Stephen Phillips

EOD Prep

2012-01-30T17:00:00.000-08:00

I'm often asked, "What should I do to prepare for EOD school?" What the candidate or "wanna-be" usually really means is, "I'm running, swimming, and lifting...but what secret, what gouge can you give me to ensure I'm doing everything possible. My recommendation?

Official Navy Photo: Bay Swim at Naval Diving Salvage Training Center

Swim with fins.

One of the most challenging parts of the diving curriculum are bay swims whether in Alligator Bayou (yes, it's named that for a reason...it is Florida folks) or Saint Andrews Bay. Why? Because the time/distance requirement is daunting. You have to be able to swim straight and fast. This requires an efficient stroke and accurate navigation.

To prep, buy a set of booties and fins. Practice swimming using only your legs. The technique requires one to kick from the hip, not the knee. After a few times practicing, the technique is easily mastered. Then, build up speed and stamina.

For open bay swims, navigation is another important aspect. Fine a "line" on the shore, like to trees, and use it as a range to keep you on track. In other words, if you keep the two trees lined up, you'll be swimming straight, and thus a shorter distance leading to a faster time.

MOST IMPORTANT: Always train with a safety observer.

HOOYA!

Moving forward while looking back. "Angel" by Arnold Jansen op de Haar

2012-01-08T05:58:00.001-08:00

After winning the lottery, Tijmen Klein Gildekamp has anormal reaction. He takes off. Tijem and his girlfriend, a masseuse namedAngel, run from everyday life or is it from their past?

Readers who identified with Tijmenin Arnold Jansen op de Haar’s King ofTuzla will enjoy catching up with him, but Angel does not feel like a sequel. In fact, an underlying theme isthat Tijmen seems to be wrestling with his identity, but he starts by recognizingthat he is focusing on a post-Bosnia Tijmen. Still, he and Angel both look totheir families past to discover connections in the Dutch underground, and inAngel’s case, with German collaborators. Together they reach a point ofrecognition, an understanding, perhaps even an enlightened view that who theyare in the here and now is what matters most. It is clear they could succeed infinding happiness, if only the rest of the world, perplexed editorsand former boyfriends, would leave them alone.

Jansen op de Haar continues todemonstrate a rare talent of writing succinctly, yet with impact. His chaptersare short, but they draw the reader in and keep one moving through the story.The most refreshing aspect of Angelis that like Tijmen, one can sense they are reading Jansen op de Haar again,his voice is recognizable, but Angeldoes not feel like the same formula revisited, as is sometimes common amongauthors today. Angel makes a niceedition for those who enjoy books of romance, adventure, and self-reflection.

EOD Bomb Suit Mile

2011-12-13T17:42:00.000-08:00

EOD classes are often encouraged to participate in a fundraiser for the EOD Memorial, Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation, or some other worthy cause. Class 11-360-N will conduct a EOD Bomb Suit Mile to draw attention to and funds for the latter.

I highly recommend supporting this worthy cause. They can be followed on facebook, and EODbombsuitmile.org.

Publishing Announcement: The Recipient's Son

2011-12-06T04:47:00.000-08:00

I am pleased to announce that the Naval Institute Press will publish my second novel, The Recipient's Son, in September 2012. It is a novel about the son of a Medal of Honor Recipient who attends the U.S. Naval Academy. I will post updates here, and can be followed on my page on facebook; https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephen-Phillips/49005121492

Intelligence collection in its most visceral form.

2011-10-18T04:13:00.000-07:00

Interrogation represents intelligence collection in its most visceral form. Sitting in “the box” with one’s enemy, maintaining composure and decorum, all while outwitting them to the point that they provide valuable information against their will requires the skills of a chess master combined with a thespian. It is clear after reading The Black Banners that former FBI Agent Ali Soufan embodies this ability and more.

A Lebanese-American assigned to the FBI’s counterterrorism office in New York
City, Soufan was pivotal as an interrogator for many investigations in the
war with al Qaeda to include the East Africa Embassy bombings, the attack on USS Cole, and 9/11. In fact, Soufan was in Yemen on 9/11 conducting the Cole investigation, and collected the first intelligence that proved al Qaeda was responsible for 9/11.

