>>> IT'S NOW TIME FOR "THE JOURNAL "OISHGS WBGU TV'S PUBLIC AFFAIRS PROGRAM WITH YOUR HOST STEVE KENDALL.

THIS IS WHERE YOUR COMMUNITY MATTERS.

LOCAL PEOPLE, LOCAL ISSUES.

>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO "JOURNAL," I'M STEVE KENDALL.

WE'RE JOINED BY EDWARD C. BYERS JR.

WHO RECEIVED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR EARLIER THIS YEAR, EXCUSE ME IN, 2016, FOR AN EVENT, A MISSION HE WAS INVOLVED IN THE RESCUE OF DR.

JOSEPH IN AFGHANISTAN IN 2 2012.

I APPRECIATE FOR YOUR SERVICE.

>> TALK ABOUT -- WE'RE HEARING IN OHIO AND WE'RE AT LOCAL SCHOOLS AND YOU'RE AN ALUMNI.

TALK ABOUT GROWING UP IN THIS AREA AND YOUR EXPERIENCE GROWING UP AND YOUR FRIENDS HERE AT THE SCHOOL.

>> YEAH, SO IT'S AN HONOR TO BE BACK.

AND COMING HOME, THERE IS NOTHING LIKE HOME.

KNOWING I JUST GREW UP A FEW MILES FROM HERE DOWN THE ROAD ON A FARM AND TO SEE HOW MUCH THIS PLACE HAS GROWN AND THE TIME I'VE BEEN AWAY AND SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY AND IT'S REMARKABLE.

IT'S NICE TO SEE THE COMMUNITY GROWING FOR THE BETTER DEVELOPMENT OF THE STUDENTS WE HAVE WITH US TODAY.

FREEDOM TO GO OUT AND PLAY AND GROW AND, YOU KNOW, THE RIVERS FOR THE SUMMER EVENTS AND THOSE TIMES GROWING UP, THOSE REALLY GOOD MEMORIES IS WHAT HELPED DEVELOP ME INTO THE PERSON THAT I AM TODAY.

AND TO COME BACK AND EXPERIENCE THAT WITH ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HELPED, HAD A PART IN DEVELOPING ME IS A SPECIAL MOMENT.

>> NOW, YOU WOULD CONSIDER YOUR RECEIVE AS YOU LOOK BACK, WERE YOU TYPICAL KID, STUDENT KIND OF GUY?

WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU KNEW THERE WAS SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT ME OR A TYPICAL HIGH SCHOOL JUNIOR HIGH KID?

>> THERE WAS NOTHING SPECIAL ABOUT ME.

I WAS AN AVERAGE KID.

SUBPAR ACADEMICALLY, AT BEST.

SOMETHING I WISH I WOULD HAVE TAKEN MORE SERIOUSLY GROWING UP NOW THAT I KNOW BETTER AND I CHANGE MID WAYS.

NOW, YOU KNOW, IN COLLEGE.

BUT THE ONE THING THAT -- THE ONLY THING THAT WAS DIFFERENT WAS THE FACT THAT I KNEW THAT I WANTED TO GO INTO THE MILITARY AT A VERY YOUNG AGE.

>> WHEN WAS THAT ROUGHLY?

>> SO, I WOULD SAY I WAS PROBABLY 8 OR 9 WHEN I HAD THIS AFFINITY FOR GOING INTO THE MILITARY.

WHAT IT REPRESENTED, THE VALUES THAT THE SERVICE REPRESENTED, SERVICE TO COUNTRY AND SERVICE TO OTHERS BEFORE SELF, DEDICATION AND DUTY.

YOU KNOW, THE HONOR, COURAGE, AND COMMITMENT THAT ARE CORE VALUES OF THE NAVY.

I DIDN'T QUITE KNOW OBVIOUSLY WHAT THEY MEANT AT THAT YOUNG AGE BUT I KNEW THEY WERE APPEALING FROM HOW I WAS PORTRAYED IN BOOKS AND, YOU KNOW, THE MOVIES OF THE TIME.

>> YEAH.

>> AND THEN AS THAT -- AS I GREW UP AND BECAME MORE INTO HIGH SCHOOL, THEN THAT'S WHEN I REALLY BECAME INTERESTED IN, YOU KNOW, THE SPECIAL OPERATIONS ASPECT OF THE MILITARY.

