Army EOD troops destroy almost 10,000 explosives

By Walter T. Ham IV, 20th CBRNE Command Public AffairsJuly 9, 2015

Army EOD troops destroy almost 10,000 explosives
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Army EOD troops destroy almost 10,000 explosives
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Army EOD troops destroy almost 10,000 explosives
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Adam Hamasaki with the 788th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, based at Fort Campbell, Ken., yells "fire in the hole" during the explosive destruction operation on Redstone Arsenal, Ala. The 788th EOD Company eliminated almost 10,000 military... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. (Nov. 26, 2014) -- Soldiers from the 788th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company completed a large-scale explosive destruction mission here Nov. 14.

U.S. Army EOD troops from the Fort Campbell, Kentucky-based company eliminated almost 10,000 military munitions here, the headquarters post for U.S. Army Material Command and Aviation and Missile Command.

During the month-long operation, Army EOD technicians destroyed 9,736 munitions that had a combined weight of 15,531 pounds.

Capt. Taylor Downs, commander of the 788th EOD Company, said a platoon-sized element with three EOD teams completed the mission.

Downs said his Soldiers destroyed a wide variety of explosives that were no longer needed for testing.

"[We destroyed] everything from ordnance fuses to full up guided missiles," said Downs, a Millis, Massachusetts, native who served in Afghanistan.

The 788th EOD Company is part of 184th EOD Battalion, 52nd EOD Group, 20th CBRNE Command (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives). Headquartered on Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, 20th CBRNE is the U.S. Department of the Defense's only formation that combats CBRNE threats around the world.

In addition to enabling U.S. military operations around the globe, 20th CBRNE Command troops support civil law enforcement officials in the United States. During fiscal year 2014, 20th CBRNE EOD technicians responded to more than 2,000 EOD incidents across the nation.

According to Downs, the 788th EOD Company handles EOD incidents in Tennessee, Alabama and parts of Kentucky.

Downs said the Redstone Arsenal mission was conducted in coordination with Aviation and Missile Command and Redstone Arsenal safety and range control personnel.

"It was an expansive cooperation effort," said Downs.

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