Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd, Jr, USN (25 October 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 was a recipient of the Medal of Honor, the highest honor for heroism given by the United States.
