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Vietnam War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Captain Jon Swanson
Vietnam War Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Captain Humbert R. "Rocky" Versace
World War II Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
Captain Ben L. Salomon
SWANSON, JON EDWARD
Remains recovered - see below
December 31, 2001:
President Bush signed the Bill to bestow the Congressional Medal of Honor on Jon Swanson.
He is officially going to receive the Medal of Honor.
Name: Jon Edward Swanson
Rank/Branch: O3/US Army
Unit: Troop B, 1st Battalion, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division
Date of Birth: 01 May 1942 (San Antonio TX)
Home City of Record: Denver CO [family states Boulder, CO - see below]
Date of Loss: 26 February 1971
Country of Loss: Cambodia
Loss Coordinates: 115938N 1055053E (WU923259)
Status (in 1973): Killed/Body Not Recovered
Category: 2
Aircraft/Vehicle/Ground: OH6A
Refno: 1709
Source: Compiled from one or more of the following: raw data from U.S. Government agency sources, correspondence with POW/MIA families, published sources, interviews. Updated by the P.O.W. NETWORK in 2002.
Other Personnel in Incident: Larry G. Harrison (missing)
REMARKS:
SYNOPSIS: Jon Swanson was the pilot of an OH6A with Larry Harrison as observer on a visual reconnaissance mission, while providing close air support to an ambushed ARVN convoy in Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia.
When the aircraft was 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 February 27, U.S. helicopters returned to the area and saw what they believed to be two remains near the crash site. As late as March 7, the remains were observed near the crash site, but could not be recovered due to enemy fire.
It was a common practice for communist troops to leave "bait" to lure other aircraft hoping to rescue downed aircrews into a hostile area. Because of the enemy presence in the area of the downed aircraft, it is possible that the bodies of Swanson and Harrison were used in this manner. Regardless, the U.S. Government believes that the enemy knows the fate of the two.
Fifteen years after the war ended, the Cambodian government let it be known that they had the remains of nearly 100 Americans. Unfortunately, the U.S. has no diplomatic relations with Cambodia and would not officially respond. Although several U.S. Congressmen have attempted to recover the remains of these Americans, the government of Cambodia clearly wishes an official request from the U.S. Government, which it is unwilling to give.
It is not thought that Americans captured by the Cambodian communists were allowed to survive, but were instead executed. As Vietnamese troops also coursed through Cambodia, as in Laos, however, a significant number of these downed pilots and crew might have been captured by the Vietnamese, thus escaping the post-war holocaust caused by the Pol Pot regime in Cambodia.
The governments of Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam have been less than forthcoming in response to reports that they still hold American prisoners. The U.S. has been unwilling or unable to obtain the freedom of any living prisoners since the war ended.
On December 28, 2001 Pres George Bush signed the Defense Authorization Act, S1438, which included:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
SEC. 551. AUTHORITY FOR AWARD OF THE MEDAL OF HONOR TO
HUMBERT R. VERSACE , JON E. SWANSON , AND BEN L. SALOMON FOR VALOR.
(a) WAIVER OF TIME LIMITATIONS - Notwithstanding the time limitations specified in section 3744 of title 10, United States Code, or any other time limitation with respect to the awarding of certain medals to persons who served in the military service, the President may award the Medal of Honor under section 3741 of that title to any of the persons named in subsections
(b), (c), and (d) for the acts of valor referred to in those respective subsections.
(b) HUMBERT R. VERSACE - Subsection (a) applies with respect to Humbert R. Versace, for conspicuous acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life and beyond the call of duty between October 29, 1963, and September 26, 1965, while interned as a prisoner of war by the Vietnamese
Communist National Liberation Front (Viet Cong) in the Republic of Vietnam.
(c) JON E. SWANSON - Subsection (a) applies with respect to Jon E. Swanson, for conspicuous acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life and beyond the call of duty on February 26, 1971, while piloting a Scout helicopter on a close-support reconnaissance mission in support of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam Task Force 333 in the Kingdom of Cambodia.
(d) BEN L. SALOMON - Subsection (a) applies with respect to Ben L. Salomon, for conspicuous acts of gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life and beyond the call of duty on July 7, 1944, while defending the soldiers under his care as the Surgeon, 2d Battalion, 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division against an overwhelming enemy force at Saipan, Marianas Islands.
This is the text PROPOSED by the Department of Defense, Office of the General Counsel, Oct 2, 2001 when they asked the legislation be introduced:
On February 26, 1971, Captain Jon E. Swanson was flying an OH-3A aircraft on a close support reconnaissance mission in support of Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVNM) Task Force 333 in the Kingdom of 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 treetop level at a slow airspeed, thus making his aircraft a very vunerable target. The advancing ARVN unit came under heavy automatic weapons fire from the 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 machine gun 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 positions. 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 sustained 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 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 killed 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 intredity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty, as required by section 3741 of title 10, United States Code, to merit this legislation and the award of the Nation's highest military honor.
========
Date: Sun, 27 Jan 2002 19:25:19 -0800
From: Dewey Fambry <wolf380@swbell.net>
I am looking for the address of CPT Jon Swanson, who was submitted for the MOH along with CPT Humbert Versace. CPT Swanson was a member of D Troop 3/5th Cav shortly before he transfered
to the 9th Cav and became a MIA The 3/5th wish to honor on of our former members and invite his family to the Army reunion to be held at Ft Knox Ky. in June 2002.
Thank You for your help
Dewey Fambry
Retired 1SGT A Troop 3/5th Cav
===========================================
From: "Doug Hallas" <hallas_d@hotmail.com>
Cc: awalkerjr@kpmg.com
Subject: Jon Swanson home of record
Date: Thu, 07 Feb 2002 18:12:29 +0000
I received an email from a member of Jon Swanson's family, asking that I change Jon's home of record on the Black Knights webpage honoring this true American Hero, from Denver Co, to Boulder, CO, which I have done. He also asked me to contact all of you to see if you might change your records as well. I am including the email I received, below.
In closing, I would like to say that I hope the pressure is still being applied to the appropriate people who will ensure that Jon E. Swanson does in fact receive the Congressional Medal of Honor, which he so richly
deserves. He earned it the hard way, losing his life to save others.
Thanks,
Doug
++++++++++++++++++++ Email Received ++++++++++++++++++
Feb 2002
Dear Sirs -
I am writing about the profile you've posted of Jon Swanson. I am married to Jon's 2nd daughter Holly, who is, as you can imagine, very proud of her father and loves your site.
I have a question for you about the CMH -- it was authorized by Congress...do you know how the President decides if he's going to award it? It appears to be up to him to act on it, but he is not instructed by Congress that he has to do so.
Second, my wife's family is concerned that you had noted he's from Denver, CO. He, his wife and his family owned a house and lived together in Boulder, CO. To you and me, this might seem trivial as the cities are so close to one another...but I've been assured that there is quite a difference.
Thanks for your help -- and great web page!
Andy
Andrew Walker
awalkerjr@kpmg.com
========================
National League of Families 02/20/2002
AMERICANS ACCOUNTED FOR: According to the Department of Defense, there are now 1,942 Americans still missing and unaccounted for from the Vietnam War.
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