>> WAS THERE A PARTICULAR EVENT OR PARTICULAR PIECE OF MEDIA THAT YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, THAT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING I'D LIKE TO BE SOME DAY?

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT REALLY TRIGGERED THAT SPONSOR YOU INCREMENTALLY GOT TO?

>> IT WAS AN INCREMENTAL PROCESS.

I MEAN, OUR SOCIETY BACK THEN IS MUCH DIFFERENT OF HOW WE RECEIVED AND TOOK IN MEDIA AND INFORMATION COMPARED TO WHAT IT IS NOW.

YOU KNOW, WE DIDN'T HAVE NO INTERNET OR SMART PHONES.

>> NOTHING LIKE THAT.

SO WHATEVER CAME OUT IN BOOKS AND MOVIES PERIODICALLY THROUGHOUT TIME THAT DROVE ME TOWARDS WANTING TO DO THAT.

>> WERE THERE -- IF YOU LOOK BACK, YOU KNOW, WHAT WERE SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT YOU SAY INFLUENCED YOU THE MOST AND HELPED YOU MAKE THAT KIND OF A DECISION?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

SO THE PEOPLE THAT INFLUENCED ME THE MOST WERE THE PEOPLE RIGHT AROUND ME.

AND THAT'S WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO THE POWER OF COMMUNITY AND TEAM THAT SURROUNDS YOU.

THEY CAN REALLY INFLUENCE WHO YOU'RE GOING TO BECOME.

SO I WAS FORTUNATE AND BLESSED ENOUGH TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT CARED ABOUT ME AS A PERSON.

THEY CARED ABOUT THINGS I WANTED TO DO.

THEY BELIEVED IN ME.

AND THAT HELPED IN EMPOWERING ME AND BECOMING THE PERSON I AM TODAY.

AND THOSE WERE MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY THAT WERE RIGHT AROUND ME.

DINLT REALLY LOOK TO MOVIE STARS OR CELEBRITIES.

THAT WASN'T MY -- THOSE WEREN'T MY MOTIVATORS OR MENTORS.

I LOOKED TO THOSE THAT HAD A DIRECT INFLUENCE IN MY LIFE.

>> BACK TO THAT COMMUNITY, THE PEOPLE THAT YOU GREW UP AND THE PEOPLE AROUND YOU.

>> YEAH.

THAT'S RIGHT.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT YOUR MILITARY CAREER AND EVEN WITHOUT THE MEDAL OF HONOR, YOU GOT A LONG LIST OF AWARDS AND CITATION THAT'S WOULD BE, YOU KNOW, FOR MOST PEOPLE WOULD BE AN ENTIRE CAREER AND YOU'RE ONLY 37.

IF YOU LOOKED AT THE CAREER IN THE MILITARY, WHEN YOU DECIDED YES I'M GOING TO THE MILITARY, TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR SORT OF HOW YOU MOVED THROUGH THAT, WHEN YOU FIRST GOT IN WHAT YOU THOUGHT YOU WANTED TO DO.

DID YOU ALWAYS THINK YOU WANTED TO BECOME A SEAL?

WAS IN A YOUR GOAL FROM DAY ONE?

>> SO MY INITIAL -- I ALWAYS JOINED THE MILITARY THINKING I WANTED TO BECOME A NAVY SEAL.

I HAD ALL THE T-SHIRTS GROWING UP.

ONCE I SIGNED OBJECT DOTTED LINE AND THINS BECAME SERIOUS THAT I PUT THOSE AWAY AND I FOCUSED ON MY OBJECTIVE OF WHAT I NEEDED TO DO TO BECOME THAT.

MILITARY HAS A LITTLE BIT OF, YOU KNOW, ONCE YOU JOIN THEM, THEY'RE GOING TO PUT YOU WHERE THEY NEED YOU TO BE AT FIRST SO I HAD TO WAIT A FEW YEARS AND I SPENT SOME TIME AS A MEDIC WITH MARINES.

FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS.

ALL PRE-9/11 AND GOT TO EXPERIENCE WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE IN A MARINE GRUNT UNIT.

SOLT FIGHTING SOLDIERS ON THE GROUND.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THAT WAS A PATH THAT I DIDN'T REALLY ANTICIPATE OR EXPECTS.

