Corporal Pedro “Pete” Arnado Swenson, a 1963 graduate of Cheltenham High School, was a United States Marine who trained at Parris Island, South Carolina.
Pedro was killed by enemy fire on January 28, 1967 in South Vietnam and was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart. He is buried at Fairview Cemetery in Willow Grove.
Andrew Egendorf posted the following on Cheltenham63.com:
I remember exactly where I was standing almost 30 years ago when Billy Stern’s mother told me that Pedro Swenson was “front and center” in the picture of the Vietnam Memorial on the cover of The New York Times Magazine. Pedro’s name is just right of the center of the fourth line below the date (3/31/85).
From HonorStates.org’s Introductory Overview:
Pedro Arnado Swenson was serving his country during the Vietnam War when he gave his all in the line of duty. He had enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. Entered the service via Regular Military. Swenson had the rank of Corporal. His military occupation or specialty was Rifleman. Service number assignment was 2078163. Attached to 1st Marine Division, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, M Company.
He was born on October 18, 1944. According to our records Pennsylvania was his home or enlistment state and Lawrence county has been included within the archival record. We have Willow Grove listed as his city.
During his service in the Vietnam War, Marine Corps Corporal Swenson experienced a traumatic event which ultimately resulted in loss of life on January 28, 1967. Recorded circumstances attributed to: Died through hostile action .. small arms fire. Incident location: South Vietnam, Quang Ngai province.
His name additionally appears on the Montgomery County Memorial to Vietnam War Dead, which was dedicated on November 11, 1984.
Pedro is one of many Cheltenham alumni who died while serving in the U.S. Military. The list includes:
Fred Burnes (1928 grad), William Herron (1933), Elmer Miller (1933), Frank Rothwell (1933), William Wynn (1933), Russell Wolff (1935), John Nittrover (1936), Walter Shandis (1937), John Bernhardt (1937), Thomas Robertson (1937), Benn Bell (1938), William Lentz (1938), Tony Lecci, Jr. (1938), William McNeff (1938), Tony Penecale (1939), Arthur Wells (1939), James Miller (1939), Thomas Egan (1940), William Rommel (1940), Richard Newlon (1940), Howard Watkins (1940), David Wilkinson (1940), Harry Dickens (1941), Russell Erb (1941), Warren Watson (1941), Richard Zander (1941), George Carter (1942), Carl Maier (1942), David Powell (1942), Donald Murphree (1942), Anthony Jackson (1943), Joseph Welker (1962), George Gray (1965), Andy Rackow (1965), Madison “Skip” Strohlein (1966), Tony Tallos (1985), and Peter Taub (2004).
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Information provided by Chuck Langerman, local historian