Edward Byers

Edward Byers
Edward C. Byers Jr.
Born	(1979-08-04) 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 (SEAL Team Six)
Battles/wars	War in Afghanistan Iraq War
Awards	Medal of Honor Bronze Star (4) Purple Heart (2) Joint Service Commendation Medal Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (3)

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.

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). 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.

In 2008 Byers joined the Naval Special Warfare Development Group, commonly known as SEAL Team Six, and was an active member of the unit "Blue Squadron", before transitioning to "Gold Squadron", in 2011. He served 11 overseas deployments including nine combat tours, fighting multiple times in Iraq and Afghanistan.

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.

Medal of Honor action

Byers receiving the Medal of Honor from U.S. President Obama in 2016.

On December 5, 2012, an American, Dr. Dilip Joseph, was captured, along with two Afghans, by the Taliban while driving back to their base in Kabul. Byers’ team was selected by Marine General John Allen, who was the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan at the time, to launch a rescue mission. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Awards and decorations

Badge	Special Warfare insignia
1st row	Medal of Honor	Bronze Star w/ Valor device and three gold 5/16 inch award stars	Purple Heart with one 5/16 inch award star
2nd row	Joint Service Commendation Medal w/ Valor device	Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal w/ Valor device and two 5/16 inch award stars (one award for Combat Valor)	Combat Action Ribbon w/ two 5/16 inch award stars
3rd row	Presidential Unit Citation with two bronze 3/16 service stars	Joint Meritorious Unit Award with one bronze oak leaf cluster	Navy Unit Commendation with one 3/16 service star
4th row	Battle "E" award	Navy Good Conduct Medal with four 3/16 service stars	Fleet Marine Force Ribbon
5th row	National Defense Service Medal	Afghanistan Campaign Medal with three 3/16 service stars	Iraq Campaign Medal with two 3/16 service stars
6th row	Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal	Global War on Terrorism Service Medal	Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with 1 silver and 2 bronze 3/16 service stars
7th row	NATO Medal (ISAF)	Navy Rifle Marksmanship Medal	Navy Pistol Marksmanship Medal
Badge	Naval Parachutist Badge

• 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.

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. He is married with one daughter, Hannah Byers, who is a competitive figure skater.

See also

• List of Post Vietnam Medal of Honor recipients
• List of Navy SEALs