Updated on: May 24, 2026 / 10:51 AM EDT
/ CBS News
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The following is the transcript of the interview with retired Lt. Col. William Swenson and retired Command Sergeant Major Matthew Williams (Ret.) that aired on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on May 24, 2026.MARGARET BRENNAN: We're joined today by two Medal of Honor recipients, retired Command Sergeant Major Matt Williams and retired Lieutenant Colonel William Swenson. Both were awarded their medals for valor in battle during their service in Afghanistan, and it's good to have you both here.COMMAND SERGEANT MAJOR MATT WILLIAMS (RET.): Thank you.MARGARET BRENNAN: It's not often that we have guests with your background, with your experience, and we want to tap into some of your thoughts here, because it is pretty extraordinary when you read the description for the Medal of Honor. And I want to do that. It's the highest award for military valor in action, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society describes it as representing the values of bravery, courage, sacrifice, integrity, a deep love of country and a desire to always do what is right. What does it mean to you?LT. COLONEL WILLIAM SWENSON (RET.): One of the things about military service is there's a universal component to it. Everyone who signs up to serve our country believes in the ultimate ideals of what we represent. As citizens, we have a free country. Being part of the military service is one of the ways to serve our country. In that service, you sign up potentially at great risk to yourself. In our cases, I think that we did nothing more than do our jobs. We were given the right training, we were given the right opportunities, but ultimately we were told that we needed to do something on that day specifically, and what set us apart is actions we did take, but ultimately there were actions that any other service member would have taken on behalf of that service.MARGARET BRENNAN: You really believe that? Anyone else. WILL SWENSON: I do.
