heroism and devotion
to duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service
and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States
Army.
According to Mike Sloniker, historian of the Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association, all previous Medals of Honor awarded to Army Aviators have been for saving lives:
Fergusson C/227 AHB slick into Hue.
Wetzel CE on 173d AHC bird, saved the crew despite having leg nearly blown off from RPG.
Novosel, Medevac in the Delta.
Adams A/227 AHB slick in II Corps, 1971.
Brady 54th Med at Chu Lai.
Freeman A/229th slick at X Ray.
This is thus the first Medal of Honor awarded to a pilot from the 1st of the 9th, and the first ever to a scout pilot.
Captain Swanson is being enshrined today in the Hall of Heroes at the Pentagon.
