Edward Byers Jr.

Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator Edward Byers, Jr., was born in Toledo, OH and enlisted in the United State Navy in 1998. Over the course of his career, Byers has 11 overseas deployments 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). He received the Medal of Honor on February 29, 2016, for his actions as part of the rescue team that liberated Dr. Dilip Joseph, an American citizen, who was abducted with his driver and Afghan interpreter on December 5, 2012.  During the rescue Senior Chief Byers engaged multiple hostiles in hand-to-hand combat and used his body to shield Dr. Joseph from the live fire exchange.