It’s the nation’s highest military honor, and the price of earning it is often so costly that it hasn’t been awarded to a living Navy SEAL since the Vietnam War.
Edward Byers, a senior chief in the Navy, will be the 11th living service member to be awarded the Medal of Honor for actions in Afghanistan, when he heroically helped in the rescue an American hostage in December 2012 and engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy.
The ceremony is scheduled to take place today at the White House.
Byers took part in the rescue of Dr. Dilip Joseph, who was abducted along with his driver and Afghan interpreter.
An unclassified summary of the rescue provided by the Defense Department said Byers flung himself on top of the doctor, shielding him from rounds being fired in the room. At the same time, he pinned a guard against the wall with his hand “around the enemy’s throat” until another SEAL was able to shoot the guard.
Byers’ team had been spotted by a guard when it neared the building. Byers was the second person on the team to reach the door, the summary said. As he tried to rip down the blankets that served as a door, the first solider to arrive pushed his way through the doorway and was immediately shot; Byers also entered the building and engaged a struggling armed guard, the summary said.
Once inside, Byers heard an unknown voice speaking English: “He immediately leaped across the room and selflessly flung his body on top of the American hostage, shielding him from the continued rounds being fired across the room.
“Almost simultaneously, Chief Byers identified an additional enemy fighter directly behind Dr. Joseph. While covering the hostage with his body, Chief Byers was able to pin the enemy combatant to the wall with his hand around the enemy’s throat,” the summary said. Byers restrained the man until another SEAL was able to shoot him dead, the summary said.
Once the doctor was moved to a helicopter landing zone, Byers, a certified paramedic, assisted in providing medical aid to his wounded colleague, who died of his wounds. That SEAL has previously been identified as Petty Officer 1st Class Nicolas D. Checque, 28, of Monroeville, Pa.
In a video released by the Navy, Byers said Checque would forever be remembered for the sacrifice. “Nic embodied the essence of what it is to be an American hero.”
Byers said he got a call from the president in December that he would be getting the award. “That’s when it’s like, OK, this is real,” Byers said.
Byers said he plans to continue serving as a Navy SEAL. “I’m going to take whatever job or mission is next for me.”
A Navy bio said Byers grew up in Grand Rapids, Ohio, and graduated in 1997, from Otsego High School. He has deployed overseas 11 times with nine combat tours. He was promoted to the rank of senior chief petty officer in January of 2016. He is the sixth Navy SEAL in history to receive the Medal of Honor.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
The Military today & the American public to take a Day to honor and salute the Sr. Chief Edward Byers of the Naval Service
Congratulations! Sir! Your a real American hero! My husband is also a ex Navy Seal..Thank you for your sacrifice and service to the United States of America..
I would also let you in on a little secret, Enlisted sailors are not called Sir, they work for a living
Thats what 99.9% of the enlisted in the military would tell to also. I know your heart is in the right place with your gracious comment, but FYI.
To bad Obama is the one to award the mettle to the navy seal
Well done Navy Seal Sr. Chief Edward Beyers!
OORAH
Congratulations to Edward Byers. This man is a true hero.
Thank You for your service, and God Bless Petty Officer Checque may He Rest In Peace.
If Edward Byers was a Chief Petty Officer he was a sailor not a soldier
who cares, the man is a hero period…
I agree totally!
So proud of him and appreciate all of our military. Remember them and their families in prayer very day. Thank you, you are a selfless man and a true American hero!
Byers is not a soldier he is a sailor. Don’t follow the liberal medias example of blurring the lines and confusing definitions. A soldier is in the Army, a sailor is in the Navy, an Airman is in the Air Force, and a Marine is in the Marine Corps. If you are looking for an all inclusive title they are all in the military.
Congrats Sr Chief Edward Byers. You are truely a hero! God Bless you and protect you wherever you go on your next mission.
Yes, he needs our prayers to continue his work!!! God bless & keep you safe!!!
Very proud to call you a true American and may you be blessed wherever you go and your family should be extremely proud of you. May God Bless.
we as a nation cannot ever repay you for your sacrifice . You do what needs to be done that so many could not.And for this I am very grateful and no doubt so is our country. the home of the bravest fighting men and women in the world may god keep you safe always .
This Seal exemplifies the Quality and Proficiency of the Navy Seals along with instant selfless actions to save others at the risk of their own Lives. I pray for his continued safety in his Missions ahead.
Edward Byers is a true hero. He and all the others who risk their lives for us need to be praised and rewarded for their service. It takes a very special man to risk his life for his country. Our military men in action need to be recognized for all of the selfless deeds they do and the protection that they provide for America and others they are assigned to protect.
A true American, thank you for your service and you do deserve the highest honor there is. Be safe, and may God always bless you.
Jim says
Sr Chief Edward Byers is not only a SEAL he is a corpsman. Corpsman are Navy medics. They also serve with the Marine Corps as medics. One of the men hoisting the flag at Iwo Jima was a Navy corpsman. Of all the Naval personal receiving the Congressional Medal of honor corpsman have received the most.
Not like I expect him to read this, but just in case:
Mr President, that’s corpsman – pronounced “Core Man” – as in Marine Corps. Try to get it right this time…
Jim says
Sr Chief Edward Byers is not only a SEAL he is a corpsman. Corpsman are Navy medics. They also serve with the Marine Corps as medics. One of the men hoisting the flag at Iwo Jima was a Navy corpsman. Of all the Naval personal receiving the Congressional Medal of honor corpsman have received the most.
James Byrne
[email protected]
I don’t understand it, I put it in twice, it’s even listed under my remarks????????????????????????????
Tears in my eyes..! Thank you…to you brave man, and your team! May the Lord continue to bless you and those around you. Thank you for loving and caring for America, my children’s America!!
What an amazing hero! God bless him!
Receiving an award is great when delivered by an honorable person, but one who has violated the oath to uphold the constitution, as is the case of the traitor Obama is an unworthy act that undermines the legal basis of the nation that entailed the dissolution of the republic and the Muslim Obama sham revenge is fulfilled.
Obama has no moral to deliver prizes on behalf of the nation for violating oath to respect The Constitution., Vote for Trump!!!
the most primary job of all in the military is rifleman/person when the SHTF……they are all soldiers in the basic sense.
God Bless you and keep you safe.Thank you for your service to our great country.
That is too bad that one dies the other is a hero, patriotism at its best, and the idiots at the white house sending this country to the mud, this medal should be handed out by the next president what irony.