New names enshrined at annual EOD Memorial event [PHOTOS]

Approximately 500 people ventured to the EOD Memorial Wall this year, as six new names were added to the engraved lists that now contains 326 people.

EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — Dressed in the bright whites, deep blues and dense blacks of their service uniforms, Airmen, Marines, Sailors, and Soldiers came together once again May 6 to honor and remember their fallen explosive ordnance disposal brethren during the annual memorial ceremony at the Kauffman EOD Training Complex here.

Approximately 500 people ventured to the EOD Memorial Wall this year, as six new names were added to the engraved lists that now contains 326 people. The 2017 event marked the ceremony’s 48th year.

Airmen, Sailors, Marines and Soldiers salute during the presentation of the colors at the 48th Annual Explosive Ordnance Disposal Memorial Service at the Kauffman EOD Training Complex at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., May 6.

The schoolhouse’s commander, Navy Capt. Charles Andrews, welcomed the EOD technicians, family, and community to the ceremony and explained why they were drawn back to memorial each year.

“The nation will always need individuals willing to fight for a cause greater than themselves,” he said. “Today we pay tribute to 326 EOD technicians who gave the ultimate sacrifice and we pay respect to their families.”

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Kristen Dayton, widow of Senior Chief Petty Officer Scott Dayton, wipes away a tear after receiving a folded flag during the 48th Annual Explosive Ordnance Disposal Memorial Service. Dayton and other names of recent fallen and past EOD technicians are added to the memorial wall and flags presented to their families during a ceremony each year at the Kauffman EOD Training Complex.

Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. John Richardson, the ceremony’s guest speaker, shared heartfelt sentiments to the families of fallen technicians in attendance. He recounted the heartbreaking stories behind each of the new Soldiers’ and Sailors’ names added this year.

He related the words of the EOD technicians’ ethos to each of the new fallen servicemembers to be memorialized and how they lived and died fulfilling that oath.

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“No force has continually displayed the qualities of its ethos, courage, bravery, sacrifice, love of humanity and humility more than the men and women of the EOD community,” he said. “The names memorialized here welcome home of their brothers. They are the guardians of our sacred freedom.”

The family of Ensign Charles Grice see his name enshrined on the wall for the first time during the 48th Annual Explosive Ordnance Disposal Memorial Service. The all-service total now stands at 326.

Each year, a wreath is placed in front of each branch of service’s list of names before they are read aloud. After each list is completed with the phrase “We remember,” and the names are saluted by an enlisted and officer EOD member.

The families of the EOD technicians added to the wall each year receive a folded flag that was flown over the memorial.

The names added this year to the Memorial Wall were:

Army Master Sgt. Biddle Izard Jr., Army Tech. Sgt. James Eberle, Senior Chief Petty Officer Scott Dayton, Chief Petty Officer Jason Finan, Ensign Charles Grice Sr., and Seaman Robert Burr.

Chief Master Sgt. Martin Cortez and Lt. Col. Emil Rebik salute the list of lost Air Force explosive ordnance disposal technicians during the 48th Annual EOD Memorial Service.

The ceremony concluded with an honor guard rifle volley and the playing of Taps. Afterward, families and EOD technicians both past and present descended upon the Wall for pictures, to touch the engraved brass name or just remember a fallen hero.

Article and photos by Samuel King Jr., Team Eglin Public Affairs

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