SMSgt. William Eaton and TSgt. Neil Newman, both explosive ordnance disposal technicians with the 39th Civil Engineer Squadron at Incirlik AB, Turkey, have received Bronze Star Medals for their meritorious service during deployments to Iraq. Eaton, a 24-year EOD veteran, received his award June 2 for the time he spent as superintendant of the EOD flight at Joint Base Balad, where he was in charge of 30 EOD technicians. “My biggest challenge was keeping them focused,” he said. He continued, “I was there to ensure they were doing what’s necessary to come home unharmed.” Newman, an EOD airman for 16 years, accepted his Bronze Star May 29 for his actions while deployed to Kirkuk Regional Air Base as the leader of a three-person EOD team. During this time, his EOD team dealt with many harrowing incidents in sweeping for roadside bombs on patrols, including improvised explosive devices exploding nearby. (Incirlik report by SSgt. Raymond Hoy)
A provision in the fiscal 2025 defense policy bill will require the Defense Department to include the military occupational specialty of service members who die by suicide in its annual report on suicide deaths, though it remains to be seen how much data the department will actually disclose.