Recent Medal of Honor Recipients

Groberg joined the military in July 2008. He attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga. and received his commission as an infantry officer, Dec. 4, 2008. After completing Infantry Officer Basic Course, Mechanized Leaders Course, U.S. Army Airborne and U.S. Army Ranger Schools, he was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colo., as a platoon leader. He deployed to Afghanistan twice, was promoted to Captain in July 2012, and was medically retired from Company B Warriors, Warrior Transition Battalion in July 2015.

The actions for which Groberg received the Medal of Honor occurred on August 8, 2012, in Asadabad, Kunar Province, Afghanistan. While leading a dismounted movement he threw himself in front of others while pushing a suspect away from the formation. The suspect wore a suicide vest that, when set off killed four members of the formation and set off a second, unnoticed suicide bomber prematurely, thus preventing further deaths and injuries.

Award date: November 12, 2015

https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/groberg/

Staff Sergeant Ryan Pitts:

Pitts enlisted in the Army in January 2003, as a Forward Observer (13F). He served in the Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, and deployed to Afghanistan twice.

The actions for which Pitts received the Medal of Honor occurred during combat operations against an armed enemy at Vehicle Patrol Base Kahler in the vicinity of Wanat Village, Kunar Province, Afghanistan on July 13, 2008. When an Anti-Afghan Force of over 200 members attacked with a wave of rocket-propelled grenade rounds, Pitts was knocked to the ground with shrapnel wounds in his arms and legs, but with incredible toughness and resolve, he subsequently took control of the observation post and returned fire on the enemy. Unable to stand on his own and near death because of the severity of his wounds and blood loss, Pitts continued to lay suppressive fire until a two-man reinforcement team arrived, then was able to radio in coordinates for additional support. Pitts prevented the enemy from overrunning the observation post and capturing fallen American soldiers, and ultimately prevented the enemy from gaining fortified positions on higher ground from which to attack Wanat Vehicle Patrol Base.

Award date: July 21, 2014

https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/pitts/profile/index.html

Sergeant Kyle Jerome White:

White enlisted in the Army in February 2006, as an 11B Infantryman. He served with the Chosen Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade and deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation Enduring Freedom.

The actions for which White received the Medal of Honor took place on November 8, 2007 in the Battle of Aranas. White put his life at risk as he attempted to save the lives of a Marine and two fellow soldiers after his team of 14 U.S. Soldiers and squad of Afghan National Army soldiers were set up and ambushed by a much larger and more heavily armed Taliban force, who engaged in a three-prong attack from elevated ground.

Award date: May 13, 2014

https://www.army.mil/medalofhonor/white/profile/index.html

Captain William D. Swenson:

Swenson joined the Army in 2002. He attended Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Ga., where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He attended the Infantry Officer Basic Course and earned his branch qualification in Infantry.

Swenson served one tour in Iraq and two tours in Afghanistan. For his final tour in Afghanistan he was assigned to Task Force Phoenix, Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan and served as an Afghan Border Police advisor, in support of 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry).

The actions for which Swenson received the Medal of Honor include helping to extract U.S. and Afghan troops from an ambush in the Ganjgal Valley in Kunar Province, by up to 60 Taliban insurgents, on Sept. 8, 2009. He then repeatedly re-entered the ambush site under intense fire to recover casualties.

Award date: October 15, 2013