BUT A PATH THAT I'M GRATEFUL FOR.

SHOWING ME THAT HOW MUCH THOSE MEN DO WITH THE LITTLE RESOURCE THEZ HAVE.

AND IT'S -- IT WAS A VERY HUMBLING TIME TO BE WITH THEM.

>> YEAH.

YOU MENTIONED YOUR FAMILY AS AN INFLUENCE.

WERE THEY COMFORTABLE WITH YOUR DESIRE TO GO INTO THE MILITARY AND PURSUE A CAREER DOWN THAT PATH?

>> RIGHT.

SO MY FATHER WAS IN THE NAVY AT THE TAIL END OF WORLD WAR II.

AND THAT'S SOMETHING THEY NEVER REALLY TALK B I HAD TWO UNCLES IN THE NAVY IN VIETNAM AND THEN THROUGHOUT GULF WAR.

AND IT WAS SOMETHING THEY NEVER REALLY TALKED B IT WAS A DIFFERENT GENERATION.

>> DIFFERENT FEELING WITH THE -- YEAH.

AFTERWARDS.

>> SO I DIDN'T HAVE ANY PERSONAL INFLUENCE ON THAT ASPECT OF GOING IN.

I CAN SAY MY MOTHER, HOWEVER, SHE -- SHE IS -- SHE WAS WORRIED AS A GOOD MOTHER SHOULD BE.

SHE WAS WORRIED ABOUT WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO AND THERE WASN'T ANY REAL CREDIBLE THREAT TO US AT THAT TIME BECAUSE THIS WAS ALL PRE-9/11.

>> RIGHT.

>> BUT WHEN I MADE THAT DECISION, THEY GOT ONBOARD AND WERE FULLY BEHIND.

FULLY SUPPORTIVE.

>> AND THAT MEANS A LOCHLT YOU WANT TO GO OUT KNOWING YOU HAVE PEOPLE SUPPORTING YOU.

PEOPLE HAVE YOUR BACK IN THAT REGARD ESPECIALLY.

SO YOUR FAMILY KNOWS YOU'RE DOING WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AND COMFORTABLE KNOWING YOU MADE THAT DECISION AND THAT'S WHERE YOU WANT TO GO.

>> THAT'S A VERY IMPORTANT QUALITY.

AND IT'S -- THAT'S WHAT FAMILY DOES.

THAT'S WHAT TEAMS DO IS THEY SUPPORT ONE ANOTHER.

YOU KNOW, WITH THE PERSON THAT MADE THAT CHOICE AND WANT TO GO DOWN THAT PATH.

THEY SUPPORT ME.

>> RIGHT.

>> WHEN WE COME BACK, LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE SEAL EXPERIENCE AND THE WHOLE PROCESS OF SAYING THE DAY ONE THROUGH YESTERNOW A SEAL.

WE'LL TALK WITH EDWARD C. BYERS ON "THE JOURNAL."

>>> THANK YOU FOR STAYING US WITH ON WBGU TV.

OUR GUEST IS SENIOR CHIEF SPECIAL WARFARE OPERATOR EDWARD C. BYERS JR.

MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT.

WE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU GOT TO THE POINT OF JOINING THE MILITARY AND THE FACT THAT AT A VERY YOUNG AGE YOU DECIDED YOU WANTED TO BE A SEAL.

AS YOUR MILITARY CAREER PROGRESSED, YOU SAID YOU WALKED IN DAY ONE, YES, I WANT TO BE A SEAL.

SURE, NO PROBLEM.

THIS LINE OVER HERE.

TALK A BIT ABOUT THAT PROCESS OF GETTING TO BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR IT AND THEN WHAT IT'S LIKE TO GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS SO BECOME A SEAL IN THE U.S.

NAVY.

>> SURE.

THE PROCESS RIGHT NOW IS A LOT MORE COMPLICATED AND MUCH HARDER THAN IT WAS EVEN WHEN I CAME IN.

MEANING THE INITIAL APPLICATION PHASE.

I MEAN, WHEN I CAME IN, IT'S -- YOU KNOW, I HAD TO REQUEST.

SO I HAD TO SIGN IN, I HAD TO PUT OUT A SPECIAL REQUEST AND SUBMIT THROUGHOUT CHAIN OF COMMAND, RESPECTFULLY REQUESTING TO ATTEND UNDERWATER DEMOLITION FIELD TRAINING.

