Maybe Some Good Will Come From It
It seems the claims that CPT William Swenson’s Medal of Honor packet was simply “lost” might actually be true. According to the Army Times, a recent DoD IG investigation found that loss of award recommendations was a “frequent” occurrence at Headquarters, US Forces – Afghanistan. Award procedures there were apparently a mess.
I’d like to think that was actually the case, and that Swenson’s MoH packet was simply lost through accident or incompetence vice being deliberately sabotaged. It’s sad, though, that I still have to wonder if that’s really the case. Politics (either inter- or intra-Service) should play absolutely zero role in military awards for heroism. In Swenson’s case, I’m still not absolutely convinced that politics didn’t play a role in the “loss” of his original award recommendation.
We all know that the military’s award system has major problems; we all know it will never be perfect. But maybe Swenson’s case – and the resulting high-profile interest in the delay – will be a catalyst to help fix some of those issues.
I hate to presume speak for others; most don’t need or want me to speak on their behalf. But I’ll go out on a limb here and say that if the delay here helps fix the system, even partially, I’m guessing CPT Swenson would say the delay in his case was worth it.
No, it never should have happened. But maybe some good will come from it anyway.
Category: Big Army, Real Soldiers
You can look at Home of Heroes and other sites and they readily tell you the military has never kept a database of awards it issued. If you dig deep enough you can usually find what you need. But today in the age of computers, internet and electronic documentation there is no excuse to “lose” a record or file as important as a MoH write up. I definitely believe there were politics involved. All the way to the top of the Pentagon. A shitty way to treat a man like Captain Swenson.
I’m thinking maybe AR 600-whatever the current number is needs to be jiggered so that every MoH recommendation that leaves a Bn S-1 with a positive endorsement needs to hit a tickler file at OSD.
You’d think a MOH narrative would attract a little more attention than an AAM or ARCOM. right? Did the command follow up after a reasonable period of time or just let it float for someone down the road to handle?
Isn’t it sad that, because of this administration, we can’t even trust the results of an IG investigation, anymore?
I just hope the attitude of rank justifying the level of award can get driven out.
I’ve never trusted an IG investigation.
Incompetence is SOP for the Army.
@2: See here: http://www.apd.army.mil/pdffiles/ad2013_23.pdf
Well since they can lose bodies at Arlington Cemetery anything is possible, but no I don’t believe the packet was “lost”. Misplaced on purpose? Yes.