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Posted on 01/11/2004 5:18:56 AM PST by snippy_about_it
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 are acknowledged, affirmed and commemorated.
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| Our Mission: The FReeper Foxhole is dedicated to Veterans of our Nation's military forces and to others who are affected in their relationships with Veterans. In the FReeper Foxhole, Veterans or their family members should feel free to address their specific circumstances or whatever issues concern them in an atmosphere of peace, understanding, brotherhood and support. The FReeper Foxhole hopes to share with it's readers an open forum where we can learn about and discuss military history, military news and other topics of concern or interest to our readers be they Veteran's, Current Duty or anyone interested in what we have to offer. If the Foxhole makes someone appreciate, even a little, what others have sacrificed for us, then it has accomplished one of it's missions. We hope the Foxhole in some small way helps us to remember and honor those who came before us.
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  THE MEANING OF THE EOD INSIGNIA THE WREATH SYMBOLIZES THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND LAURELS EARNED IN MINIMIZING ACCIDENT POTENTIALS THROUGH INGENUITY AND DEVOTION TO DUTY. IT MEMORIALIZES THOSE EOD "TECHS" WHO GAVE - OR WILL GIVE - THEIR LIVES WHILE PERFORMING EOD DUTIES THE BOMB COPIED FROM THE DESIGN OF THE WORLD WAR II BOMB DISPOSAL BADGE, REPRESENTS THE HISTORIC AND PRIMARY OBJECTIVE OF THE EOD ATTACK - THE UNEXPLODED BOMB. THE THREE FINS REPRESENT THE NAVY'S EOD FOCUS ON CONVENTIONAL, NUCLEAR, AND CHEMICAL/BIOLOGICAL ORDNANCE. THE LIGHTING BOLTS SYMBOLIZE THE POTENTIAL DESTRUCTIVE POWER OF THE BOMB AND THE COURAGE AND PROFESSIONALISM OF EOD PEOPLE IN THEIR ENDEAVORS TO REDUCE HAZARDS AS WELL AS TO RENDER EXPLOSIVE ORDNANCE HARMLESS. THE SHIELD REPRESENTS THE BASIC EOD MISSION, TO PREVENT A DETONATION AND TO PROTECT LIFE, LIMB, AND PROPERTY TO THE UTMOST.  Master EOD Shield Bomb disposal in the United States dates back to April of 1941. EOD developed as an outgrowth of the British experience with German ordnance. The British Royal Navy dismantled/recovered the first German magnetic mine on the mudflats at Shoeburyness in 1939. The United States was not yet at war, but we were actively preparing for that eventuality. Embassy personnel and military observers were reporting on the actions of warring nations and as these reports were evaluated by the War Department Intelligence Section, recommendations were made concerning actions that should be taken by the U.S. One area stood out. Delayed-explosion bombs were creating havoc in Europe, taking a heavy toll in lives and industry. It was expected that if the U.S. entered the war, we would experience bombing of our cities and industries. As a result, the need for a bomb disposal program in this country received immediate attention.  Whether it's some 1,300 naval mines in the northern Persian Gulf that frustrated U.S. plans for an amphibious assault to liberate Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm ... more than 100 million land mines "left over" from wars in 62 countries ... an armed bomb "hung up" on an aircraft onboard an aircraft carrier ... or a terrorist's "improvised explosive device" that threatens a U.S. Embassy, UNEXPLODED ORDNANCE - UXO - pose grave risks to military forces and civilians alike. The job of "rendering safe" such threats - ensuring that UXO of whatever type, origin, or age is made harmless - falls to an elite group of specialists: Explosive Ordnance Disposal - EOD - Technicians. EOD people are in all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces and many of the world's military. Only the U.S. EOD forces have the equipment, mobility, and flexibility to tackle the global spectrum of threats - from conventional ordnance to nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons - in all world environments.  Trained as Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians, divers (Navy only), demolition experts, and in some cases parachutists, these professionals guarantee the safety of people, ships, aircraft, installations, and operations wherever, whenever, and however they might be at risk from unexploded ordnance.  Whether based on shore or onboard a ship deployed to a crisis area, EOD Techs are trained and practiced in a variety of special mobility techniques ... unique capabilities underscoring the reality behind the rhetoric of "expeditionary" operations.  From arctic snows, to equatorial jungles, to desert wastes, and to the depths of the world's seas, EOD Technicians - Those Who Dare - are trained and ready to clear the way! EOD is an integral element of the Nation's expeditionary forces. The skilled men and women of EOD give the operational commanders an effective, mobile, and flexible capability to support a wide variety of operational scenarios.  