I HAD TO WAIT FOR THAT TO COME BACK AND THEN TAKE A SCREENING TEST WHICH COMPROMISED OF CERTAIN PUSHUP VALUES, RUN VALUES, SWIMMING AND SITUPS, PULLUPS, STUFF LIKE THAT.

THAT PROCESS NOW, BECAUSE OF MEDIA AND NOTORIETY AND PUBLICITY THE COMMUNITY HAS HAD INCREASED RECRUITMENT SO MUCH THAT THE APPLICATION EVEN TO BE ACCEPTED IS ON THE SCALE OF, YOU KNOW, ONE OR TWO ORDERS TOUGHER THAN IT WAS EVEN GET THE CHANCE TO TRY OUT.

>> WOW.

RIGHT.

>> AND THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW YOU HOW MUCH SOCIETY PROGRESSED BECAUSE THE CALIBER AND CHARACTER OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING IN NOW ARE SO MUCH BETTER THAN EVEN THE GENERATION BEFORE.

>> YEAH.

>> AND THAT'S JUST TO GET YOUR FOOT IN THE DOOR.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO THEY DOWN SELECT SO MUCH THERE, THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE COME N THEY ONLY CHOOSE MAYBE 200 TO EVEN START A CLASS.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO THOUSANDS WERE -- APPLY AND DON'T START FOR THAT CLASS.

THEN OUT OF THAT CLASS OVER THE NEXT, LET'S SAY, 13 TO 14 MONTHS, THEY'LL LOSE ANOTHER 80% OF THE PEOPLE IN THAT TRAINING PIPELINE.

AND SO YOU'LL START WITH THOUSANDS OF APPLICANTS AND PEOPLE THAT ACTUALLY COME IN WILL BE IN THE 200 RANGE AND THEN CLASSES THAT GRADUATE 35, 40 PEOPLE.

>> AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH THE TYPICAL RATIO THAT -- >> AND THAT'S THE TYPICAL RATIO.

IT'S A VERY TOUGH PROCESS.

ALL WITH THE INTENT OF STRIPPING AWAY THE IDEA OF SELF FIRST AND BUILDING UP THE IDEA OF TEAM WORK AND UNITY AND SERVICE TO OTHERS BEFORE SELF.

AND THERE'S A LITTLE MONTAGE WE DO, IT'S TEAM GEAR, YOUR GEAR, AND THEN YOURSELF.

AND THAT'S KIND OF THE WAY WE GO ABOUT THINGS AND THAT'S GOING I'M GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THINGS THAT APPLY TO EVERYONE ELSE FIRST.

THEN I'LL TAKE CARE OF THE THINGS THAT APPLY TO MY WORK SETTING NEXT.

AND THEN AT THE END OF THE EVENING OR THE END OF THE TRAINING DAY, THAT'S WHEN YOU GET AROUND TO TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF.

>> THERE'S TIME LEFT, YOU USE THAT FOR YOURSELF.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> AND WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT CAUSE PEOPLE NOT TO BE ABLE -- YOU SAID, YOU'RE GOING FROM THOUSANDS DOWN TO 200 DOWN TO 35 OR 40.

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BUMPS ALONG THE WAY THAT WEED PEOPLE OUT LIKE THAT?

WHAT ARE THE TYPICAL THINGS?

>> A LOT OF THINGS IS THE FEAR OF NOT KNOWING IF THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO DO SOMETHING.

SO NOT BELIEVING IN THEMSELVES.

NOT COMMITTING.

SO NOT FULLY COMMITTING, YOU KNOW, IF YOU DO ANYTHING, YOU SHOULD DO IT 100%.

AND IF YOU EVER LEAVE ANY DOUBT IN ANYTHING YOU DO, ESPECIALLY TRYING TO GO THROUGH THAT TYPE OF TRAINING, THAT DOUBT IS GOING TO EAT YOU UP.

AND THEN THAT'S WHEN PEOPLE WIND UP QUITTING OR, YOU KNOW, JUST WEED OUT OF THE SYSTEM.

WHEN I WENT IN, I JUST FELT I HAD NO OTHER OPTION IN MY MIND.

