Huntsville, Alabama a send-off ceremony is planned for Wednesday for the members of the Alabama Guard 441st Ordnance Battalion (EOD) as they head out to Camp Shelby for final training before their deployment to Iraq. The Battalion will deploy sometime in January to support the Army's 1st Armored Division and Task Force Troy (the counter IED mission). They will also help train at the Iraqi Army Bomb Disposal units. Four active duty Army EOD Companies will be under their command during their deployment to Iraq.

[More]

Waiouru, New Zealand A New Zealand EOD airman was killed when an unexploded 105 mm artillery shell he was working near exploded. The accident occurred at the Waiouru Military Camp where the New Zealand military has several active training ranges. Flight Sergeant Andrew Bruce Forster, 46, and another EOD airman were reportedly placing a stake in the ground several meters away from an old 105 mm artillery shell to mark it for disposal when it exploded. The UXO was apparently identified the previous day during a sweep of the area but no stakes or marking equipment was available at the time to mark the item. Therefore, the 27 year EOD veteran airman along with a second EOD airman were going back to mark the area with the UXO with a stake so that the disposal team could blow it in place during an upcoming disposal operation.

[More]

Camp Leatherneck, Afghanistan The Marines announced the official formation of their first EOD Company (EOD Co.) - 8th Engineer Support Battalion. The Marine Corps' EOD mission has increased significantly over the years due in part to the on-going wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. As the mission requirements have increased, so has the size of Marine Corps EOD Platoons. Marine Corps EOD Leadership has been trying for several years to establish EOD Companies throughout the Marine Corps to reflect the true size and nature of the organization. The establishment of the first Marine Corps EOD Company marks a milestone for the Marine Corps EOD program. Capt. Timothy M. Callahan has been assigned as the Commanding Officer of the newly formed Marine Corps EOD Co., 8th Engineer Battalion.

Sigonella Naval Air Station, Italy Petty Officer 1st Class Maurice Lee Quidley Jr., 36, an EOD Technician assigned to Mobile Unit 8 was killed in a motorcycle accident. A sailor for 16 years, Quidley had been assigned to Mobile Unit 8 for the past four years. During his 16 year career with the Navy, Quidley also served with Mobile Unit based in Little Creek. U.S. Navy and Italian officials are investigating the accident.

Key West, Florida A U.S. Navy EOD Dive Team from Naval Air Station Jacksonville conducted a reconnaissance and recovery mission near Boca Grande after recreational divers reported seeing munitions on the sea floor. EOD raised two ordnance in the area that were identified as inert. The Coastguard assisted in the effort by maintaining an exclusion zone around the area. Other munitions reportedly exist in the area but the EOD unit was only scoped to investigate the munitions that were reported by the divers. After the EOD operation was complete, the exclusion zone and mariner restrictions were lifted.

Okinawa, Japan An EOD Marine was killed when an unintentional explosion reportedly occurred during the preparation of a UXO disposal shot. Another Marine and a Sailor were injured during the explosion. The incident happened at the north end of Camp Hansen, a Marine Corps installation that is also used by the Japanese Ground Self Defense Force. The incident is under investigation and so far no details have been released regarding the type of UXO involved or potential cause(s) of the explosion. The names of the Marines and Sailor have also not been released.

Dales Station, California a local resident was walking through an old abandoned home site approximately 1 mile from Manton Road when he came across a munition item on the ground. The man called the Tehama County Sheriff's Office to report the finding. The sherriff's office dispatched Deputies to the site to take pictures of the item which were then emailed to the Shasta County Bomb Dispsoal Team. Since the item was military, the civilian bomb disposal team referred the call to the military EOD unit stationed at Beale Air Force Base.

[More]

Farah Province, Afghanistan Staff Sgt Daniel L. Hansen (24) a Marine EOD Technician was killed while supporting combat operations. Sgt Hansen was assigned to Marine Wing Support Squadron 171 with the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force based at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. He reportedly lost his life to a roadside IED. He deployed to western Afghanistan in October as an individual augmentee to support EOD operations. Sgt Hansen leaves behind a twin brother who is also a Marine and a fiancé. He joined the Marines in 2002 after graduating high school.

O'ahu, Hawaii An Army EOD team was called out to recover and dispose of four (4) unexploded 37mm projectiles found on Manana Island. The ordnance items were found during a recent FUDS Site Inspection (SI) effort. Manana Island, a Hawaii state bird sanctuary, is home to nesting seabirds and endangered monk seals. Although no humans live on the island, the ordnance items were determined to be hazardous to the island's natural resources and authorized personnel who monitor its wildlife.

[More]

Washington D.C. The United States Navy Memorial whose mission is to honor the men and women of the United States Navy-past, present, and future is developing a comprehensive, year-long exhibit about EOD forces that will be mounted at the Memorial's Naval Heritage Center on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC.

Thanks to a generous lead gift of $20,000 from Glenn Jones, Chairman and Chancellor of Jones University and a Navy EOD veteran, the Navy Memorial's exhibit's curator has been able to begin research and design plans for this project in anticipation of securing the necessary additional funding for the project. Your support is crucial to the success of this effort so please consider making a donation in the amount of $30-$300. Corporate sponsorship opportunities are also available for industry.

[More]