Richard
Evelyn Byrd Jr. (October
25, 1888 – March 11, 1957) was an American naval officer and explorer. He was a recipient of the Medal of Honor, the highest honor for valor given by the
United States, and was a pioneering American aviator, polar explorer, and
organizer of polar logistics. Aircraft flights in which he served as a navigator and expedition leader crossed the Atlantic
Ocean, a segment of the Arctic Ocean, and a segment of the Antarctic Plateau. Byrd claimed that his expeditions had been
the first to reach both the North Pole and the South Pole by air. His claim to have reached the North
Pole is disputed. He is also known for discovering Mount Sidley, the largest dormant volcano in Antarctica. Byrd
was born in Winchester, Virginia, the son of Esther Bolling (Flood) and Richard Evelyn Byrd Sr. He
was a descendant of one of the First Families of Virginia.
His ancestors include planter John Rolfe and his wife Pocahontas, William Byrd II of Westover Plantation, who
established Richmond, as well as William Byrd I and Robert "King" Carter, a colonial governor. He was
also descended from George Yeardley, Francis Wyatt and Samuel Argall. He was the brother of Virginia Governor and U.S. Senator Harry F. Byrd, a dominant figure in the Virginia Democratic Party from
the 1920s until the 1960s; their father served
as Speaker of the
Virginia House of Delegates for a time. Byrd attended the Virginia Military Institute for
two years and transferred to the University of Virginia,
before financial circumstances inspired his starting over and taking an
appointment to the United States Naval Academy,
where he was appointed as a midshipman on May 28, 1908. While at the Naval Academy, he suffered two
injuries to his right ankle (one was by playing football and the other was
while dismounting gymnastic rings during a competition). Although he was
allowed to remain at the academy, his injuries eventually led to his forced
retirement from the Navy in 1916. On June 8, 1912, Byrd graduated from the
Naval Academy and was commissioned an ensign in the United States Navy. On
July 14, 1912, he was assigned to the battleship USS Wyoming.
During service in the Caribbean Sea, Byrd received his first letter of
commendation, and later a Silver Lifesaving Medal, for twice plunging fully clothed to
the rescue of a sailor who had fallen overboard. In April 1914, he transferred
to the armored cruiser USS Washington and
served in Mexican waters in June following the American
intervention in April. His next assignment was to the
gunboat USS Dolphin,
which also served as the yacht of the Secretary of the Navy. This assignment
brought Byrd into contact with high-ranking officials and dignitaries,
including then Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin Roosevelt. He was
promoted to the rank of lieutenant (junior grade) on
June 8, 1915. During Byrd's assignment to Dolphin she was
commanded by future Fleet Admiral William D. Leahy, who served as chief of staff to
President Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II. Byrd's last assignment before forced retirement
was to the presidential yacht USS Mayflower.
On March 15, 1916, Byrd, much to his frustration, was medically retired on
three-quarters pay for an ankle injury he suffered on board Mayflower.
Shortly thereafter, on December 14, 1916, he was assigned as the inspector and
instructor for the Rhode Island Naval Militia in Providence, Rhode Island. While serving in this position, he was
commended by Brigadier General Charles W. Abbot, the
adjutant general of Rhode Island, for making great strides in improving the
efficiency of the militia, and on April 25, 1928, was promoted to captain by
act of the Rhode Island General Assembly in recognition of his flight to the
North Pole in 1926.