[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 34 (Wednesday, March 2, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H1106-H1107]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CONGRATULATING NAVY SEAL EDWARD BYERS

  (Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Speaker, I want to add the congratulations and 
commendations from the people of Ohio's Ninth District to Navy SEAL 
Edward Byers for his incredible valor, and I thank the President of the 
United States for awarding him this week the Medal of Honor.
  Born in Toledo, Ohio, and raised in Grand Rapids, Ohio, SEAL Team 
Member Byers is a credit, not only to his service, but to the patriotic 
people who raised him, and for his enlistment in the U.S. military.
  The bravery that he exhibited and the training and readiness that he 
exemplified through his valorous service in Afghanistan will go down in 
the annals of American history.
  He is only one of a handful of SEALs who have been awarded the Medal 
of Honor. He handled the ceremony with great dignity, and we send our 
love and congratulations to his wife, to his family, and to all those 
who have the pleasure of knowing this really great American.
  Congratulations, SEAL Team Member Edward Byers. You distinguished 
yourself on behalf of the people of your country and for freedom-loving 
people around our world.
  Mr. Speaker, I will include in the Congressional Record two articles 
about this Toledo native.

                 [From The Plain Dealer, Feb. 26, 2016]

       Toledo Native Edward Byers Will Be Awarded Medal of Honor

                          (By Brian Albrecht)

       Cleveland, Ohio.--The rescue of an American hostage in 
     Afghanistan in 2012 will result in Toledo native and Navy 
     SEAL Edward C. Byers Jr. being awarded the Medal of Honor by 
     President Barack Obama in a ceremony at the White House on 
     February 29.
       The Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator is only the 11th 
     living service member to be awarded the Medal of Honor for 
     bravery displayed in Afghanistan.
       According to Navy information, Byers was born in Toledo in 
     1979 and grew up in Grand Rapids, Ohio. After graduating from 
     Otsego High School, where he played varsity soccer, he joined 
     the Navy in 1998.
       Byers attended hospital corpsman school and also completed 
     a basic underwater demolition/SEAL course and special 
     operations combat medic course in 2003.
       He went on 11 overseas deployments, including nine combat 
     tours.
       The Medal of Honor is awarded to members of the armed 
     forces who distinguish themselves conspicuously by gallantry 
     and intrepidity at the risk of their own lives above and 
     beyond the call of duty.
       The mission that lead to his Medal of Honor award involved 
     the rescue of Dr. Dilip Joseph, an American who was abducted 
     with his driver and Afghan interpreter in December of 2012.
       U.S. intelligence located Joseph in a remote mountainous 
     area in a small, single-room building, and Byers was part of 
     the team assigned to the recovery mission.
       In a subsequent Navy Interview, Byers detailed his role in 
     that mission:
       ``So that night was December 8 in Eastern Afghanistan, it 
     was a cool night, we got off the helicopters, did a four- or 
     five-hour pretty arduous hike through the mountains, and upon 
     getting to our target building where we assumed the American 
     hostage was at, our point man Nick Cheque, he was right in 
     front of me, he saw a guard come out of the door, he engaged 
     that guard and we started sprinting towards the door.
       ``Nick made his way in, and I made my way in right behind 
     him, and I went down by the wall, and I engaged an enemy by 
     the backside of the wall. And then I saw another person 
     moving across the floor, so by the time I got to him he was 
     on his back and I was able to get down on top of him and 
     straddle him with my knees, and I had to adjust my night 
     vision to try to get some facial recognition.
       ``At the same time this is happening I'm calling out trying 
     to find the location of the American hostage. And finally he 
     spoke up and it was at that time I engaged the person I was 
     on top of and jumped off, and jumped off of the guy I was on 
     and jumped onto the doctor who was about three or four, maybe 
     five feet to my right.
       ``The reason I did that is because I was wearing body 
     armor, so I wanted to protect him from any other potential 
     threats in the room.
       ``Anyone who's been in combat knows that in those moments 
     you either react, or you get killed.
       ``When I did that there was a guy that was right behind him 
     within arm's reach, who was armed, and I was able to pin that 
     guy to the wall by his throat, kind-of holding the doctor, 
     and waiting for my teammates to come in and take care of the 
     threat that was right next to us. When I was done, I still 
     laid on top of him, and kept asking him `hey can you walk,' 
     you know, and `is there anything medically wrong with you,' 
     because our goal is to bring this guy back alive.
       So, he said he was fine, and once we got outside, I noticed 
     that our medics were working on Nick, and you know, being a 
     medic myself I passed off the American hostage off to our 
     other teammates and I went over to work on Nick, and did 
     resuscitative efforts on him all the way to the hospital, 
     where he was announced dead there.''
       The official citation noted: ``Chief Petty Officer Byers 
     displayed superior gallantry, extraordinary heroism at grave 
     personal risk, dedication to his teammates, and calm tactical 
     leadership while liberating Dr. Dilip Joseph from 
     captivity.''
       Byers said that when he found out he was being awarded the 
     Medal of Honor, ``I felt very honored and very humbled 
     because I'm gonna be a representative for the Navy and the 
     naval special warfare community, and there's a weight that's 
     carried with that.
       ``And that weight is the sacrifices that everybody has made 
     within this community. Guys like Nick Cheque and all of our 
     other brothers that have fallen, is it's an affirmation of 
     the job that we do, and an appreciation of the job we do.''
       In the interview, Byers also credited the support of his 
     family, and noted that when he told his mother about the 
     award ceremony, ``the first question out of her mouth is `Do 
     you think I can come to it?' And I said of course, mom, I 
     think you'll be able to come to it.''
       He also noted that his daughter ``knows that I'm daddy, and 
     she loves me just for that. If you talk to her one-on-one, 
     she'll tell you all the five nicknames she has for me, and 
     none of them includes `hero.' ''
       He concluded, ``I'm gonna continue to be a SEAL. And I'm 
     gonna take whatever job or mission is next for me, and just 
     continue doing that. I don't have any plans on changing my 
     job at this time. I still love what I do, and as long as I 
     love what I do I'll continue doing it.''
       Byers' personal decorations include the Bronze Star with 
     Valor (five awards), the Purple Heart (two awards), the Joint 
     Service Commendation Medal with Valor, the Navy Commendation 
     Medal (three awards, one with Valor), the Combat Action 
     ribbon (two awards), and the Good Conduct Medal (five 
     awards).
       He is one of only eight living Navy Medal of Honor 
     recipients. There are 78 living recipients total.
       Ohio has had 319 other Medal of Honor recipients with a 
     connection to this state, dating back to the Civil War.