The Black Banners describes many interrogations that are reminiscent of other great books on the subject such as The Interrogators by Chris Mackey and Greg Miller and How to Break a Terrorist by Matthew Alexander. Like Alexander, Soufan provides detailed and convincing commentary on Enhanced Interrogation Techniques (read: waterboarding and the like) versus The Informed Interrogation Approach. This alone makes his work an important book for all who work in the intelligence field.

Soufan’s book is equally valuable for its study of Al Qaeda itself. While it is not as informative as other examples that focus primarily on the terror group, like The Looming Tower by Lawrence Wright, it serves as a great companion to such works.

The Black Banners is an important study of an American patriot and his invaluable service to our nation. It should serve as an addition to any student of modern history, and of course, military and intelligence enthusiasts.

Thank you, Mr. Soufan.

Run out the guns!

2011-09-26T18:59:00.000-07:00

Thorough research mixed with superior writing is the mark of Steve Maffeo. He has followed his non-fiction works, Most Secret and Confidential and Seize, Burn, or Sink with an informative and entertaining age-of-sail novel. The Perfect Wreck is an account of USS Constitution and HMS Java during the War of 1812. Maffeo used a considerable number of historical documents to ensure incredible accuracy, and includes a glossary that will respond to most anticipated queries. Most important is that The Perfect Wreck is a great read.

Maffeo’s style is reminiscent of both C.S. Forester’s Horatio Hornblower series, and Michael Shaara’s The Killer Angels. Like Forester, Maffeo’s discussion of the ships’ design, details of their outfitting, dramatization of the daily routine, and descriptions of their sailing techniques is educational, without becoming too dry. In a manner similar to Shaara, he takes the reader from officers and crew on Constitution to Java and back again, humanizing them, solidifying the reader’s understanding of the age, and effectively building tension as the battle approaches. To be sure, the conflict between Java and “Old Ironsides” is not the book’s only engagement: like any good age of sail novel, the guns are run out numerous times. Here Maffeo really excels, providing a taste of battle with a perspective from the topgallants to the surgeon’s cabin.

Any fan of the age of sail or historical fiction should add The Perfect Wreck to their collection. It should be mandatory reading for any bluejacket.

Cold War Undersea: Book Review of "Blind Man's Bluff," and "Project Azorian."

2011-07-17T12:04:00.000-07:00

Many chapters of the Cold War were unseen and unknown to the general public. Among the most secret operations were those conducted undersea by the U.S. Navy’s submarine force. In Blind Man’s Bluff: The Untold Story of American Submarine Espionage, Sherry Sontag and Christopher Drew tell tales derived from interviewing submariners that include technological marvels and unparalleled courage.

Before reading this book, most have a perception of the submarine force consisting of two main missions, attack subs to find and destroy the enemy at sea, and ballistic missile boats, or “boomers,” that serve as part of America’s Strategic Nuclear Triad. Others may be aware that submarines have been employed to deliver UDTs and are used to transport SEALs and their Seal Delivery Vehicles (SDVs). Blind Man’s Bluff describes missions that were equally secretive, but that focused on intelligence collection, such as USS Halibut deploying saturation divers to tap into Soviet underwater telephone cables, or the secret mission to raise the downed Soviet submarine, K-129. Through each story the reader becomes acutely aware of the dangers, the skill, and the sacrifice and those in the “Silent Service.” Blind Man’s Bluff is an important read for any fan of naval or military history.

Norman Polmar and Michael White discuss the raising of K-129 in greater detail in a book and companion documentary that focuses on the subject entitled Project Azorian: The CIA and the Raising of the K-129.

The whole project includes three major steps. First, find K-129 and determine if its condition was such that it could be salvaged in order to obtain intelligence in the form of details about Soviet submarine design, construction of nuclear weapons, and codebooks or other cryptological material. USS Halibut, an intelligence asset employed underwater cameras to pinpoint K-129s location three miles below the ocean surface. The photos revealed that the sub was salvageable. Next, a ship needed to be constructed that could raise the submarine. The bulk of Project Azorian describes in interesting detail the planning and construction of the Hughes Glomar Explorer, complete with lifting cables, a capture vehicle, and a “moon pool” to house the submarine once retrieved. Howard Hughes allowed one of his corporations to act as a front for the U.S. government to at least reduce Soviet suspicion of the ship’s actual mission. Publically, Glomar Explorer was trying to mine the ocean floor for manganese. Finally, the submarine and its contents were analyzed to derive as much intelligence value as possible.

