Edward Byers
| Edward Byers | |
|---|---|
|
Edward C. Byers Jr. | |
| Born |
August 4, 1979 Toledo, Ohio, U.S. |
| Allegiance |
 United States |
| Service/branch |
 United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1998–present |
| Rank | Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator |
| Unit | Naval Special Warfare Development Group |
| Battles/wars |
War in Afghanistan Iraq War |
| Awards |
Medal of Honor Bronze Star with Valor device (4) Purple Heart (2) Joint Service Commendation Medal with Valor device Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Valor device (3) |
_Edward_C._Byers_Jr._will_be_awarded_the_Medal_of_Honor._(24646290034).jpg)
Edward Carl Byers Jr. (born August 4, 1979) is a United States Navy SEAL who received the Medal of Honor on February 29, 2016 for the rescue of a civilian in Afghanistan in 2012. He is the most decorated living Navy SEAL. Along with United States Army Major William D. Swenson, he is one of two Medal of Honor recipients serving on active duty.
Early life and education
Born in Toledo, Ohio, Byers graduated from Otsego High School in Tontogany, Ohio in 1997. He is a Roman Catholic.[1]
Career
Byers enlisted in the United States Navy in September 1998 and went on to serve as a hospital corpsman. Byers first served at Great Lakes Naval Hospital and was later attached to 2nd Battalion 2nd Marines in 1999 and deployed with the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboard USS Austin (LPD-4).[2] He attended Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training in 2002 and graduated with Class 242. In 2003, Byers attended the Special Operations Combat Medic course. He was assigned to his first SEAL team in May 2004.
He served 11 overseas deployments including nine combat tours, fighting multiple times in Iraq and Afghanistan.[3][4]
On February 29, 2016 President Barack Obama presented the Medal of Honor to Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Edward C. Byers Jr. during a ceremony at the White House.[5]
Medal of Honor action
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On December 5, 2012, an American doctor, Dr. Dilip Joseph, who was working with an aid organization was captured, along with two Afghans, by the Taliban while driving back to their base in Kabul.[6] The U.S. military had gathered intelligence on where Dr. Joseph was being held and the commanders were concerned that if they did not rescue the hostages quickly that they would be moved to a new hideout and/or killed as early as December 9, 2012.[2][4]
On the night of December 8, 2012, Byers' unit was inserted by helicopter in Qarghah’i District of Laghman Province, eastern Afghanistan, from there they hiked over difficult terrain for more than four hours to reach the compound where the Taliban were holding the hostages. Despite being under the cover of night, an armed guard spotted the SEALs within roughly 75 feet of the compound, Petty Officer 1st class Nicolas D. Checque, 28, of Monroeville, Pennsylvania, sprinted forward, killed the guard and entered the compound, with Byers just steps behind.[3]
Inside of the compound, Checque, who was the point man, was shot by a Taliban fighter from inside the single room holding the hostages. Undeterred, Byers burst into the room, shooting dead an armed Taliban fighter. Byers tackled and straddled another insurgent who was scrambling to the corner of the room to get a rifle. Byers adjusted his night vision goggles to see whether he was the American hostage; then when Joseph called out to Byers, Byers killed the insurgent he was straddling and then hurled himself on top of Joseph to protect him from harm. At the same time, Byers pinned another Taliban militant to the wall with a hand to the throat until another SEAL shot the militant.[4]
Once outside, Byers, the unit's medic, turned his attention to Checque, spending the 40-minute flight back to Bagram Airfield, trying to resuscitate him, but Checque was declared dead at the American base. Checque was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his actions.[3][4][7]
Citation
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a Hostage Rescue Force Team Member in Afghanistan in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM from 8 to 9 December 2012. As the rescue force approached the target building, an enemy sentry detected them and darted inside to alert his fellow captors. The sentry quickly reemerged, and the lead assaulter attempted to neutralize him. Chief Byers with his team sprinted to the door of the target building. As the primary breacher, Chief Byers stood in the doorway fully exposed to enemy fire while ripping down six layers of heavy blankets fastened to the inside ceiling and walls to clear a path for the rescue force. The first assaulter pushed his way through the blankets, and was mortally wounded by enemy small arms fire from within. Chief Byers, completely aware of the imminent threat, fearlessly rushed into the room and engaged an enemy guard aiming an AK-47 at him. He then tackled another adult male who had darted towards the corner of the room. During the ensuing hand-to-hand struggle, Chief Byers confirmed the man was not the hostage and engaged him. As other rescue team members called out to the hostage, Chief Byers heard a voice respond in English and raced toward it. He jumped atop the American hostage and shielded him from the high volume of fire within the small room. While covering the hostage with his body, Chief Byers immobilized another guard with his bare hands, and restrained the guard until a teammate could eliminate him. His bold and decisive actions under fire saved the lives of the hostage and several of his teammates. By his undaunted courage, intrepid fighting spirit, and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of near certain death, Chief Petty Officer Byers reflected great credit upon himself and upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.[8]
Awards and decorations
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- 4 gold Service stripes.
While deployed with the 26th MEU, he earned the 
Surface Warfare Enlisted badge and the 
Fleet Marine Force Enlisted Warfare Specialist device.[2]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Edward Byers. |
Personal life
Byers is an active member of SEAL Team Six and was promoted to the rank of senior chief petty officer, in January 2016. He is a licensed paramedic and will graduate from Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont, with a Bachelor of Science degree in strategic studies and defense analysis, in 2016.[9] He is married with one daughter, Hannah Byers, who is a competitive figure skater.[4]
See also
References
- ↑ "Navy SEAL must step out of the shadows to receive Medal of Honor", pilotonline.com; accessed March 1, 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL)Edward C. Byers Jr., USN". Navy.mil. Retrieved March 2, 2016.
- 1 2 3 "Navy SEAL, to receive Medal of Honor Monday, tells his story". Stars and Stripes. February 26, 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 "A SEAL Team 6 member must step out of the shadows to receive the Medal of Honor". Washington Post. February 28, 2016.
- ↑ "Remarks by the President at Medal of Honor Presentation to Senior Chief Edward Byers, Jr., U.S. Navy". The White House: Office of the Press Secretary. February 29, 2016. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
- ↑ "Former hostage recalls Taliban "morality"". cbs news. October 15, 2014.
- ↑ "Nicolas Checque: Soldier whose death raised awkward questions". the independent. January 1, 2013.
- ↑ Navy Production Directorate: Defense Media Activity. "Medal of Honor: Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Edward C. Byers Jr., USN". Retrieved May 7, 2016.
- ↑ "President Obama to Award the Medal of Honor". whitehouse.gov. August 4, 1979. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
External links
- "Dramatic Taliban hostage rescue earns Navy SEAL the Medal of Honor". Retrieved February 2, 2016.
- "Navy SEAL to receive Medal of Honor for U.S. civilian rescue in Afghanistan". February 2, 2016.
- "Edward Byers". Hall of Valor. Military Times.