Richard E. Byrd Military person

Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd, Jr., USN (25 October 1888 – 11 March 1957) was an American naval officer who specialized in feats of exploration. He 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 the North Pole and the South Pole by air. However, majority of polar experts are now of the opinion that Roald Amundsen has the first verifiable claim to each pole.Byrd was a recipient of the Medal of Honor, the highest honor for heroism given by the United States.

Personal facts

Birth date	October 25, 1888
Birth place	Winchester Virginia
Date of death	March 11, 1957
Resting place	Arlington National Cemetery

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Military person

award	Legion of Merit Distinguished Service Medal (US Navy) Navy Cross Congressional Gold Medal Medal of Honor Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
military operations	World War II World War I
military branch	United States Navy
service start	1912
service end	1912