By highlighting this whole effort, Project Azorian serves as an important book on Cold War history. It is recommended for intelligence analysts and sailors alike as well as any fan of engineering marvels.

Bomb Patrol on G4TV

2011-06-15T17:26:00.000-07:00

Game Reviews - E3 2011

Only one word to describe this - HOOYA.

Hero: A valuable, detailed biography of T.E. Lawrence.

2011-06-05T15:50:00.001-07:00

T.E. Lawrence is a fascinating historical figure whose life is often blurred between fact and fiction. This may be because Lawrence himself would simultaneously step into the limelight, while denying his own identity. He was a shapeshifter, “Lawrence of Arabia” one moment, Aircraftman First Class T.E. Shaw the next. Those around him went along with the ruse, like a Tony Clifton audience sans nicotine and alcohol, hoping he would revert to Colonel Lawrence, “the uncrowned King of Arabia” before the act was over. Michael Korda sifts through this, Lawrence’s interesting and confusing life, in the aptly-titled biography, Hero.

Korda starts with a description of Lawrence’s World War I service, his eighteen months leading the Arabian revolt against the Turks. The detail here is enough that someone who is unfamiliar with Lawrence will begin to realize why his actions were studied by Mao and Che Guevara, and remain important scholarship for unconventional warriors today. Hero then starts at the proverbial beginning, chronicling Lawrence’s childhood and college years where his intelligence, endurance, and quirkiness all combined to form this unique character. Most enjoyable are Korda’s description of Lawrence Oxford years, especially his study of archeology in Egypt, Turkey, and throughout the rest of what is today’s Middle East that made him so familiar with the various tribes, cultures, and dialects and thus invaluable to British efforts against the Turks.

Hero thoroughly covers the revolt in the desert, quoting at times from Lawrence’s own work on the subject, The Seven Pillars of Wisdom. Korda adds his own insight into some of the actions, and the geopolitical fencing between the French and British as they determined the lines to be drawn in this new territory vis-à-vis the Sykes-Picot agreement. He also includes a much appreciated discussion of Lawrence’s role as the advisor to Prince Faisal in the post-war talks.

Like Lawrence’s college years, Korda thoroughly covers the years when he sought anonymity while simultaneously publishing Revolt in the Desert and The Seven Pillars of Wisdom. It is most curious that Lawrence would develop long friendships with the likes of Winston Churchill and Bernard and Charlotte Shaw (whose name adopted as his nom de guerre), while serving in the enlisted ranks as means to avoid attention. He even surreptitiously attended Lowell Thomas’ performance in London of With Allenby in Palestine and Lawrence in Arabia, likely reveling in the tale while hoping nobody noticed him.

The whole account is a valuable addition to any library, but especially those who appreciate history and T.E. Lawrence in particular. Korda should be most commended for the aforementioned sections on Lawrence’s college and post-war years as they provide insight into the man not commonly found elsewhere.

EOD Book Review: Bomb Hunters - In Afghanistan with Britain's Elite Bomb Disposal Unit

2011-04-28T17:24:00.000-07:00

Bomb Disposal within Taliban Crosshairs:
IEDs are the weapon of choice for terrorists and insurgents from Afghanistan to Ireland. Among the best in the business of defusing these horrific devices are the Ammunition Technical Officers of the British Army’s Royal Logistic Corps. Commonly called “ATOs,” they are the equivalent of what Americans refer to as Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians or “EOD Techs.”

In Bomb Hunters, former British para-turned journalist Sean Rayment tells the story of Royal Engineer Search Teams (REST) that locate IEDs, the “bleeps” that jam the electronic spectrum to prevent radio-controlled detonations, the ATOs who take “the long walk” to disrupt, defuse, or render safe IEDs, and the weapons intelligence specialists who collect post-blast information that can lead to the bomber or bomb-maker. Rayment specifically focuses on counter-IED efforts in Helmand province in Afghanistan based on several visits there between August 2008 and March 2010.

Rayment relays in vivid detail the challenges of bomb disposal while enveloped in unbearable heat and operating – literally – within Taliban crosshairs. The heroism described through Bomb Hunters, including one ATO disarming IEDs with one hand after his dominant hand is broken, and the somber remembrance of several ATOs who made the ultimate sacrifice, will humble any reader. The book also includes several accounts of direct action between British soldiers and the Taliban before, during, after, and outside of counter-IED operations. Perhaps Rayment’s most salient and interesting account is not of bomb disposal, but of a sophisticated ambush derived from the British study and analysis of Taliban tactics vis-a-vis medical evacuations via helo.

