Name of Award
Silver Star

Year Awarded
1950

Details behind Award:
Awarded for actions during the Korean War

The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lieutenant, Junior Grade David H. Swenson, Jr. (NSN: 0-498457), United States Navy, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action against the enemy while serving in U.S.S. LYMAN K. SWENSON (DD-729), in the Korean area on 13 September 1950. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Swenson, while assigned the duties of Gunnery Liaison Officer, was charged with ascertaining from available information on hand the correct and specific targets on which his ship should fire during its bombardment of Inchon, Korea, on 13 September 1950, and to keep the ship's gunner control officer informed accordingly. While carrying out his assigned duties of observing the effect of his ship's gunfire on the enemy shore batteries and applying that information to the ship's gunfire charts in order that the guns could receive accurate revised target data, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Swenson was struck by enemy counter-battery fire and instantly killed. By his courageous action and devotion to duty in refusing to leave his unprotected post in the face of heavy enemy fire, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Swenson was responsible for obtaining and furnishing such valuable information to the gunnery control officer that he definitely assisted his ship to escape damage from enemy gunfire, thereby providing a material contribution to the war effort of the Korean Campaign. His conduct served as an inspiration to the members of the ship's company and was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
General Orders: Commander 7th Fleet: Serial 1090 (November 20, 1950)
Action Date: September 13, 1950
Service: Navy
Rank: Lieutenant Junior Grade
Ship: U.S.S. Lyman K. Swenson (DD-729)

Swenson, David H., Jr., LTJG