EDWARD C. BYERS JR. MASTER CHIEF, US NAVY SEAL (RET.)
Edward C. Byers Jr., born in Toledo, Ohio, is a United States Navy SEAL. On February 29, 2016, he received the Medal of Honor for the rescue of an American citizen in Afghanistan. He enlisted in the Navy in September 1998 and spent his first four years as a Hospital Corpsman attached to 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
In 2002, he attended the toughest military training in the world, Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL (BUD/S) training to become a US Navy SEAL and graduated with Class 242. During his career, Byers, spent up to 280 days a year away from home to include 9 combat deployments (each up to 7 months in length) conducting missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Africa. During his assignment as an Assault Team Member attached to Joint Task Force in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM on December 8, 2012, he was involved in an action, which would lead him to become the sixth Navy SEAL to receive the Medal of Honor.
In the early hours of December 2012, an elite Navy SEAL Hostage Rescue Force was launched to save American citizen, Dr. Dilip Joseph, who was being held hostage by the Taliban in an Eastern Afghanistan compound. Led by Chief Nic Checque, Byers and his team fearlessly breached the door and rushed into the room to save the hostage. Upon entering, Byers engaged an enemy captor armed with an AK-47. As he was engaging the enemy captor, he then tackled another terrorist that moved across the room and Byers shot him. Moments later, he identified 'r. -oseph’s location, jumping on him to shield him from the high volume of enemy fire. Simultaneously, Byers immobilized another terrorist by the throat with his bare hands until he was eliminated.
Byers’ actions were a direct reflection of his intrepid fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of near certain death. Byers enduring mission is to honor those he served with especially Chief Nic Checque who paid the ultimate sacrifice saving an American 'octor. Nic will always be remembered as a true hero and warrior. Nic Checque was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for his heroism.
To learn more about Edward Byers’ story, visit www.themedalofhonor.com/medal-of-honor-recipients Follow Master Chief’s -ourney on Instagram @frogmanmohvi