Bomb Hunters is another important book on the war on terrorism that will prove invaluable to soldiers, historians, and the friends and family of disposaleers who served so honorably in Helmand Province.

Spike TV looking for former U.S. Navy EOD

2011-04-14T03:44:00.000-07:00

As the old jodie goes, "Feeling fine and looking good, I outta be in Hollywood."

Former U.S. Navy EOD Techs interested in joining a show on Spike TV, read below.

"Hi Stephen-

My name is Jennifer and I’m one of the casting producers for a new TV show “Most Lethal.” It’s a great show that will feature the World’s Best Special Forces Operatives in an array of combat challenges. We’re looking for operators who are currently INACTIVE, physically and mentally strong, and great with weapons. Please find our casting info attached in this email. I came across a number of articles about you online, and I would love the chance to talk with you more about the show.

In addition, this show has proven to be difficult to cast, as we are looking for the most elite SOF operators—which is a small group combined with the fact that they are extremely private. I’d appreciate *anything* you could do to help us spread the word to members of this elite community. If you know any men/women that I just described, please pass along my email/contact info.

For additional questions or to recommend a particular person, please call me at 818.728-4131.

Thank you for your time.

Jennifer Dyal

Casting Associate

Spike TV "Most Lethal"

818.728.4131 w

jdyal@grbtv.com "

Two EOD Recruiting Videos from the 1970s.

2011-03-28T16:53:00.000-07:00

Proximity available on iBooks

2011-01-28T03:18:00.000-08:00

Proximity: A Novel of the Navy's Elite Bomb Squad is now available for Apple platforms through iBooks. Look for it now for your iPhone, iPad, or iTouch.

"So, you wanna go EOD,"...an EOD Book Round-up

2011-01-27T10:58:00.000-08:00

A master chief twin-pin (read SEAL & EOD qualified - an increasingly rare breed) from EOD Mobile Unit Two assembled a group of EOD and SEAL "wanna-bes" on the pool deck near SEAL TEAM TWO's compound onboard Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia. They were about to begin a physical screening test for EOD or Naval Special Warfare starting with the first step, the 500yd swim.

Before they began the master chief asked a question. "Who knows who Draper Kauffman was?"
Only one candidate who stuck out his hand.
"Sir?"
"Draper Kauffman is the father of the Navy EOD and Special Warfare communities, Master Chief."
"That's right, sir. Hooya."
The master chief asked a few more questions about Rear Admiral Kauffman. The lieutenant was able to answer most of them.
"All of you should know about Draper Kauffman. It is important to understand the heritage of this community, where we came from," the master chief announced to the whole group. "All of you need to get up to speed with the lieutenant here."

Next, the master chief went down the line asking each sailor what his scores on the test were going to be. Some expressed that they had no idea, as he got closer in line to the lieutenant, others started guessing.
"Sir?"
"I'm going to swim in about 8:58, Master Chief. I will max push-ups and sit-ups at 100 each, then get eight to ten pull-ups, followed by around 11 minutes on the run."
The scores that the lieuntenant announced we good, but not stellar. He was certain others in the group would have more pull-ups and a much faster run time.
"Sir, that's pretty specific. How do you know those will be your scores?"
"Because I perform the EOD screening test myself every Friday afternoon in preparation.
"Hooya."

The lieutenant has made a positive impression upon the master chief. As a result, the second part of his interview ended before it started. The EOD officer who was assigned ot interview him to ascertain his suitability for EOD said words to the effect, "Master Chief already told me you've got the gouge and that you are serious about this community. As a result, you are going to get the highest recommendation from me."

The lesson learned from this yarn is that many are attracted to the EOD/NSW communities, but few demonstrate serious commitment. They talk a lot about the warfare pins, the social life, the machismo. The lieutenant's actions portrayed someone who had researched the EOD community thoroughly and prepared seriously to apply. It made a lasting impression.

I employed this same technique when interviewing EOD candidates. My first question would always be "Who was Draper Kauffman?" Those who knew and could tell me more about the community they were applying for got my highest recommendations for EOD school or BUD/S. For those that did not, I recommended that they do some research and find out more about the community.