DINLT KNOW WHAT ELSE I WAS GOING TO DO.

I WANTED TO BE A SEAL AND I COULDN'T ENVISION MYSELF DOING ANYTHING ELSE.

SO I DIDN'T ALLOW MYSELF TO GO ON THE QUITTING SIDE.

I THINK THAT IT GETS A LOT OF PEOPLE WHEN THEY THINK THAT OH, I'D BE MUCH BETTER OFF DOING THIS BECAUSE THEY'RE IF A MOMENT OF TEMPORARY DISCOMFORT AND PAIN.

>> SURE.

>> AND NOT LEARNING HOW TO COPE WITH THESE -- WITH THOSE TYPE OF DIFFICULTIES AND FAVORING THE INSTANTANEOUS GRATIFICATION OF BEING COMFORTABLE AND NOT ENDURING THE PAIN AND GIVING UP THE LONG TERM REWARD OF KNOWING THAT THEY ACCOMPLISHED SOMETHING TRULY GREAT.

THAT CAN BE APPLIED WHETHER YOU'RE IN THIS TRAINING OR DO MEDICAL SCHOOL OR SOMETHING ELSE.

>> ANYTHING YOU WOULD DO.

>> YEAH.

>> INCREDIBLE AMOUNT OF ENERGY AND EFFORT TO ACCOMPLISH.

>> I GUESS WHEN YOU LOOK AT, AGAIN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE KIND OF MISSIONS THAT THAT UNIT IS GOING TO BE SENT TO TAKE CARE OF, YOU HAVE TO BE TOTALLY COMMITTED AND KNOW -- NOT HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO DO ALMOST.

IT JUST BECOME WHO'S YOU ARE NATURALLY, I GUESS.

IS THAT -- I MEAN THAT MINDSET HAS TO BE PRETTY DIFFICULT.

YOU HAVE TO THINK OF EVERYBODY ELSE, THE TEAM FIRST AND THEN BASICALLY WHAT YOU NEED AND THEN BASICALLY WHATEVER IS LEFT OVER TIME FOR YOURSELF.

WHEN YOU'RE ON A MISSION LIKE THAT, EVERYBODY HAS TO HAVE THAT SAME MIND SET, RIGHT?

THEY HAVE TO HAVE.

>> WE HAVE TO.

AND PART OF OUR -- OF THE NAVAL SPECIAL WARFARE ETHOS TALKS ABOUT THAT SAME FACT.

IT'S IF KNOCKED DOWN, I'LL GET BACK UP AGAIN.

I WILL NOT FAIL.

I'LL WIN THE FIGHT.

SO IT'S -- YOU'RE CONSTANTLY -- LIFE, JUST LIKE IN LIFE, YOU'RE CONSTANTLY GOING TO HAVE FIGHTS.

YOU'RE CONSTANTLY GOING TO HAVE TROUBLES IN YOUR LIFE.

AND YOU HAVE TO CONFRONT THEM, CONQUER THEM AND THEN MOVE ON TO THE NEXT THING.

DON'T LET IT OVERCOME YOU AND CONSUME HE.

>> YEAH.

NOW THAT BEING SAID, WAS THERE EVER A MOMENT WHERE YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, YOU SAID I'M 100% COMMITTED.

THIS IS WHAT I'M GOING TO DO.

I HAVE NO OTHER OPTION S THERE A MOMENT WHEN GOING THROUGH THAT YOU HAD A MOMENT OF DOUBT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

OF COURSE.

I WOULDN'T BE HUMAN IF I DIDN'T HAVE A MOMENT OF DOUBT OR MOMENTS OF FEAR.

BUT THOSE AREN'T BAD THINGS.

YOUR CHARACTER DEFINES HOW YOU HANDLE DIFFICULT SITUATIONS.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO -- AND THOSE MOMENTS OF DOUBT, I FELL BACK ON ONE THING AND THAT WAS PRAYER.

SO I PRAYED TO HELP GET ME THROUGH THOSE DIFFICULT TIMES.

THAT'S ALL I HAD LEFT.

I HAD GIVEN EVERYTHING ELSE I HAD PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY AND THEN I RELIED ON MY FAITH TO GET ME THROUGH THE REST.

>> AND THAT WAS WHY YOU WERE ABLE TO BE ONE OF THE 35 OR 40 AT THE END OF THAT STRING OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT GOT YOU THROUGH THAT.

