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EODMU 11 Platoon Returns After Improving Safety in Iraq

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS081030-07
Release Date: 10/30/2008 6:08:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Tucker M. Yates, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Det. Northwest

OAK HARBOR, Wash. (NNS) -- A platoon from Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 11 returned to Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island Oct. 28 after a six-month deployment to Iraq.

Platoon 11-2-2 was deployed in support of the U.S. Army 4th Brigade 10th Mountain Division in Tallil, Iraq, as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"We provided all the explosive ordnance disposal support they needed -- anything from unexploded ordnance, to caches, to enemy remnants of war, to IEDs (improvised explosive devices) -- you name it, we were the ones they called," said Lt. Scott Ray, Platoon 11-2-2 officer in charge.

Families and friends of the members of the platoon gathered at the NAS Whidbey Island Air terminal to give them a warm welcome home.

"We're taking bad stuff off the streets and making sure the children of tomorrow can live safer," said Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician 2nd Class (DV/NPJ) Ray Curtis.

The platoon disposed of a total 108 explosives, a major feat according to Ray.

"The most significant accomplishment for this platoon was the over 100,000 pounds net explosive weight that was taken care of; that's a large number, and thousands of pieces of ordnance that will never endanger coalition forces," said Ray.

Cmdr. Joseph Diguardo, EODMU-11 commanding officer, is proud of the efforts the unit's members put forth in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom.

"They set the standard across the board in all of the Department of Defense for professionalism and for EOD capability as well as leadership," said Diguardo.

Diguardo added that EOD Sailors lead the way in convoys and are first responders in almost any casualty.

"They don't cope with it; they destroy it, and I couldn't be more honored to be associated with them and get a chance to work with them," said Diguardo.

This return marks the first deployment to Iraq in the last two years that EODMU 11 has made without a casualty or fallen comrade.

"It's a sigh of relief for the psyche of the command. Breaking that really tragic cycle we've had is a huge step to helping us close the door, but certainly never forget, and move forward from what we've been through in the past two years," said Diguardo.

EODMU 11 is part of the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC). NECC includes 40,000 Sailors across the force which enable each of the six core competencies of the maritime strategy. Currently, NECC forces are deployed around the globe, supporting real-world missions, exercises and theater security cooperation activities.