[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.
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