Edward Byers | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait of Byers in March 1, 2016 | |
| Born | (1979-08-04)August 4, 1979 (age 45) Toledo, Ohio, United States |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service | United States Navy |
| Years of service | 1998–2020 |
| Rank | Command master chief petty officer |
| Unit | DEVGRU |
| Battles / wars | War in Afghanistan Iraq War |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Bronze Star Medal withValor device (5) Purple Heart (2) Meritorious Service Medal Joint Service Commendation Medal with Valor device Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Valor device (3) |
Edward C. Byers Jr. (born August 4, 1979) is a retiredUnited States Navy SEAL who received theMedal of Honor on February 29, 2016, for the rescue of a civilian inAfghanistan in 2012. Byers retired after 21 years of service on September 19, 2019, at theWashington Navy Yard.
Born inToledo, Ohio, growing up inGrand Rapids, Byers graduated fromOtsego High School inTontogany, Ohio, in 1997.[1] He is aRoman Catholic.[2] His father is aWorld War II Navy veteran.[3] While in his youth, he was a scout in theBoy Scouts of America, achieving the rank offirst class.[4]
Byers enlisted in theUnited States Navy in September 1998 and went on to serve as ahospital corpsman. Byers first served at Great Lakes Naval Hospital and was later attached to the2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines, in 1999 and deployed with the26th Marine Expeditionary Unit aboardUSS Austin (LPD-4).[5] He attendedBasic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training in 2002 and graduated with BUD/S Class 242. Following SEAL Qualification Training (SQT), he received the Navy Enlisted Classification (NEC) 5326 as a Combatant Swimmer (SEAL), entitled to wear theSpecial Warfare insignia.[6] In 2003, Byers attended the Special Operations Combat Medic course.[7] He was assigned to his first SEAL team in May 2004.[8]
Byers served 11 overseas deployments, including nine combat tours, deploying multiple times toIraq and Afghanistan.[9][10] Over the course of those deployments Byers received fiveBronze Star Medals with avalor device, and twoPurple Hearts.[8][11][12]
In December 2014, GeneralMartin Dempsey "strongly recommended" Byers for the Medal of Honor.[13] On February 29, 2016, PresidentBarack Obama presented the Medal of Honor to Byers during a ceremony at the White House.[14] Byers is the sixth SEAL to receive the Medal of Honor.[3] Byers was assigned toNaval Special Warfare Development Group, also known as SEAL Team Six, when he was presented the Medal of Honor.[15] Byers is the first member of the unit to receive the Medal of Honor for an action as a unit member.[10][16] The next month, Byers requested to return to his SEAL team.[17]
In November 2017, Byers was inducted into the Ohio Veterans Hall of Fame.[12][18] In August 2017, Byers joined fellow Medal of Honor recipientHershel W. Williams at the launching ceremony for aship named after Williams.[19] In May 2018, Byers was selected for promotion tomaster chief petty officer;[20] during that same month Byers was in attendance when Master Chief Special Warfare OperatorBritt Slabinski was presented with his Medal of Honor.[21] By July 2018, Byers had received his promotion to master chief.[22]
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On December 5, 2012, American physician Dr. Dilip Joseph, who had been working with an aid organization, was captured by the Taliban along with two Afghans while returning to their base inKabul.[23] The U.S. military gathered intelligence on where Dr. Joseph was being held. The commanders were concerned that the hostages might be moved to a new hideout or killed as early as December 9, 2012.[5][10]
On the night of December 8, 2012, Byers and his unit were inserted by helicopter in Qarghah'i District ofLaghman Province, eastern Afghanistan. They hiked more than four hours over difficult terrain to reach the compound where the Taliban were holding the hostages. Despite the darkness, an armed guard spotted the SEALs within roughly 75 feet (23 m) of the compound and raised an alarm.Petty Officer 1st Class Nicolas D. Checque sprinted forward, killed the guard and entered the compound, with Byers just steps behind.[9]
Once inside the compound, Checque was shot by a Taliban fighter from within the single room where the hostages were held. 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. 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 militant to the wall with a hand to the throat until another SEAL shot him.[10]
Byers, the unit's medic, attempted to resuscitate Checque on the ground and during a 40-minute flight to Bagram Airfield without success. Checque was posthumously awarded theNavy Cross for his actions.[9][10][24]
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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.[25]
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While deployed with the 26th MEU, he earned the
Surface Warfare Enlisted badge and the
Fleet Marine Force Enlisted Warfare Specialist device.[5]
Byers is a licensedparamedic and attendedNorwich University inNorthfield, Vermont, finishing his education to receive aBachelor of Science degree instrategic studies and defense analysis.[11][26] Byers graduated from Norwich University and is documented as being part of the College of Graduate and Continuing Studies Class of 2016.[27] In February 2017, as a guest ofBob Latta, Byers attendedjoint session of congress.[28] In May 2017, Byers was an "honored guest" at a SEAL Family Foundation fundraiser inRancho Santa Fe, California;[29] later that year, he was inducted into the Ohio Military Veterans Hall of Fame.[18] In 2018, Byers announced the creation of a new award, named after himself, at Otsego High School.[30]
In 2021, Byers earned aMaster of Business Administration at theWharton School of theUniversity of Pennsylvania.[31][32]
Byers is married to Madison and they have one daughter, Hannah.[10][33]
In October 2024, Byers joined 15 other Medal of Honor recipients in publicly endorsingDonald Trump forpresident.[34]
Byers has served in 11 overseas deployments, nine combat tours and has received two Purple Hearts and five Bronze Star Medals with Valor device.