The best book available to learn about Draper Kauffman and the origin of the EOD community is America's First Frogman, The Draper Kauffman Story by Elizabeth Kauffman Bush. I reviewed it here on this blog and on Amazon. This is the first book anyone should read who wants to be an EOD Tech or a SEAL.

A Cold War Story by Jim Conkey is a novel about Navy EOD that takes place in the 1950's. I've also reviewed it on this blog and on Amazon. This also provides invaluable insight into the U.S. Navy EOD community's heritage.

The third book I'd recommend for those who want to learn about the U.S. Navy EOD community is The Day We Lost the H-Bomb by Barbara Moran. This is a true account of a B-52 crash and the loss of four nuclear weapons in 1966. One of the key figures is a legend in Navy EOD, Commander "Red" Moody. Add this to your required reading list if you wanna be a crab-wearer.

It is equally important to understand the EOD world today, what it means to serve as an EOD Tech in the global war on terrorism. Currently, there are not many good books about American forces conducting EOD, but there are two that cover our UK brethren. They are Eight Lives Down by Major Chris Hunter and Red One: A Bomb Disposal Expert on the Front Line by Capt Kevin Ivison. Again, I've written detailed reviews on this blog and on Amazon. Note that in the British Army tradition, EOD Techs come from the logistics corps and are called "Ammunition Technical Officers" or "ATOs."

Much of the modern counter-IED techniques evolved from ATOs' efforts battling the IRA in the Northern Ireland conflict they called, "The Troubles." There are also several good books on this subject. In particular, I recommend A Special Kind of Courage by Chris Ryder and The Longest Walk by Peter Birchall. The are both excellent sources of historical accounts of valor by British ATOs in Northern Ireland and other theaters. I've also reviewed these through this blog and on Amazon.

For all those who seek to become an EOD Tech - get in physical shape - but also start with the lessons learned and the history encompassed on these pages to ensure you're on the right track.

EOD Book Review - RED ONE: A Bomb Disposal Expert on the Front Line by Captain Kevin Ivison, GM

2011-01-19T14:58:00.000-08:00

In Iraq and Afghanistan soldiers have displayed countless acts of courage, and demonstrated immeasurable heroism. Through his autobiography, RED ONE: A Bomb Disposal Expert on the Front Line, Captain Kevin Ivison reminds us that courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to overcome it, and heroism occurs not only during one’s service, but in the sacrifices endured long after it.

Ivision, a British Ammunition Technical Officer or “ATO” – the UK’s term for Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians – deployed for four months to Northern Ireland followed by four months in Al Amarah, Iraq. While there, he and his unit defused improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by day and endured indirect fire by night.

An IED attack against a convoy of paratroopers at a spot in Al Amarah the Brits called “Red One” became the defining moment in Ivision’s deployment. He was called to render safe a “secondary,” an explosive formed penetrator (EFP) that was not triggered, within sight of two fallen Paras before the force could safely extract. He did so while an angry mob threw rocks at the security cordon and a sniper took shots at them. To make matters worse, his EOD robot and the team’s electronic jamming equipment were inoperable. Ivision defused the IED with his wits alone. He was subsequently awarded the George Medal, second only to the Victoria Cross.

Upon returning to his parent command, Ivision soon discovered that he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder or “PTSD.” His initial cries for help, including reaching out to medical personnel, went unheeded. As a result, his struggle back to normalcy was almost as arduous as combat on Red One…and maybe a continuation of it.

This is the one of the rawest books about the war in Iraq from a man who served there in the most dangerous of professions. It is recommended reading for all who serve in combat arms, and especially those who are or seek to be disposaleers.

Jones International and the Navy Memorial

2011-01-08T15:13:00.000-08:00

Jones International University was founded by Glenn R. Jones, a former U.S. Navy EOD Officer. They sponsored the EOD exhibit at the Navy Memorial and the event last October, "Navy EOD, Then and Now." I was honored to be a panelist at that event.

Now, they've released a video to advertise the exhibit and honor the Navy's EOD community. I'd like to simply say, "Thank You, JIU!"

Stephen Phillips: Highlights of 2010

2010-12-28T10:13:00.000-08:00

2010 was a busy year for me as an author. In case you missed it in earlier posts, here is a summary with links to some of my favorite interactions with fans, friends, and the EOD community.