The Origins of U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal By CSM James H. Clifford, 63d Ordnance Battalion (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Fort Dix, NJ Among the many developments to come out of the World War II experience, the establishment of a bomb disposal organization is one of the more interesting. Until then, the Army had no bomb disposal apparatus. The seeds of Army bomb disposal were planted out of the necessity of World War II and grew into an organization that lasts unto this day. As Europe was engulfed in war, the United States watched and planned for the inevitable day when it too would be dragged into the carnage. The handling of unexploded bombs, known at the time as UXB, was one of the most challenging problems. Before the war there was no method or organization to deal with UXB. It was a small problem usually handled by engineer squads that detonated UXB where found. Pre-World War II ordnance was simplistic in design and posed little hazard to people when it failed to detonate. As modern technology was applied to ordnance design, the task took on a higher level of hazard. Delay and anti-tamper fuzing added new complications that could only be handled by a dedicated organization specially trained in the mission of bomb disposal.  The birth of modern bomb disposal dates to the Battle of Britain in 1940. As the German Luftwaffe blitzed English cities, citizens were killed and wounded in increasing numbers by UXB. Some of these UXB were duds but many had delay fuzing designed to detonate hours later, creating the effect of a twenty-four hour bombing campaign. At first, untrained British engineers took on the task of bomb disposal. The casualty rate was high and the need for specialized training soon became obvious. The earliest bomb disposal training was conducted for all services at Melsham Royal Air Force Force Station, Wiltshire, England. In September 1941, the Royal Engineers established a formal Army Bomb Disposal School in Donnington, relocating to Harper Barracks at Ripon in January 1942. At the same time, each of the British military services established their own independent bomb disposal training to handle the specific requirements of that service. Early training and equipment were rudimentary and casualties continued to be very high. However, the casualty rate decreased as experience grew and training matured. Disposal troops developed several techniques for handling UXB, including those designed to stop clockwork timers, remove fuzes, and steam explosives out of bombs. American authorities originally planned for bomb disposal to be a civilian function. In April 1941, the Office of Civilian Defense established the Chemical Warfare School at Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland. Bomb disposal would be taught as part of the overall course of instruction at the school. The Chemical Corps asked for assistance from the Ordnance Corps located at nearby Aberdeen Proving Ground. GEN Julian S. Hatcher, commander of the Ordnance Training Center, detailed MAJ Thomas J. Kane to provide whatever assistance he could to the program. MAJ Kane is considered the father of U.S. Army Bomb Disposal, today known as Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD).  Two ideas changed the structure of what was to become U.S. Army Bomb Disposal. First was the realization that civilians could not be expected to carry out bomb disposal duties. Second was that bomb disposal was not a Chemical Corps function. Five days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the War Department assigned the Office of Civilian Defense responsibility for bomb disposal in the Zone of the Interior, and the Ordnance Department similar missions on military installations and overseas areas. The Chief of Ordnance rightly concluded in a letter to the Adjutant General that “Civilian volunteers cannot be properly trained or disciplined for this hazardous work. Every detail of delayed-action bomb disposal is hazardous in the extreme and requires the utmost in skill, caution, and discipline. Only professionals can develop the skill and experience necessary for such work.” Shortly thereafter the Office of Civilian Defense was relieved of bomb disposal responsibilities in favor of the Ordnance Department, and the idea that civilians should conduct bomb disposal activities was dropped. In January 1942, the Ordnance Department formed a bomb disposal organization at Aberdeen with now LTC Kane as the first Commandant of the Bomb Disposal School. LTC Kane and another officer immediately traveled to England along with two enlisted soldiers to learn the craft of bomb disposal from the British. A second team consisting of two officers and enlisted soldiers followed them two weeks later. At the same time, a British team led by COL Jeffrey Yates traveled to Aberdeen to begin instructing U.S. soldiers. COL Yates brought along a complete line of tools and equipment developed in England, so the first U.S. soldiers were taught British methods. The first several classes consisted solely of officers in keeping with the British model that dictated that only officers could do the delicate and dangerous work of defuzing bombs. The first enlisted men started bomb disposal training at Aberdeen in April 1942. The training included recognition of bombs, use of bomb disposal equipment, bomb excavation, and rigging.  