OAK HARBOR — Nine members of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11 are returning Tuesday to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station after serving six months of duty in Iraq, said the station’s spokeswoman Kimberly Martin.
EODMU 11 Platoon 11-2-2 left last April for Tallil, Iraq, where the unit worked under the Army’s 4th Brigade 10th Mountain Division and alongside Iraqi security forces to protect coalition forces and defuse roadside bombs.
The platoon responded to 146 calls, capturing and disposing of 108,862 pounds of explosives. They also executed seven logistics “route clearance” missions encompassing 804 miles, sometimes under harsh weather conditions, Martin said.
Lt. Scott Ray, the officer in charge of the platoon, and his enlisted team responded to 30 improvised explosive devices and 32 unexploded ordnance calls, captured three arms caches and executed 62 explosive remnants of war and two direct action missions.
“Their record of achievement and safety is incredible,” said Lt. Cmdr. Larry Parks, executive officer of EODMU 11. “The homecoming of these men means the whole EODMU 11 team will be home for the holidays, and we’re so thankful.”
In 2007, six sailors from the unit were killed during operations in Iraq.
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