January: Book signing at Wounded EOD Warrior Polar Bear Plunge

April: Book signing at Global EOD Conference

June: Inaugural cover of Dispatches

August: Interview on Blogtalk Radio Show, Elemental Musings

September: Published "A Remembrance of 9/11" in Small Wars Journal

October: Interview on Midrats, Episode 40

Panel member at Navy Memorial for "Navy EOD, Then and Now."

November: Proximity released on Nook and Kindle

Hopefully, Proximity will soon be available as an iBook and on other eBook platforms such as the Sony eReader.

I am thankful for such a productive year. I hope that all my readers are similarly blessed in 2011.

HOOYA!

- Steve

Intelligence Book Review: Balancing Three Personas in "Son of Hamas."

2010-11-30T13:31:00.000-08:00

It is important to understand the Arab-Israeli conflict, for it is at the literal and figurative center of religious and political strife today. Son of Hamas give the reader a ground view of this conflict from 1987 to 2007 through the eyes of its author, Mosab Hassan Yousef. His perspective is a unique one, for not only is Yousef the first born son of one of founders of Hamas, he became an intelligence asset of the Shin Bet - Israel’s internal security service. Balancing these two whether patrolling the streets of Ramallah or incarcerated in the Israeli prison system was daunting and dangerous. Keeping up his two personas became even more complicated when Yousef was introduced to, and eventually converted to Christianity.

Son of Hamas is an important book for those who are interested in intelligence, particularly human intelligence, and an imperative for any studying international relations or security issues. A well written account with Ron Brackin, it is a quick read and will provide invaluable anecdotes of the human condition that can be referred to again and again.

How to Publish an eBook in Four Easy Steps

2010-11-16T18:44:00.000-08:00

Proximity is now available as an eBook for the Amazon Kindle and Barnes and Noble Nook platforms. It is self published in both formats.

There are four simple steps to self publish an eBook.

1. Obtain an International Standard Book Number (ISBN) through Bowker via the their website myIdentifiers. Details on pricing, etc. are contained there. A separate ISBN is needed for each eBook format, so I recommend buying a block of 10 if you plan to publish more than one book or any single book in more that one format.

2. Format your book for the eBook platforms it will be distributed on/through. The two most common formats are ePub, which is used by iBooks (Apple), the Barnes and Noble Nook, the Kobo, and others. DTP is used by the Amazon Kindle.

   a. You can format from MS Word and other common formats using tools available online. I was unable to find any that produced a product that met my expectations for quality.

   b. There are many companies that will format a manuscript in MS Word or other file types into ePub/DTP. I used and thus recommend eBook Architects.

3. Establish an account with the online distributor. To date I've used Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and iBooks. they can be found at:

   a. Amazon Digital Text Platform.

   b. Apple iTunes Connect. (Requires a Mac computer to download iTunes producer software).

   c. Barnes and Noble PubIt!

4. Follow the steps in each to upload and distribute your files. Make sure you note the following:

    a. Read the directions and agreement in each carefully.

    b. Ensure that you have all the necessary rights to publish the work.

    Good luck!

Proximity Now Available for Nook Platforms

2010-11-16T17:59:00.000-08:00

Proximity is now available for Nook platforms.

Proximity Now Available for Kindle Platforms

2010-11-10T04:27:00.000-08:00

Proximity: A Novel of the Navy's Elite Bomb Squad is now available for Kindle platforms. Visit the Kindle Store on Amazon.com.

Dedication for the Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Bronze Relief

2010-11-01T05:08:00.000-07:00

There are several bronze reliefs at the Navy Memorial commemorating various aspects of naval service. The EOD plaque was added on April 18, 2000. For this event the Reverend M. Cary Kauffman gave the invocation. It was:

"Divine Spirit -

In a world that contains turmoil and chaos, conflict and evil, the world and especially its children are bless that some men and women are and have been willing to risk their lives to make the world safer.

We are blessed by their example of courage and talent and commitment.

We are blessed by their believe that they can out-think the enemy and outwit the surprises that nature can provide.

We are blessed by their kindness and generosity.

We are even blseed by their sometimes outrageous sense of humor; for without it, they probably could not do what they do.

We are blesses by those who train and support these women and men through their long arduous and continual training.

We are blessed by those who lead them, helping to keep them motivated, trained, and in good order.

Divine Spirit, we are also blessed by those who have come before them, who then, as now, often had to dispose of dangerous explosives - as much through intuition and luck, as through skill, knowledge, and teamwork - and who then tired to understand and pass on the skills and knowledge that produced that intuition and luck.