In addition to a lack of trained personnel, there were no instructional materials available in the United States. That shortage was soon rectified by the reproduction of British training publications. In March 1942, the Signal Corps duplicated the British film UXB for use in the United States.  Some EOD humor Before long, thousands of soldiers and civilians viewed the film. Later manuals were published, including a bomb reconnaissnace manual for civilians, Ordnance Field Service Circular No. 75, Bomb Reconnaissance for All Arms, and a handbook entitled Objects Dropped from the Air. The publication of these documents and the undertaking of an instructional mission set a precedent that is still followed today. Many aspects of bomb disposal continued simultaneously throughout 1942. As training progressed, the organization of bomb disposal units proceeded. On 9 May 1942 the 231st Bomb Disposal Company became the first such unit in Army history established under basic Allowance No. 9 for Bomb Disposal Company. The 231st was sent to the Western Defense Command, one of the geographical theaters of the United States landmass. The next month the revised table of organization was approved for overseas companies.  More EOD humor At the same time, construction of the bomb disposal school at Aberdeen was completed in June. The school became a frequent stop for visiting officers and bomb disposal experts from U.S. allies, including England and Australia. Naval bomb disposal experts also visited Aberdeen from their recently established school at American University in Washington, D.C. As soldiers graduated from the school, they were assigned to companies being sent throughout the United States and all combat theaters. Some officers were detailed to the various U.S. and Allied commands as bomb disposal advisors. A regular program of support to civilian authorities was established that has continued to this day. Within a few months, bomb disposal officers were dispatched throughout the U.S. to instruct public safety and industry leaders on such subjects as bomb recognition and safety, and bomb disposal teams operated on military installations and their surrounding communities. The first recovery on an unexploded bomb occurred about this time along the Elk River in Maryland. Overseas, bomb disposal companies were unavailable for Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa in November 1942. By the invasion of Sicily in July 1943, bomb disposal soldiers were busy dealing with both Allied and Axis UXB and teaching troops the details of bomb reconnaissance. The issue of teaching troops was so important that a school for that purpose was established at Bristol, England. The school included a miniature village and a museum of UXB. Initially, instructors from the Royal Engineer School at Ripon handled the instruction, but upon their arrival in the fall of 1943, the 234th Bomb Disposal Company assumed responsibility for the school.  In March 1944, COL Kane arrived in England to become the Eighth Air Force Bomb Disposal Officer. He and his men formed the Bomb Disposal Division, a staff section designated to handle bomb disposal matters. In addition to the duties disposing UXB, they also maintained an active liaison between various military units to further the knowledge of bomb disposal. They produced a regular newsletter called Fuze News, and made such progress in the field that the British, despite being in the business for five years, adopted several American procedures and types of equipment. The chief advantage of American equipment was that it was substantially lighter than that of British bomb disposal units. The British equipment weighed nearly two tons, while the American equipment used for bomb disposal duties weighed around two hundred pounds. Throughout the war bomb disposal soldiers went about their dangerous job with courage and professionalism. Dozens of them paid the ultimate price to protect soldier and civilian alike from the ravages of the unexploded bomb. Led by COL Kane, they began a legacy that continued through World War II until today. In each of our conflicts since World War II, whether they were called police actions, peacekeeping or peace making missions, rescue missions, or war, the bomb disposal, now explosive ordnance disposal, soldier has been there.  COL Kane’s legacy is reflected in the cooperative effort that is the modern EOD community consisting of the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and Marine Corps. As soldiers trained at Aberdeen Proving Ground in World War II, sailors, and later, beginning in 1943, Marines, trained in Washington, D.C. The Navy eventually moved their school to the Naval Powder Factory in Indian Head, Maryland, in 1946, designating it the Explosive Ordnance Disposal course, which gave birth to the term used today.  