Navy SEAL Receives Medal of Honor--Rebecca Brandt 4th Period

This month, the Medal of Honor will be awarded to a Navy SEAL who rescued an American civilian who was being held hostage by Taliban insurgents in Afghanistan. Edward Byers, Senior Chief Special Warfare Operator, will be awarded the medal from President Obama for braveness in combat. The event took place in December of 2012 and was described as having involved "hand-to-hand combat with multiple adversaries." The rescue resulted in the death of a member of the SEAL Team Six. After this member was shot, Byers was the second member of the team to enter the area of hostility. Byers managed to tackle a guard and shoot another. Byers managed to try and save the member of his team who was shot, while also fighting off the other guards. Byers told CNN he feels very honored to be receiving this award.

It is satisfying to hear about all of the brave soldiers receiving honors and awards for their fighting and bravery. These awards are much deserved. These soldiers' lives are threatened but they still do it anyway to save the lives of other people, like their comrades, American citizens, and their country. Back in the 19th and 18th centuries, when the first American armies were put together for wars such as the Spanish-American War and World War I, I feel like they did not get as much recognition as they deserved. I know that they didn't fight just for recognition, they fought for their country, but they too risked their lives to save the lives of others.

http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/02/politics/navy-seal-medal-of-honor/index.html