President Bush visits THoTBT

[Inkblack]

I shared the pic with the buddy that was guarding convoys. He sent back this:

Captain:
EOD guys are universally respected by Soldiers/Marines. I have never heard the first disparaging remark about those guys, except to (gripe) about how long it was taking them to get there. Did I ever tell you about the British EOD team that had the robot get stuck?

Note: in the article from my previous post, it talks about the huge area these guys might have to cover -- no wonder it might take time for them to get there.

Me:
No, that sounds interesting though...

Captain:
We got stuck on the road right outside of our base (on the Iraq side) because there was a suspected IED right off the bridge going into Safwan. The British EOD is responsible for that area, and typically, took an hour to get there.

When they finally did, we were all kind of smokin' & jokin' with some of the Brit soldiers that escorted them out there. The weird thing was that we were in a relatively safe area, usually no issues whatsoever. Either way, they decided to blow the suspicious object (whatever is was) in place. The robot came out, and the EOD civilian started driving it around in a search pattern, to make sure it wasn't daisy-chained or anything.

He ended up getting one of the tracks stuck in a narrow gully, and couldn't get it out, no matter what he did. We were laughing at him, and the situation in general. He was getting really mad, but what could he do?

Finally after about 10 minutes of trying, one of the Brit EOD guys said "Eff it" and walked over to the robot and snatched it out of the gully. Than he walked back over to us, just as calm as you could be. I asked him "uh, dude, that was like 10 feet away from that IED, are you crazy"? He said, and I quote "Effin civilian contractor just wants to play with his robot. That's no IED, it's a freakin cardboard box".

Well, the robot eventually put the charge on the box, and we all backed off a good ways. He blew the charge, which sounded really weird, even to me. I looked over at the EOD guys, and the guy that had fetched the robot was pulling out a cigarette with shaking hands. I asked the other guys what was wrong. They said "did you hear that double blast"? Apparently, it WAS a real IED, which is why it sounded weird. The charge detonated a 105 mm howitzer shell buried under the box.

I'll bet that guy didn't fetch anymore robots.


I can't imagine trying to maintain the level of concentration these guys have to keep up for an entire deployment. Every time I hear stories like this it reminds me of just how serious a deployment is.

[apacheizm23]

I wanna wish you a Quick Recovery & Mad props 2 you.. Also Merry Merry Xmas to you and your Family.I have allot of respect for our Armed Forces if it wasn't for you guys we couldn't live the way we live today.. Hail Seager Get better man!!

[Aranticus]

Being a member of The Hand, and knowing that he may yet lose his leg, I'm not as receptive to humor about this as I might ordinarily be; it's still too personal and tragic, for me.

I'm sure you didn't know that, and I apologize if I came across as hostile for no apparent reason. I thought you should know why I don't have a sense of humor about this.

it was meant as a light hearted cheer, if it came out the wrong way, my apologies to everyone in THoTBT. i know how is it like, i spent 2 mths in the hospital for a disc replacement at barely 30. while i may walk now, its slowly crippling me. i tend to live life 1 step at a time now

[Bekki]

Best wishes for you friends Speedy recovery...

(Marine Corps 1986-2007)

EOD is as highly respected among Soldiers and Marines

as Corpsman and medics...

And they hold a special place in my Heart...

My father was EOD in Viet Nam.

The coordination, Training, courage, and Concetration it takes for these individuals
to do that job, just cannot be measured...

Your friend and all of those men and women have my deepest respect.

/salute

[Kindoki]

I'll withhold my partisan comments
Kudos to President Bush for taking the time to visit a wounded veteran.

seconded - not that I was offended; just the partisan comments and kudos part

[muffinlad]

I wish him a speedy recovery, and a posperous New Year!

regs,

muffinlad

[Lady_Draconus]

Best wishes and a speedy recovery. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all our service men and women overseas.

[Vallin]

I am in awe and I am humbled every time I read a story like this.

Thank you Seager.

Vallin

[cdbd3rd]

I am in awe and I am humbled every time I read a story like this.

Thank you Seager.

Vallin

Thanks for poking this thread, Val. I missed it the first time by.

We keep hearing more stories of our comrades in gaming making it back home alive, even if not unharmed. May they continue.

/Salute - Zeff, Sea, any of the rest of ya'll out there we don't hear about...


.

When I was in basic (back in '82) couple staff officers came around looking for volunteers to hop career fields. The two offered were ParaRescue, and EOD. They were offering BIG bucks for incentives, and I almost jumped for it. Almost.
*sigh*

Shoulda.

[renegade117]

We'll be prying for ya here Seagar, I wish we had more EOD types around... My battalion lost 7 men in two weeks in Camp Fallujah (NMCB-14 out of Jacksonville)... Two good friends died in the tractor I taught them how to operate because of an IED (the rest a mortar attack...cowards).You guys do us all a great service may God bless you with a speedy recovery! And gratz on the Prez visit! Don't care what anyone thinks about him( please keep in mind it is the position of President that should be respected regardless of political party especially in a time of war when the enemy is watching everything we do and if you believe it or not, they will draw strength from our turmoil so we should be united on repect at least) , he has done great by our folks in the uniform in a very unstable Middle East and me personally would rather fight toe to toe over there than get the mall where my wife and kids go blown up over here... I am out now, but instead of worrying about why we are there, lets pray for swift victory, and getting our folks healed and home, and slowing down the ever present threat of the extremist... I'll stop rambling on a touchy subject like this, just please heal up and know regardless of political opinions, we are all pulling for our brave warriors (and families) like you and yours!

[Nyvn]

From one EOD tech to another best wished for a speedy recovery.

[gillilandjoshua]

thank you for your your service saeger

[gillilandjoshua]

the seabees salute the efforts of all

[Xanstrollinoax]

Get well and may good fortune find its way to you Seager.

Asmeudues

[Fakko]

All the best to your friend. Wishing him a full and speedy recovery.

Thank you for your service to our country.

[renegade117]

the seabees salute the efforts of all

Yes we do! Good to see a fellow Bee on, you on Khyber?

[Hakushi]

No matter what the opinion can be about him, it's always a great honor when a president takes time to visit an individual. I hope he have a full recovery.