We are blessed by the staff, the alumni and the families and the friends who rpovide the support and environment in which these men and women can do their jobs,

and - we are blessed by the talents of the sculptor and those who produced the sculpture and the efforts of those who enabled this event to happen today.

May we who are here and those who see this memorial be touched by the example of these men and women and inspired to live out lives more fully and more committed to bettering this world.

Amen, Shalom, Salaam...May it be so."

Navy EOD, Then and Now on Video

2010-10-28T14:16:00.000-07:00

On October 13, 2010 I was honored to join the panel "Navy EOD, Then and Now" at the Navy Memorial. It was filmed by EFXTV. The event was is available for viewing in 8 parts on Navy TV.

Navy EOD: A Blast Through The Years

2010-10-28T09:35:00.000-07:00

Jerome Mapp wrote a nice piece about the Navy Memorial's event "Navy EOD, Then and Now," for which I served as a panelist. Jerome shares his own experience of working with EOD Technicians. The article can be found in its entirety here: "Navy EOD: A Blast Through The Years."

The Navy Frogmen on Navy TV

2010-10-26T16:13:00.000-07:00

Check out this old UDT recruiting film, on NavyTV.

From the website, "Made in 1957, this Navy recruiting film showcases the precursors to today's Navy SEALs, the UDTs or Underwater Demolition Teams. UDTs conducted beach reconnaissance, cable and net cutting and explosive destruction of underwater obstacles."

Stephen Phillips on Midrats Episode 40 to celebrate the Navy's Birthday on October 10th.

2010-10-07T16:27:00.000-07:00

U.S. Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal Relief from the Navy Memorial, Washington, DC.

On October 10th I'll join hosts CDR Salamander and EagleOne on their Navy Birthday episode of Midrats. Commander Kirk Lippold, the commanding officer of USS Cole (DDG-67) when she was attacked in Aden, Yemen on 12 October 2000, will be their first guest at 5:00pm. I'll follow at about 5:30pm.

I look forward to talking with these famous naval bloggers about Navy EOD!

Navy EOD, Then and Now

2010-10-01T17:27:00.000-07:00

On the Navy's birthday, October 13, Stephen Phillips will join the panel at the Navy Memorial Event, Navy EOD Then and Now.

From the Navy Memorial website:

"The Hurt Locker gave the public an intimate look at the Army's bomb disposal experts, but few know that the Navy has a long history of defusing mines at sea and bombs ashore for the fleet and Marines.

Join the Navy Memorial and Jones International University® as we host a panel of Navy EOD veterans past and present sharing the stories and challenges faced by today's Navy EOD professionals, as well as the legacy and lessons of their predecessors, Navy frogmen and UDTs."

A Remembrance of 9/11

2010-09-11T02:30:00.000-07:00

Americans will never forget 9/11. One U.S. Navy EOD Technician’s account of the events at Ground Zero is presented to solemnly recall what happened on that day.

Thanks to Jim Prewitt for trusting me with this story and Small Wars Journal for giving me the space to tell it.

A Remembrance of 9/11

Book Review: A soldier-poet's memoir of Bosnia - King of Tuzla by Arnold Jansen op de Haar

2010-09-07T05:35:00.000-07:00

Peacekeeping and stability operations present the solider with challenges that are in the moment tactical, but return later on an emotional front. Arnold Jansen op de Haar describes this viscerally in his debut novel, King of Tuzla. The “King” is Captain Tijmen Klein Gildekamp, commanding officer of a company of Dutch Grenadiers deployed to Bosnia in the Muslim dominated city of Tuzla, specifically to secure the international airport so that humanitarian aid can flow into the region.

Tijmen wrestles with his assignment, and thus his identity as an elite Dutch “red beret,” as he faces the visceral ordeal of ethnic war. Jansen op de Haar includes the Bosnian Muslim point of view through a number of characters which strengthens the reader’s understanding of Tijmen’s experience. This is supported by an interesting literary device, as the second half of King of Tuzla, which covers the hardest part of Tijmen’s deployment, is relayed a year later as one of Tijmen’s comrades reviews the officer’s diary. It is as if what Tijmen has seen is so horrible, it cannot even be shared directly with the reader.

