Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) is like any job in life
we all started with zero knowledge of the task and went from there
In life it is every young mans/womens dream to go off and challenge the world
some of us wanted became mechanics on nuclear weapons , others wanted to jump from air planes and some, like myself wanted to volunteer to be in EOD.

While I served in this capacity for a number of years, a year working on SLA Terrorist devices in Minneapolis Mn 70-71, over 3 years in combat in Vietnam 67-70, a year on the Dark Side 65-66, amoung others things I never thought of it as dangerous?

Keeping in mind, ordnance or bombs arenot familiar with war, when it starts or when it ends.....it is a serious business......it could be your life if you donot take the time to do it right the first time. Caution, Common Sense and being in the hands of God all serve to help!

The one thing that always stuck with me in EOD was that I had as much knowledge as the USN could give someone to stay alive. Second, was that I had a responsibility to see that everyone on the mission came home....possibly somewhat worse from the fact it was war in any case....but none the less...not from injuries or death due to doing the job "Explosive Ordnance Disposal".

I always remembered what my mother said to me "son, you may have been born poor, but, you were not born stupid." While I didnot graduate in the top of my class something in that message did not give to taking unnecessary chance....but you do take chances.

On the other hand we take chances every day.

I try to think that God intended that some rise to the call to be in EOD. It seemed to me that he felt that someone surely must have the sense and desire to reverse the causes of war and save lives....

Sometimes it means you expose your self to all f the hazards experienced by any soldier none the less and if called on, as some were, you do your best right up to the end.

The Heros are all dead this day
from confronting that which they found dangerous
being shot, shelled and burned for the way of life they knew
Im sure that if asked again they would still walk that way