Press Release: President Obama awards Medal of Honor to Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Edward Byers

Press Release: President Obama awards Medal of Honor to Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Edward Byers

By Gavin Swanson  Posted February 29, 2016

One of the greatest honors a serviceman in the military can receive is being awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. To be eligible for this prestigious award, one must “distinguish himself conspicuously by gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.” Most who are given the Medal of Honor do not survive to see the ceremony. Senior Chief Edward Byers is the 11th living recipient from the war in Afghanistan.

President Obama described Byer’s act of gallantry: “Fully aware of the danger, Ed moved in next. An enemy guard aimed his rifle right at him. Ed fired. Someone moved across the floor… Hearing English, Ed leaped across the room and threw himself on the hostage, using his own body to shield him from the bullets. Another enemy fighter appeared, and with his body, Ed kept shielding the hostage. With his bare hands, Ed pinned the fighter to the wall and held him until his teammates took action. It was over almost as soon as it began. In just minutes, by going after those guards, Ed saved the lives of several teammates — and that hostage. You’re safe, the SEALs told the doctor, you are with American forces. And that hostage came home to be reunited with his wife and his children”.

Byers’ ceremony took place at the White House on February 29. He was accompanied by his mother, wife, and daughter. Aside from his Medal of Honor award-winning performance, Byers has also committed to 11 overseas deployments and 9 combat tours; he has also earned 2 Purple Hearts and 5 Bronze Stars.

President Obama also took this time to acknowledge the other servicemen who have dedicated themselves to ending the war in Afghanistan. “Today, we don’t simply honor a single individual. We also pay tribute to a community across our entire military — special operators, aviators, engineers, technicians, analysts, countless enablers, and their devoted families,” said the President. “In these hard years since 9/11, our nation has called on this community like never before. Small in number, they have borne an extraordinarily heavy load. But they continue to volunteer, mission after mission, year after year. Few Americans ever see it.”