For the month of August, Explosive Ordnance Disposal School remembers Staff Sgt. Eric S. Holman, Staff Sgt. Derek J. Farley, Staff Sgt. Brian E. Studer and Staff Sgt. Joshua Bowden who all died in the line of duty while deployed.

Staff Sgt. Eric Holman was a native of Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the Army in October 2003. In 2005, after a short stint as a 15D Aircraft Powertrain Repairer, Holman joined the U.S .Army Parachute Team, the Golden Knights. He was ‘knighted’ and assigned served as a demonstration parachutist with the Gold Demonstration Team from December 2005 until May 2009.

Since he started jumping in 1997, Holman logged more than 2,600 free-fall jumps, 1,000 tandem jumps, and 21 military static line jumps. In 2009, he volunteered to become an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) technician. He graduated EOD School at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, in February 2010 and returned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina, with an assignment to the 737th Ordnance Company (EOD) and later to the 767th Ordnance Company (EOD). He became a certified EOD team leader in October 2011 and deployed to Afghanistan in January 2012 with 4th Battalion, 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne). Holman was killed in action while conducting combat operations on Aug. 15, 2012. 

Read more about Holman here: https://eod-wf.org/virtual-memorial/army/ssg-eric-s-holman/

Staff Sgt. Derek John Farley died in Afghanistan on Aug.17, 2010. Farley was assigned to the 702nd Ordnance Company (EOD), 191st Ordnance Battalion, 21st Theater Sustainment Command. Farley’s team responded to a roadside bomb in Bala Boluk, Farah, Afghanistan. The improvised explosive device exploded when Farley attempted to render it safe. Farley was awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart Medal with two oak leaf clusters.

Read more about Farley here: https://eod-wf.org/virtual-memorial/army/ssg-derek-j-farley/

Staff Sgt. Brian Edward Studer was killed Aug. 22, 2008. Studer was assigned to the 720th Ordnance Company (EOD), 28th Transportation Battalion, 18th Military Police Brigade, 21st Theater Sustainment Command. Studer was supporting a Route Clearance Package when he died of wounds suffered in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan while attempting to render safe an improvised explosive device.

Read more about Studer here: https://eod-wf.org/virtual-memorial/army/ssg-brian-e-studer/

Staff Sgt. Joshua Bowden joined the Army in 2005. He was on his second deployment to Afghanistan, having been previously deployed in 2008, when he died Aug. 31, 2013. His assignment was to the 71st Ordnance Group (EOD), 242d Ordnance Battalion (EOD), 748th Ordnance Company (EOD), at Fort Carson, Colorado. Bowden died from injuries sustained in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Ghazni Province, Afghanistan.

Read more about Bowden here: https://eod-wf.org/virtual-memorial/army/ssg-joshua-bowden/