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My head knocks against the stars.
My feet are on the hilltops.
My finger-tips are in the valleys and shores of
universal life.
Down in the sounding foam of primal things I
reach my hands and play with pebbles of
destiny.
I have been to hell and back many times.
I know all about heaven, for I have talked with God.
I dabble in the blood and guts of the terrible.
I know the passionate seizure of beauty
And the marvelous rebellion of man at all signs
reading “Keep Off.”
My name is Truth and I am the most elusive captive
in the universe.
Gerard Van der Leun
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Ready for 1000 yard stare and kill or be killed?
Here’s the man’s citation for the Congressional Medal of Honor. Adds a few more details like the fact there was a full on firefight in the room.
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. .
I was rightly corrected on these pages a time back for using “Congressional Medal of Honor” in that it is properly “Medal of Honor”.
“MOH”, rather than “CMH”.
It is a humbling experience just to listen to this man, while at the same time it is awe inspiring. He is correct that sharing his story is of vast importance. Not for glory, but rather for inspiration.
Guys like this are among the best we have. It’s just a damned shame that they are essentially at the beckon and call of asinine and useless political and military idiots who aren’t fit to lick the bottom of their boots.
I’ve met one MOH recipient, and one who was recommended for The Medal but downgraded to the DSC. That is, in and of itself, a citation and it goes in one’s record. Patton had 2 of those almost MOHs. I’m sure he was pissed about that.
Byers is the first guy you want going into a darkened room with you, should the sh!t go down. However, it sounds like his SEAL team could use better mountain training.
You can tell he’s super impressed with BUDS training, and so am I. They are incredible men. I hope American military leaders will know how to employ these warriors within their mission parameters, and not just throw them up against the wall, as has happened so many times before with special forces units.
I’m deeply grateful that our country is blessed with so many patriotic, brave souls in our military like Chief Byers and his team.
I’m also grateful to find that this comment section is devoid of any idiotic posts by a certain moron opining “That dood’s a fag” or something similar.
God bless America.
LET’S GO BRANDON!
Once again the pedo troll is compelled to brag about my occupying free rent inside it’s diseased brain.
Normal people do not understand this.
All they can do is point at the pedo troll and laff laff laff.
Leftist pedo trolls are the reason why us rightwing patriots stay armed 24/7.
yawn
The pedo troll is getting angry, and losing it right in front of everybody.
Everyone here is already aware of your nature pedo.
That’s why they shun you.
Now go get back in the bushes beside the playground where you feel comfortable. laff laff laff
Hey Casey, I had to chuckle, more/ better training. This guys DevGru, SEAL 6. They are trained by the best of the best. You as a climber would understand, ups easy easy, “ generally”,,,,,,downs always tougher especially without set safety.
Factor in combat loads, he mentioned ladders. I’m gonna guess each of these guys was carrying 50/70 pounds of kit. Are at a minimum 12000 ft, possibly higher. After patrolling in five hours.
Many styles of ladders, I don’t know, was this a flexible boarding ladder, one that’s side climbed without being anchored at the bottom is a very tough, of a folding ladder, unlike a ladder most have seen.
Our SWAT ladders were maybe 8 inch’s wide, four ft sections, if we were at a 12 ft roof, we carried four sections. Anyway my point is while I’m certain their kits much better then ours, our ladders were only able to climb up, not down!
Mountains most manly men would pass on, these guys skip down! These guys are studs!