The year 1947 saw two significant developments in BD/EOD history. First, the U.S. Air Force was established as an independent service, and with that airmen began EOD training. Next, the Army began sending officers and senior noncommissioned officers to the EOD School at Indian Head. Junior enlisted soldiers continued to train at Aberdeen. In 1951, the Navy was assigned joint responsibility for all EOD training, and in 1955, the Army EOD School at Aberdeen was closed. From 1955 to 1993, soldiers joined volunteers from the other services to train at Indian Head. In 1993 the EOD School began a transition into its current location. That transition lasted until 1999 when the Naval School, Explosive Ordnance Disposal, at Eglin Air Force base, Florida, was fully operational. It is there that instructors teach volunteers from each service modern EOD techniques before they join the field and fleet to apply their skills.  UXO Desert Storm Today EOD soldiers are easily recognizable by the distinctive badge worn on the uniform. Early bomb disposal soldiers did not have that symbol of excellence. The basic EOD badge was designed in 1956. The basic and Senior EOD Badges were approved by the Department of the Army the following year. The Master EOD Badge was approved by the Army in June 1969. Those badges are now the universal symbol of bomb disposal, worn by all services and copied by several civilian bomb squads and foreign military services.  Currently, most operational Army EOD soldiers are part of the 52d Ordnance Group (Explosive Ordnance Disposal). The 52d is the only active ordnance group in the Army. There are a small number of EOD soldiers in the National Guard organized under their states with the 111th Ordnance Group (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Alabama National Guard, standing ready to assume command upon mobilization. The 52d Ordnance Group (EOD) headquarters is located at Fort Gillem, Georgia. It exercises command and control of four subordinate EOD battalions and thirty-nine EOD companies located throughout the continental United States. This organization answers the call for EOD assistance thousands of times annually on both military installations and within the civilian community. Additionally, an EOD company from within the 52d Ordnance Group is deployed to Bosnia, Kosovo, and Southwest Asia on six-month rotations. At any given time, three companies are deployed, three are preparing to deploy, and three more are recovering from deployment. EOD soldiers can also be found at assignments in Germany, South Korea, the Sinai Peninsula, Hawaii, and Alaska. Selected EOD soldiers serve in training and research billets at Eglin Air Force Base; Redstone Arsenal, Alabama; and Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey. In all, there are less than 1,200 EOD soldiers and officers in the United States Army.  Danger is still an inherent part of the EOD soldier’s existence. The evidence of that can be found at the EOD Memorial located at the range complex at the EOD School. Each spring, EOD members past and present gather to commemorate the sacrifices made by the over 160 volunteers whose names are enshrined there. Unfortunately, most years require that a name, sometimes several, must be added. Each name represents an EOD soldier, sailor, airman, or marine, who lost his life in an operational or training accident, during peacetime or combat, for the sole purpose of protecting others. In 2001, the names of three EOD soldiers were added shortly after bombs mistakenly dropped on their position on a Kuwaiti range from a U.S. Navy F/A-18 killed them. Their deaths serve to remind us all that danger is to be found on any EOD mission, no matter how routine it may appear. Today, EOD soldiers are at work throughout the United States, at every overseas station, and every deployment location at great risk to their own personal safety. They, like the bomb disposal soldiers of World War II, and the organization that started from scratch in 1941, are adding an invaluable contribution to the history of the U.S. Army.  Sgt. David Jeremy of the 744th Explosive Ordnance Disposal takes aim with a .50-caliber Barrett sniper rifle. The rifle is used by EOD specialists to detonate unexploded ordnance at distances up to 1,200 meters. Explosive Ordnance Disposal in the United States was an outgrowth of the bitter experience of the British at the beginning of World War II, when the Germans, with their air power, began a demoralizing campaign against the British Isles. Tons of highly complex and dangerous mines and bombs containing unusually large explosive charges were purposely fused so as not to detonate until one to eighty hours later. At the height of the blitz, more than 2,200 separate areas with the city of London were evacuated due to unexploded bombs. In addition, large numbers of sea mines were washing ashore on Britain's beaches.  