the fight ended with five u.s. deaths , 10 afghan army deaths and over two - dozen coalition wounded .
the u.s. officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the request until a decision was made .
two u.s. officials tell the associated press that william d. swenson has submitted a formal request to the army and officials are working with him to allow his return .
swenson was awarded the medal of honor by president barack obama in the white house tuesday afternoon for risking his life to recover bodies and save fellow troops during a lengthy battle against the taliban in afghanistan near the pakistan border in 2009 .
swenson , 34 , left the military in february 2011 as a captain , but he could rise to the rank of major once he rejoins .
late tuesday , fox news confirmed reports that swenson , who since leaving the army in 2011 has spent much of his time in the wilderness of washington state , has asked the army to return him to active duty -- a rare request for a medal of honor recipient .
the former army captain who received the medal of honor recipient , president barack obama said tuesday has asked to return to active duty in the army , a rare move by an officer who has lived to wear the military 's highest award .
william swenson received the medal of honor at an emotional white house ceremony tuesday for his heroic actions during a brutal , hours - long battle in afghanistan .
swenson , 34 , of seattle , is the sixth living recipient from the wars in iraq and afghanistan to earn the honor , and this is only the second time