                           Summary of Action


 Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Edward C. Byers Jr.: For 
       actions during Operation Enduring Freedom on Dec. 8, 2012

       Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Edward C. Byers Jr., 
     United States Navy, distinguished himself by heroic gallantry 
     as an Assault Team Member attached to a Joint Task Force in 
     support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM on 8 December 2012.


                        specific accomplishment

       Dr. Dilip Joseph is an American citizen, who was abducted 
     with his driver and Afghan interpreter on 5 December 2012. 
     Intelligence reports indicated that Dr. Joseph might be 
     transported to another location as early as 9 December 2012. 
     Dr. Joseph was being held in a small, single-room building.
       The target compound was located in a remote area beside a 
     mountain in the Qarghah'i District of Laghman Province, 
     Afghanistan. Chief Byers was part of the rescue team that 
     planned to make entry into the room of guards where the 
     hostage was believed to be located. Success of the rescue 
     operation relied upon surprise, speed, and aggressive action. 
     Trading personal security

[[Page H1107]]

     for speed of action was inherent to the success of this 
     rescue mission. Each assaulter in the rescue force 
     volunteered for this operation with full appreciation for the 
     risks they were to undertake.
       With the approval of the Commander of all International 
     Security Assistance Forces in Afghanistan, the rescue force 
     launched from its forward operating base. The infiltration 
     was an exhaustive patrol across unimproved trails and 
     mountainous terrain. After nearly four hours of patrolling, 
     the rescue force was positioned to make its assault on the 
     target compound.
       As the patrol closed to within 25 meters of the target 
     building, a guard became aware of the rescue force. The 
     forward-most assaulter shot at the guard and ran towards the 
     door to make entry as the guard disappeared inside. Chief 
     Byers was the second assaulter in a sprint towards the door. 
     Six layers of blankets securely fastened to the ceiling and 
     walls served as the Afghan door. While Chief Byers tried to 
     rip down the blankets, the first assaulter pushed his way 
     through the doorway and was immediately shot by enemy AK-47 
     fire. Chief Byers, fully aware of the hostile threat inside 
     the room, boldly entered and immediately engaged a guard 
     pointing an AK-47 towards him. As he was engaging that guard, 
     another adult male darted towards the corner of the room. 
     Chief Byers could not distinguish if the person may have been 
     the hostage scrambling away or a guard attempting to arm 
     himself with an AK-47 that lay in the corner. Chief Byers 
     tackled the unknown male and seized control of him. While in 
     hand-to-hand combat, Chief Byers maintained control of the 
     unknown male with one hand, while adjusting the focus of his 
     night vision goggles (NVGs) with his other. Once his NVGs 
     were focused, he recognized that the male was not the hostage 
     and engaged the struggling armed guard.
       By now other team members had entered the room and were 
     calling to Dr. Joseph to identify himself. Chief Byers heard 
     an unknown voice speak English from his right side. 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. Unable to fire any effective rounds into the enemy, 
     Chief Byers was able to restrain the combatant enough to 
     enable his teammate to fire precision shots, eliminating the 
     final threat within the room.
       Chief Byers quickly talked to Dr. Joseph, confirming that 
     he was able to move. He and his Team Leader stood Dr. Joseph 
     up, calmed him, and let him know he was safe with American 
     Forces. Once Dr. Joseph was moved to the helicopter-landing 
     zone, Chief Byers, a certified paramedic and 18D medic, 
     assisted with the rendering of medical aid to the urgent 
     surgical assaulter. Chief Byers and others performed CPR 
     during the 40-minute flight to Bagram Airfield where his 
     teammate was declared deceased.
       Chief Petty Officer Byers displayed superior gallantry, 
     extraordinary heroism at grave personal risk, dedication to 
     his teammates, and calm tactical leadership while liberating 
     Dr. Dilip Joseph from captivity. He is unquestionably 
     deserving of the Medal of Honor.