Faced with the immediate and urgent need to recover and dispose of the tremendous amount of unexploded ordnance that was disrupting their war effort, the British hastily formed the first Mine and Bomb Disposal Squads. On the night the Germans first dropped bombs with booby trap mechanisms, over twenty British Bomb Disposal personnel died. As a result of the British experience, the first U.S. Naval Mine Disposal School was established at the Naval Gun Factory, Washington, DC in May 1941. The bomb Disposal School was established the following year in January 1942, in a corner of the American University Campus also in Washington, DC. The accomplishments of the Mine and Bomb Disposal personnel trained at these schools during World War II are a matter of record. Mine and Bomb Disposal teams ranged over most of the globe: England, Normandy, North Africa, Panama, Alaska, Hawaii, Australia, Guadalcanal and New Guinea. These individuals provided detailed information on Japanese torpedoes after a series recoveries beginning at Pearl Harbor. Depth charges and mines menacing navigation were recovered or countermined in numerous heroic feats. Crashed planes and torpedoed freighters were recovered. Mine and Bomb Disposal teams were among the first to land on European and Pacific beaches, quickly clearing channels, harbors and captured air fields of mines, dud bombs, projectiles, and booby traps.  Following World War II, the U.S. Navy consolidated its mine disposal units into a single Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Program. In 1953 two major operational EOD units were commisioned in order to provide EOD services to the Fleet. Pacific Fleet EOD assets were organized at EOD Unit ONE at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii and Atlantic Fleet EOD were organized at EOD Unit TWO at Charleston Naval Base, Charleston, South Carolina. During the 1960's growth of the nuclear weapons arsenal and technological advances in surface and underwater ordnance generated the requirement for a larger and more technically competent EOD community. To meet this need, EOD Unit TWO Headquarters moved from Charleston to Fort Story, Virginia in 1968 and evolved into the present EOD Group TWO organization. In 1988, EOD Group TWO moved into it's new Headquarters at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Norfolk, Virginia. Today's U.S. Navy EOD community remains a small, elite group of volunteers. Program admission standards are high and EOD training is challenging. Academic, technical and physical fitness excellence are required throughout an EOD technician's career. The Air force began EOD training as soon as they became a separate branch of the armed forces in 1947. On 21 May 1951, the Air Force assumed explosive ordnance disposal responsibilities and assigned EOD operational duties within the Zone of Interior (ZI) to Headquarters Air Material Command (HQ AMC). Accordingly, the AMC activated its first explosive ordnance disposal squadron, effective 16 June 1952, when the 1st Ordnance Squadron, Aviation, was redesignated as the 1st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron, pursuant to authority contained in the HQ AMC General Order Number 29. Assignment was at Wright Patterson AFB, Ohio, with an authorized strength of 11 officers and 65 airmen. The 1st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron was entitled to the history, battle honors, and any colors belonging to the 1st Ordnance Squadron, Aviation, deactivated 1 October 1948. On 24 November 1953, Headquarters, 1st Explosive Ordnance Disposal Squadron at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, had eleven detachments in the United States which were responsible generally for EOD within an Air Force installation’s geographical area.      |
Very nice touch. Somehow, I don't think SMsgt Grimmet would think so.
I was stationed at an Air Traning Commend base. The epitomy of "if it moves salute it, if it doesn't paint it."
I was NCOIC of the fuel trucks. Every bloody month the motor pool had a "surprise" vehicle inspection for every duty section on base with any vehicles. Supoosed to be one day notice to allow getting it washed etc. My brass always had 2-3 weeks notice of which refuler would get inspected. That truck would get pulled out of service, and superdetailed, repainted, polished, etc.
My troops got tired of it, especially no recognition whatsoever. One month we started the whole thing again, and they got creative. we kept the truck in a shop, out of sight. the engine got painted gray, black, red and blue. The wheel hubs were done in red and black. The wheel chocks where done in red, white, blue, just like those for the Wing Commender's plane.
The truck in question was built on a Mack chassis, so had the bulldog hood ornament on it. It was already OD, so I painted the collar red with silver studs, and put some ARMY NCO stripes on it. To cap the whole thing off, we put some blue and white fuzzy dice in the cab.
Remember this is all out of sight.
Inspection day comes, I let the troops choose which guy gets to take it to the motor pool. I walk over as well. None of my brass bothered to go. Several bird colonels did, plus a lot of other folks. EVERBODY ate it up.
I rode back in the truck with the driver. We got flagged down by our brass on the way back. Seems phone calls had been made. I'm sure I'd have gotten an a$$ chewing if things had gone negatively, but my troops knew why I let them do it. That's what mattered to me.
Al Franken & Barney Frank to wed in men's room.
Gay priest Howard Dean to officiate. Bride's maid:
Yoo hoo! Al and Barney!
Workd for me as an NCO too. Never afraid to get my hands dirty and help with a job.
We used to sing that as "Hello young lovers, you're under arrest"
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