>> AND FOR MY INSTANCE, ABSOLUTELY.

>> YEAH.

IF YOU CAN, WHAT IS THE ABSOLUTE WORST THING THAT GOES ON IN THAT THAT YOU WOULD SAY THERE IS ONE THING THAT I DON'T EVER WANT TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH AGAIN WLACHLT IS IT OUT OF THAT WHOLE -- IF YOU'RE ALLOWED TO SAY?

I KNOW THAT TRAINING HAS SOME SECURITY WRAPPED AROUND IT.

BUT WHAT WOULD BE THE ONE THING YOU SAY, WOW, IF I EVER HAVE TO DO THAT AGAIN THAT, WON'T BOTHER ME AT ALL.

>> THE WHOLE THING.

AND THE REASON WHY IS IT'S A SYSTEM DESIGNED BY MEN FOR MEN.

SO -- I MEAN, IT'S DESIGNED BY HUMANS.

YOU'RE CAPABLE OF DOING IT.

BUT WHAT IT GETS YOU IS IT ALL FOCUSES BACK ON COMMITMENT.

IT'S ARE YOU WILLING TO SUBJECT YOURSELF TO THAT PAIN, STRUGGLE, STRIFE FOR OVER A YEAR OF BEING WHAT WE CALL WET IN THE SAND OR COLD, WET AND SANDY OR, YOU KNOW, THE PAINS OF CONSTANTLY, YOU KNOW, DOING PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AND MEETING THE TIME CRITERIAS ON EVERYTHING.

SO EVERYTHING IS PASS OR FAIL.

PASS OR FAIL.

AND SOME INSTANCES YOU MAY GET A -- GET TO TRY AGAIN ANDER INSTANCES YOU DON'T.

AND THAT'S -- THAT REALLY PARLAYS WELL WITH WHAT LIFE IS ABOUT.

SOMETIMES YOU GET SECOND CHANCES.

SOMETIME YOU DON'T.

AND SO IT'S WHETHER OR NOT YOU'RE GOING TO RISE TO THOSE OCCASIONS.

>> YEAH.

NOW, WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR TRAINING AND YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH THAT, YOU'RE HEADING OUT ON A MISSION, WHAT ARE THE THINGS THAT GO THROUGH YOUR MIND?

IS THERE FEAR?

IS THERE NERVOUS ANTICIPATION?

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT CONCERN YOU THE MOST?

IS IT I WANT TO MAKE SURE I DON'T LET MY TEAMMATES DOWN?

WHAT GOES THROUGH YOUR MIND AS YOU'RE IN A HELICOPTER FLYING TO WHEREVER YOU'RE GOING TO -- WHEREVER THEY'RE GOING TO LET YOU OFF?

>> THAT'S A REALLY GREAT QUESTION.

THE FIRST THING THAT COMES TO MIND ALWAYS IS TEAM.

IT'S TEAM FIRST.

>> RIGHT.

>> WE FIGHT FOR OUR BROTHERS ON TO OUR LEFT AND TO OUR RIGHT.

AND THAT'S WHO WE GO INTO BATTLE WITH AND WHO WE COME OUT OF BATTLE WITH AND THAT'S WHO WE SHARE SO MANY EXPERIENCES WITH.

SO IT'S NOT LETTING THEM DOWN.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, NOT LETTING THEM DOWN.

SUCCEEDING AT THE MISSION, WHATEVER MISSION THAT MAY BE.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND IN SOME INSTANCES, THAT REQUIRES PAYING THE SACRIFICE WITH YOUR LIFE.

AND THE INSTANCE FOR WHICH I RECEIVED THIS MEDAL AND WHO I WEAR IT FOR IS FOR NICK CHECK.

>> RIGHT.

>> CHIEF PETTY OFFICER NICK CHECK.

HE WAS THE ONE THAT PAID THAT.

HE PAID IT WITH HIS LIFE.

SO IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT OUR TEAM.

AND I THINK MAYBE IN THE NEXT SEGMENT WE CAN TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FEAR ASPECT.

>> OKAY.

LET'S DO.

THAT WE'LL BE BACK IN JUST A MOMENT WITH SENIOR CHIEF SPECIAL WARFARE OPERATOR EDWARD C. BYERS JR.

