it's something that is frightening. i believe i showed the utmost courage on january 6th and it's time for me to do that now. >> reporter: responsible that day for securing the house chambers, byrd couldn't see what americans were witnessing on their tvs, but he could hear it and the pleas from other officers. >> were you afraid that day? >> i was very afraid. >> what are you hearing on your radio? >> i'm hearing about the breaches of different barricaded areas. officers being overrun. officers being down. >> did you ever hear a call or a report of shots fired during any of this? >> as a matter of fact, i did. there was reports of shots fired through the house main door onto the floor of the chamber. >> reporter: later, those reports would prove to be false. this video captures byrd instructing members of congress to don gas masks. >> we've had a disbursement of