Jon Edward Swanson

The database page for Jon Edward Swanson

29 January 2002 Captain Jon E. Swanson was killed in action during his second tour in Vietnam. His first tour of duty was in 1967, with D Troop, 3rd Sqd, 5th Cavalry. During that tour he received his first Purple Heart for wounds received while flying support for ground troops. In early 1971, Captain Swanson, now with the 9th Cavalry, and SSG Larry Gene Harrison, observer, were conducting a visual reconnaissance mission while providing close air support to an ARVN force operating in Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia. They were flying an OH-6A (hull number 69-16067). While flying at a low altitude marking enemy positions, it came under fire from two machine guns and was seen to burst into flames and crash. Another helicopter landed near the site, but was forced to take off when it came under heavy enemy fire. Repeated attempts by both ARVN ground troops and U.S. helicopters to reach the downed helicopter were thwarted by enemy fire. On 27 February US helicopters returned to the area and saw what they believed to be the remains of Captain Swanson and SSG Harrison near the crash site. As late as 07 March the remains were observed near the crash site, but could not be recovered due to enemy fire. Captain Swanson was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions in support of ARVN Task Force 33. Thirty years later, Congress approved legislation which allowed the President to upgrade the DSC to the Medal of Honor, should the President see fit to do so. The documents which support the upgrade give greater detail of the action on that day: "On 26 February 1971, Captain Jon E Swanson was flying an OH-6A aircraft on a close-support reconnaissance mission in support of Army of the Republic of Vietnam Task Force 333 conducting operations within Cambodia. Two well-equipped enemy regiments were known to be in the area, and Captain Swanson's mission was to pinpoint precise enemy positions. To accomplish this mission he was required to fly at tree-top level at a slow airspeed, thus making his aircraft a very vulnerable target. The advancing ARVN unit came under heavy automatic weapons fire from enemy bunkers in a treeline approximately 100 meters to their front. Captain Swanson, completely exposing himself to enemy anti-aircraft fire, immediately engaged the enemy bunkers with concussion grenades and machinegun fire. "After destroying five bunkers and successfully evading ground-to-air fire, he discovered a .51 caliber machine gun position. He had expended his heavy ordnance on the bunkers and did not have sufficient explosives to destroy the position. Consequently, he marked the position with a smoke grenade and directed a Cobra gunship attack on the position. Upon completion of the attack, he again returned to the area to assess the battle damage. Captain Swanson found the weapon still intact and an enemy soldier crawling over to man it. He immediately engaged the individual and killed him. His aircraft was then taken under fire by a second .51 caliber machine gun position. Although his aircraft had taken several hits, Captain Swanson engaged the position with his aircraft weapons, marked the target, and directed a second Cobra gunship attack. He volunteered to continue the mission despite the fact that he was critically low on ammunition and his aircraft was crippled from the hits it sustained. While approaching the target area, Captain Swanson was taken under fire by yet another .51 caliber machine gun position. In an effort to mark the position with smoke, he again flew into the objective area. Although his aircraft was taking heavy fire, he continued to fly to the .51 caliber position. It was at this point that his aircraft exploded in the air and crashed to the ground. Captain Swanson's courageous actions resulted in at least eight enemy dead and the destruction of three enemy anti-aircraft positions, which would have been responsible for the destruction of many more helicopters and crews. "The acts of then-Captain Jon E. Swanson clearly distinguish him conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty . . ." The remains of Captain Jon E. Swanson and SSG Larry Gene Harrison have not been recovered (see addendum below). 26 April 2002 On May 1, 2002, Jon's 60th birthday and the 33rd aniversary of his mother's death, Jon will be awarded the Medal of Honor. On May 3, 2002, Captain Jon Edward Swanson and Staff Sergeant Larry Harrison will be buried together with full honors at Arlington National Cemetery. Remains from the aircraft crash site in Cambodia were recovered by the U.S. Army and have been returned to the United States. I know, with confidence because I knew him, that Jon would be the first to credit all who served with him in the Vietnam war and accept his award for the courage of all those who bravely fought, but have not been recognized by medals or awards. Andrew C. Swanson, CW3, USAR ac_swanson@hotmail.com

13 Jul 2006 Paying tribute to this young hero, with a multitude of thanks for his service to our country. Rest well in the Mighty Hands of God, Jon Edward Swanson, and know that you will NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. There is an inscription on a gate at Arlington National Cemetery that reads "Rest easy, sleep well, my brothers. Know the line has held, your job is done. Rest easy, sleep well. Others have taken up where you fell, the line has held. Peace, peace, and farewell..." From the sister of another young 1st Cavalry hero, who made the ultimate sacrifice in Vietnam. KIA 1967 Garnet Jenkins garijen@bresnan.net

Notes from The Virtual Wall The remains of Captain Jon E. Swanson and SSG Larry Gene Harrison were repatriated on 21 September 1995, but positive identification of the remains was not made public until 07 February 2002, nine days after this memorial was originally published on The Virtual Wall. The staff of The Virtual Wall, all combat veterans of Vietnam, welcome Captain Swanson and Staff Sergeant Harrison home. His wife Sandee Swanson and daughters Brigid Swanson-Jones and Holly Walker receive the Medal of Honor from President Bush on 1 May 2002 The President of the United States in the name of the Congress of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to Jon Edward Swanson Captain United States Army for service as set forth in the following CITATION: Captain Jon E. Swanson distinguished himself by acts of bravery on February 26, 1971, while flying an OH-6A aircraft in support of 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 machine gun fire. After destroying five bunkers and evading intense ground-to-air fire, he observed a .51 caliber machine gun 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 gun ship 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 machine gun. Captain Swanson engaged the position with his aircraft's weapons, marked the target, and directed a second Cobra gun ship 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 machine gun position, his aircraft exploded in the air and crashed to the ground, causing his death. Captain Swanson's courageous actions resulted in at least eight enemy killed and the destruction of three enemy anti-aircraft weapons. 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.

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With all respect
Jim Schueckler, former CW2, US Army
Ken Davis, Commander, United States Navy (Ret)
Memorial first published on 29 Jan 2002
Last updated 08/10/2009