ON "THE JOURNAL."

>>> THANK YOU FOR STAYING US WITH HERE ON "THE JOURNAL."

WE'RE WITH SENIOR CHIEF EDWARD C. BYERS JR.

AND YOU TOUCHED ON THAT -- AT THE END OF THE LAST SEG MENT, I ASKED ABOUT HOW YOU APPROACH A MISSION WITH FEAR, ANTICIPATION, WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU HAVE TO FOCUS ON?

AND YOU MENTIONED IT IN THE CASE OF THIS MISSION FOR WHICH YOU RECEIVED YOUR MEDAL OF HONOR THAT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF YOUR TEAM DIDN'T COME BACK ALIVE.

AND THAT'S GOT TO BE A DIFFICULT THING FOR EVERYBODY INVOLVED.

AND TALK A BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT IS KIND OF LIKE TO, AS YOU CHANNEL ALL THESE OTHER THINGS AND PART OF IT, NOT TO GET INTO IT IN GREAT DETAIL IS YOU'RE A MEDIC.

YOU WERE TRAINED AND TRIED TO RESUSCITATE HIM BACK TO THE BASE.

BUT TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT PART OF THE MISSION WHEN YOU HAVE GONE IN AND DO YOU LOSE SOMEBODY OR PEOPLE ARE WOUNDED HOW THE TEAM REACTS TO THAT AND HOW YOU MAKE THAT -- TURN THAT INTO A POSITIVE, I GUESS IF, THERE SUCH A WAY TO DO THAT.

>> SO FIRST AND FOREMOST, NICK CHECK WAS A TRUE AMERICAN HERO.

HE WAS A WARRIOR THROUGH AND THROUGH.

AND HE TALKED A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE FEAR ASPECT.

WE ALL HAVE PARTS OF FEAR.

>> SURE.

>> AND THAT EVENING NICK WAS ABSOLUTELY FEARLESS.

HE WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.

AND IMMEDIATELY DID WHAT HIS JOB WAS.

AND THAT WAS GO RIGHT TOWARDS THE DOOR TO RESCUE AN AMERICAN HOSTAGE.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO THE FEAR ASPECT DOES COME INTO PLAY.

ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE HUMAN.

WE DO HAVE FEAR.

BUT SOME FEAR IS GOOD.

IT HONES YOUR SENSES.

AND IT CAN KEEP YOU ALIVE.

>> YEAH.

>> AND THE WAY YOU -- THE WAY I PERSONALLY DEALT WITH THAT IS I DO UP FRONT AND BEFOREHAND IS A LOT OF -- I DO A LOT OF PRAYING TO ST.

MICHAEL, THE PATRIOT SAINT OF MILITARY AND POLICE AND SO I WOULD SAY A LOT OF HIS PRAYERS ON THE WAY TO OUR MISSIONS.

AND THEN ULTIMATELY, WHEN YOU GET IN TO DOING THE MISSION, YOU HAVE TO RELY ON YOUR TRAINING AND YOUR TEAMMATES.

AND I RELIED ON NICK FOR WHAT HE DID AND HIS ACTIONS INEVITABLY ENDED UP SAVING MY LIFE BECAUSE HE WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, YOU DO WHAT YOU CAN.

BUT THOSE ARE -- THOSE ARE THE TIDES OF WAR.

IT HAPPENS.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND THE WAY YOU MOVE ON IS YOU KNOW THAT HE DIED DOING SOMETHING HE LOVED.

AND THAT'S VERY FEW PEOPLE CAN EVER SAY THAT THEY DID THAT.

SO IT'S VERY MUCH AN HONOR.

HE'LL ALWAYS BE REMEMBERED AS AMERICAN HERO BECAUSE OF THAT.

AND THEN YOU REMEMBER HIS MEMORY AND YOU -- YOU USE THE EXAMPLES OF WHAT HE WAS, HIS CHARACTERISTICS TO HELP DRIVE YOU AS A BETTER PERSON AND TO HELP IMPART THE VALUES AND CHARACTERISTICS ON OTHER PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT'S THE THINGS HE EMBODIED.

>> RIGHT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE INVOLVED IN AND NOT NO TO SHIFT GEARS SO ABRUPTLY BUT I JUST DID, THE MEDAL OF HONOR FOUNDATION HAS A PROGRAM.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHAT THAT PROGRAM IS.

