KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette Medal of Honor Recipients Edward Byers Jr., left, and Kyle White, right, answer audience questions during the Lessons in Leadership Series at Pennsylvania College of Technology on Wednesday. Byers is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL and White was a specialist in the U.S. Army.

Strength through Humility.™

Resiliency.

Honesty and integrity.

These were just some of the human qualities espoused by two Medal of Honor recipients who spoke about

leadership this week at Pennsylvania College of Technology.

The event was made possible by the Welteroth Family and the Ameristrong Lessons in Leadership Series. The appearance on Thursday of Edward C. Byers Jr., a retired U.S. Navy SEAL, and Kyle White, a former U.S. Army Sergeant, put two of America’s 71 living Medal of Honor Recipients in Williamsport for an event attended by more than 150 people in Klump Academic Center.

Only 3,506 people have been awarded the Medal of Honor in America’s history.

Byers and White offered many inspirational words for the crowd and touched on their diverse backgrounds of service and the experiences that have shaped their lives today, which, in turn, gave both men multiple standing ovations.

Byers and White powerfully described their actions, those of their teammates and the courage needed to defend others and save lives.

Here are their stories.

EDWARD C. BYERS JR.

“Byers was born in Toledo, Ohio. He enlisted in the Navy in 1998 and spent his first four years as a hospital corpsman attached to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marines in Camp Lejeune, N.C. In 2002, after 9/11, he attended the toughest military training in the world: Basic Underwater Demolition SEAL (BUD/S) training to become a Navy SEAL.

“He graduated with Class 242. During his career, Byers spent up to 280 days a year away from home to include nine combat deployments (each up to 7 months), conducting missions in Iraq, Afghanistan and Africa. As an Assault Team Member attached to Joint Task Force in support of Operation Enduring Freedom on Dec. 8, 2012, he was involved in an action that led him to become the sixth Navy SEAL to receive the Medal of Honor.

“In the early hours of Dec. 8, 2012 an elite Navy SEAL hostage rescue force was launched to save American citizen, Dr. Dilip Joseph, who was being held hostage by the Taliban in an Eastern Afghanistan compound. Led by Chief Nic Checque, Byers and his team fearlessly breached the door and rushed into the room to save the hostage.

“Upon entering, Byers engaged an enemy captor armed with an AK-47. As he was engaging the enemy captor he then tackled another terrorist that moved across the room and Byers shot him. Moments later he identified Dr. Joseph’s location, jumping on him to shield him from the high volume of enemy fire. Simultaneously Byers immobilized another terrorist by the throat with his bare hands until he was eliminated.

“Byers’ actions were a direct reflection of his intrepid fighting spirit and unwavering devotion to duty in the face of near-certain death. Byers’ enduring mission is to honor those he served with, especially Chief Nic Checque, who paid the ultimate sacrificing in saving an American doctor. Nic will always be remembered as a true hero and warrior. Nic Checque was posthumously honored the Navy Cross for his heroism.”

KYLE WHITE

“White distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity at ­the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a radio telephone operator with Company C, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, during combat operations against an armed enemy in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan, on Nov. 9, 2007.

“On that day White and his comrades were returning to Bella Outpost from Shura with village elders. As the soldiers traversed a narrow path surrounded by mountains, rocky terrain, they were ambushed by enemy forces from elevated positions. Pinned against a steep mountain face, White and his fellow soldiers were completely exposed to enemy fire. White returned fire and was briefly knocked unconscious when a rocket-propelled grenade impacted near him. When he regained consciousness, another round impacted near him, embedding small pieces of shrapnel in his face.

“Shaking off his wounds, White noticed one of his comrades lying wounded nearby. Without hesitation, White exposed himself to enemy fire in order to reach the soldier and provide medical aid. After applying a tourniquet White moved to an injured Marine, similarly providing aid and comfort until the Marine succumbed to his wounds. White then returned to the soldier and discovered he had been wounded again.

Applying his own belt as an additional tourniquet, White was able to stem the flow of blood and save the soldier’s life. Noticing that his and the other soldier’s radios were inoperative, white exposed himself to enemy fire yet again to secure a radio from a deceased comrade. He then provided information and updates to friendly forces, allowing precision airstrikes to stifle the enemy’s attack and ultimately permitting medical evacuation aircraft to rescue him, his fellow soldiers, Marines and Afghan Army soldiers.

White’s extraordinary heroism and selflessness above and beyond the call of duty are in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect the great credit upon himself, Co. C, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade and the United States Army.”

In his speech, Byers talked about dealing with the pressures of life.

“Pressure will always be there in every aspect of life,” he told the audience. “Your resiliency, however, is formed from the manner in which you attack that pressure. It revolves around believing the sense that loyalty is above all, except honor.”

Everyone has a choice, he said, asking, “Do you want to be a victim or a lion?”

He emphasized the need to be resilient, honest and to adhere to ethical principles.

“You can’t buy or gain respect … you have to earn it,” Byers said.

Leadership, he continued, is most important when it inspires in the face of uncertainty.

“It’s important to be forged by adversity … adversity can give you clarity and calm,” he said.

Facing challenges — and failing at times — is what builds character, Byers offered.

“Things can always be worse,” he told the crowd.

Byers offered quotes from books he reads and referenced one entitled “Legacy.”

“Remember … you can never ask someone to do something you’re not willing to do yourself.”

White took charge on a mountain trail in Afghanistan when his team was ambushed by Taliban fighters. His team leader was killed and so were four others around him. He, too, was wounded but radioed in for airstrikes and rescue helicopters.

White credits his survival and that of his fellow team members to training.

The ability to know how to do the job of those next to him — whether they are over or under him by rank — allowed him to react to the loss of his commanding officer and take quick action in the face of adversity, he said.

“That’s how I got through each thing … each task … just the way I was trained, just the way my leadership emphasized,” he said.

White left the Army after his tour of service and today talks about PTSD — post traumatic stress disorder.

Indeed, the Seattle native whose father served in Vietnam is dedicating much of his time to effect change in how the military helps those who leave its ranks and suffer post traumatic stress.

He advocates for the treatment of mental health issues and transitional programs for veterans.

Leadership involves “the ability to leverage your position for change,” he emphasized.

The stigma of seeking medical attention for mental health issues needs to change within the military, he insisted.

“If I didn’t raise my hand to get that help, I know I wouldn’t be here today,” White said.

White said the best leaders listen, even to those under him or her.

Byers agreed, saying, “A true professional knows that they’re not the smartest person in the room. We must constantly rely on each other to continuously improve and grow.”

“It’s stress that gives birth to the best ideas,” Byers added. “Being able to wield those moments and develop environments that let ideas and debates flourish is critical.”

Doubt, Byers said, can be a person’s worst enemy, and “no one wants to hear whining or complaining.”

“Nobody cares … so try harder,” he said.

Lauren Welteroth sang the national anthem at the event’s opening.

Greg Welteroth, CEO of Welteroth Enterprises and founder of Ameristrong, organizer of the event, and a Circle of Honor recipient, was unable to attend the event.

His son, Gregory Welteroth Jr., delivered remarks on his behalf, offering equally inspiring words of wisdom.

Welteroth thanked both men for their service, sacrifice and the standard in which they set for us all, stating they are the highest examples of true leadership and courage.

During a question and answer session, the two honored guests were asked to again visit Williamsport.