Medal Of Honor Hero Rejoins The Army

Army Capt. Will Swenson, a soldier who earned the Medal of Honor for his battlefield heroics, has rejoined the service he left in 2011 and is back on active duty, Army Times reports.

In October, reports surfaced that Swenson was petitioning the Army to let him back in after he had earned the nation's highest award. Now his request has been fulfilled, as an Army spokesman confirmed him joining I Corps at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. on Mar. 14 as a plans officer.

Swenson was recognized for his heroism during the 2009 Battle of Ganjgal, where he coordinated air support and ground maneuvers as the enemy relentlessly attacked a small American team embedded with Afghan forces.

"The enemy called for Capt. Swenson to surrender. He responded by throwing a hand grenade," President Obama said during his award ceremony.

Swenson's return also means there are now three Medal of Honor recipients on active duty, all stationed at the same base - as Sgt. 1st Class Leroy Petry and Staff Sgt. Ty Carter remained in the army after their return from combat.