IT DOVE TAILS INTO WHAT YOU JUST SAID.

THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO INSTILL IN PEOPLE IS THAT WAY OF LIVING AND WAY OF ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS.

TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT PROGRAM.

>> THEY HAVE A REALLY INCREDIBLE PROGRAM.

AND SO THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR FOUNDATION HAS THIS CHARACTER DEVELOP MENT PROGRAM AND WITHIN THAT PROGRAM IT WANTS TO TEACH OUR YOUTH THE VALUES OF WHAT THIS MEDAL MEANS.

AND IT GOES INTO SIX DIFFERENT AREAS.

SO YOU HAVE PATRIOTISM.

YOU HAVE SERVICE.

YOU HAVE SACRIFICE.

YOU HAVE CITIZENSHIP, COURAGE AND COMMITMENT.

AND THAT'S -- THOSE ARE THE VALUES I TRY TO SPEAK TO WHEN I GET THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK TO STUDENTS IS TO TALK ABOUT THESE VARIOUS VALUES AND WHAT THEY MEAN.

IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO DO THAT.

BECAUSE THERE ISN'T A LOT OF PROGRAMS OUT THERE THAT ARE DOING THESE AND FOCUSED ON THESE QUALITIES.

>> RIGHT.

>> AND SO WE'VE BEEN FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO WORK WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT TO GET THIS INCORPORATED INTO THEIR CURRICULUM AND TO HELP INSTILL THESE VALUES THAT THE MEDAL REPRESENTS OR THAT ULTIMATELY REPRESENTS OUR NATION BY BEING THE HIGHEST AWARD THAT OUR NATION HAS.

>> YEAH.

>> I'M VERY PROUD.

VERY PROUD TO BE IN PARTNERSHIP TO WORK WITH THEM TO GET THAT DONE.

>> AND ONE OTHER THING, AND WE'VE GOT REALLY BRIEF AMOUNT OF TIME HERE.

YOU'RE ALSO BRINGING A PROGRAM THAT IS ESPECIALLY THAT YOU DEVELOPED YOURSELF THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO BE AVAILABLE HERE IN THE DISTRICT AND IN THE AREA.

SO TALK BRIEFLY ABOUT.

THAT WE HAVE ABOUT 30 SECONDS OR SO.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SO I'M JUST TRYING TO DO MY PART TO PAY IT FORWARD.

AND DOING SO I'M CREATING TWO DIFFERENT AWARDS IN EXCEPTIONALISM AND HEROISM AWARD.

FIRST AWARD IS BASED ON A PEER REVIEW OR PEER NOMINATE ADDWARD FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS EITHER EXCEPTIONAL AT ACADEMICS AND EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES, VOLUNTEERISM, SPORTS, YOU KNOW, HAVE DONE THINGS AT A STATE OR NATIONAL LEVELS, YOU KNOW, SPELLING BEE CONTESTS, STUFF LIKE THAT.

AND THEN THE OTHER ONE IS IN THE HEROISM AWARD AND THAT'S SINGULAR ACT OR MULTIPLE ACTS OF BRAVERY THAT DB AT THE RISK OF ONESELF TO SAVE SOMEONE ELSE OR TO PROTECT THE HONOR OF NATION GROUP OR AN IDEA.

SO, FOR EXAMPLE, LIKE THE MAN WHO RESCUED OUR FLAG FROM THE FLAG BURNING INCIDENT.

>> CORRECT.

>> SO WE'RE GOING TO GET THIS LAUNCHED THIS YEAR.

HOPEFULLY BE ABLE TO PRESENT THE FIRST AWARD NEXT YEAR.

>> GREAT.

FANTASTIC.

WELL, AGAIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR SERVICE.

THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO TALK WITH US.

THANK YOU FOR COMING BACK TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND BEING HERE TO DO THAT AS WELL.

SENIOR CHIEF SPECIAL WARFARE OPERATOR EDWARD C. BYERS JR., MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENT AND WELL REPRESENTATIVE OF WHAT THAT MEDAL STANDS FOR.

THANK YOU AGAIN.

YOU CAN CHECK US OUT AT WBG WBGU.ORG.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN N TIME.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT TIME.