EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — Explosive ordnance disposal technicians, military families, and service members gathered recently at the Kauffman EOD Training Complex for the 57th Annual EOD Memorial ceremony honoring fallen EOD personnel, according to Eglin Air Force Base officials.
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The annual ceremony, held on National EOD Day, recognized the 345 names engraved on the memorial wall at the Eglin training complex. No new names were added this year.
Airmen, Marines, Sailors, and Soldiers attended the May 2 ceremony after heavy rain cleared shortly before it began.
Navy Capt. Michael Dalrymple, commandant of the Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal, welcomed attendees and reflected on the significance of the annual gathering.
“Behind each and every one of the 345 names enshrined here is a story,” said Capt. Dalrymple.
“It extends across our EOD history, and their sacrifice spans the globe, killed both in support of the EOD mission in combat or the training that prepared them to face it.”
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“We cannot fully comprehend the depth of each loss, nor can we completely repay what has been given, but we can honor their legacy and promise to never forget their bravery, courage and sacrifice,” Capt. Dalrymple concluded.
Acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, a 2001 graduate of the EOD schoolhouse and former EOD diving officer, served as the ceremony’s guest speaker.
“There’s a saying in our community that an EOD member dies twice,” said Mr. Cao.
“The first time when your heart stops beating and you take your last breath. The second time is when your name is no longer spoken. We return here every year to call out each name, so these brave EOD technicians never die a second time.”
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“We honor warriors who walked the long, lonely path toward danger so others could live,” said Mr. Cao. “They didn’t do it for glory, fame, or medals. They did it because the mission demanded it—and because lives depended on it.”
Following the remarks, representatives from each branch of service presented wreaths while the names of fallen EOD servicemembers were read aloud, followed by the words, “We remember.”
After the ceremony, families and current and former EOD technicians gathered at the memorial wall to reflect and honor fallen comrades.
