"Navy Seal Byers will be the eleventh living recipient of the award to come out of the war in Afghanistan." "The point man, Petty Officer 1st Class Nicolas D. Checque, fired, missed and rushed the building — probably hoping to keep the element of surprise before the rest of Joseph’s captors could be alerted. As Checque rushed in, Byers followed, pushing through the blankets behind his comrade. Once inside, Checque was immediately hit by enemy rifle fire. After the team moved Joseph to the landing zone, Byers, a certified paramedic and a graduate of the Army’s 18 Delta Special Forces medical course, began combat life support on his wounded teammate. Byers and his team provided CPR for the 40-minute flight back to Bagram Airfield where Checque, 28, was pronounced dead."
I am grateful today to be an American and from a country that produces men like PO1 Nicolas Checque and Chief Special Warfare Operator Edward C. Byers.