                           Official Citation


 CHIEF SPECIAL WARFARE OPERATOR (SEA, AIR, AND LAND) EDWARD C. BYERS, 
                         JR. UNITED STATES NAVY

       For service as set forth in the following 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.

                               Biography


    Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Edward C. Byers Jr.

       Senior Chief Edward C. Byers Jr. was born in Toledo, Ohio 
     in 1979. He grew up in Grand Rapids, Ohio. In 1997, he 
     graduated from Otsego High School where he played varsity 
     soccer. Byers joined the Navy in September 1998, and 
     subsequently attended Recruit Training and Corpsman ``A'' 
     School in Great Lakes, Illinois.
       Byers started his naval career as a Hospital Corpsman. In 
     1998, he was assigned to Great Lakes Naval Hospital. In 1999, 
     he served with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines in Camp Lejeune, 
     North Carolina, where he deployed with the 26th Marine 
     Expeditionary Unit aboard USS AUSTIN (LPD 4). During 
     deployment he earned his Enlisted Surface Warfare Specialist 
     (ESWS) badge and Fleet Marine Force (FMF) warfare device.
       In 2002, Byers attended Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL 
     (BUD/S) training and graduated with Class 242. After 
     graduation, he attended the Special Operations Combat Medic 
     (SOCM) course. SOCS Byers has been assigned to East Coast 
     SEAL Teams. He was promoted to the rank of Senior Chief Petty 
     Officer in January of 2016.
       Byers has deployed overseas 11 times with nine combat 
     tours. His personal decorations include the Bronze Star with 
     Valor (five awards), the Purple Heart (two awards), the Joint 
     Service Commendation Medal with Valor, the Navy Commendation 
     Medal (three awards, one with Valor), the Combat Action 
     ribbon (two awards), and the Good Conduct Medal (five 
     awards).
       Byers holds a National Paramedics License, and has studied 
     Strategic Studies and Defense Analysis at Norwich University. 
     Byers is married and has a daughter.

                       Navy Medal of Honor Facts

       Senior Chief Byers is the 6th Navy SEAL in history to 
     receive the Medal of Honor.
       Senior Chief Byers is one of only eight living Navy Medal 
     of Honor recipients. There are 78 living recipients total.
       There have been 745 Medals of Honor awarded to Navy 
     personnel. (308 of those were for actions during the Civil 
     War)
       Only two Navy service members have received the Medal of 
     Honor for actions subsequent to the Vietnam War, and both of 
     those awards were posthumous. (Lieutenant Michael Murphy and 
     Petty Officer Michael Monsoor, both SEALs)
       The most recent Navy recipient of the Medal of Honor was 
     Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Monsoor, who was posthumously 
     awarded the Medal of Honor by President George W. Bush on 
     Apr. 8, 2008.
       The most recent living Navy recipient of the Medal of Honor 
     was Robert Ingram, who left the Navy in 1968, and was later 
     awarded the Medal of Honor by President Bill Clinton on Jul. 
     10, 1998 for actions during the Vietnam War.
       Senior Chief Byers is the first living active duty member 
     of the U.S. Navy to receive the Medal of Honor since Apr. 6, 
     1976, the late Rear Admiral James Stockdale and Lieutenant 
     Thomas Norris (also a SEAL) each received the decoration from 
     President Gerald Ford.
       Senior Chief Byers is the first living active duty enlisted 
     member of the U.S. Navy to receive the Medal of Honor since 
     Petty Officer Michael Thornton (also a SEAL) was awarded the 
     Medal of Honor by President Richard Nixon on Oct., 15 1973.
       This is the 14th Medal of Honor awarded for actions in 
     Afghanistan. Including Senior Chief Byers, 11 of those 14 
     awards were to living recipients. Four Medals of Honor were 
     awarded posthumously for actions in Iraq.

                          ____________________