Though written as prose, the author’s talent as a poet can be felt in many lines. Translated into English, his style seems initially ethereal, but then it suddenly grabs you, pushing one right into the armored vehicle, or next to sandbags in the mud. Thus, King of Tuzla tells the story of service in the Balkans vividly, as only a soldier who served there can relay. King of Tuzla is a must for the library of any military enthusiast or historian.

MWSA on Elemental Musings

2010-08-28T20:10:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Bev Walton-Porter and my fellow Military Writers Society of America authors for a great show on Elemental Musings. If you missed it, you can listen via this link.

Navy EOD on TV

2010-08-27T04:13:00.000-07:00

Navy EOD Techs will be highlighted on television this September, and next spring.

First, Navy EOD will be on the Discovery Channels show, "Surviving the Cut." Details from the channel's website reads:

"Navy EOD Final Certification
Premieres: Wednesday, 9/15 at 10PM e/p
Navy Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians or EOD are the only explosives and bomb specialists qualified for special operations. Before a Navy EOD team can go to war with Special Forces, they must go through one final test. Like the job itself, it's all-or-nothing training: A five-day, non-stop series of high stress missions. Make the wrong move, allow fatigue or distraction to take over and the entire team will fail. The team that survives the cut stays together as a certified special ops team."

More episodes are highlighted on the webpage episode guide.

Second, James Hibbard reported on "The Hollywood Reporter" that Navy EOD will be the subject of a reality show on G4 this spring. From his article:

"The show's producers...secured a special agreement with the U.S. Navy to follow an Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit. The show will cover the unit's training sessions in the States and its deployment for several months in Afghanistan."

[U.S. Navy photo by Journalist Seaman Joe Ebalo]

CBS Highlights USMC EOD/ Engineers

2010-08-20T18:07:00.000-07:00

A story about USMC EOD Techs on CBS News that needed to be told. I will pray for the fallen. [4:09]

Intelligence Book Review - Presidents' Secret Wars by John Prados

2010-08-17T04:08:00.000-07:00

In the current era of asymmetric warfare, accurate and timely intelligence is of increasing significance. Likewise, the nation’s leaders often employ non-kinetic methods or irregular forces to achieve national security objectives. John Prados introduces this world in Presidents’ Secret Wars: CIA and Pentagon Covert Operations from World War II through the Persian Gulf.

The view Prados provides spans from the strategic, such as making plans and policy in the Oval Office, to the tactical, such as describing special operations forces’ action in the U.S. invasion of Grenada. The book covers the subject thoroughly, providing insight and details into many U.S. covert operations. It highlights how each presidential administration employs intelligence and particularly the relationship between the president and the director of central intelligence. Also notable are Prados’ descriptions of the Bay of Pigs invasion and operations in Laos in the chapter entitled, “The High Plateau.”

This book should be in the hand of any student who is delving into the world of covert operations for the first time and on the shelf of anyone who studies intelligence as an enduring reference.

My First Watch

2010-08-13T18:29:00.000-07:00

I endured blood curdling tirades before. My father employed his booming voice when disciplining me as a child. Plebe Year at the Naval Academy was fraught with loud public humiliation, often deserved, at the hands of my upperclass. Somehow, the first watch onboard Harlan County was worse than anything I experienced before.

It seemed that I could do nothing right. The captain made sure that everyone on watch knew that my orders to the helm were too hesitant, that I did not employ the correct format when reporting CPA’s, and that my calculations were grossly off. He shot questions at me about the wind, navigational rules of the road, and capabilities of the equipment on the bridge.

I do not recall that a single foul word emanated from the captain, but I felt cut to the bone. I looked to the OOD for assistance, even a glance of solidarity, and got none. Master Chief Operations Specialist Hejnal, the CIC watch officer, was on and off the bridge. One moment he emerged from combat, apparently to compare notes with me on some aspect of the watch. But once I came under fire, he seemed to disappear. I think I caught the boatswain’s mate of the watch actually smirking; he seemed to enjoy my discomfort and embarrassment.

To exacerbate the whole situation, I was seasick. The seas off VACAPES are often rough in winter months. It was not enough that the swells bobbed the unladen, flat-bottomed ship in a manner contrary to my ears and stomach. The derrick arms on the forecastle rose and fell with the waves, magnifying to my eyes their movement against the horizon.

My projections were loud and violent. Apparently kicking the junior officer while he’s down is acceptable in the ancient annals of naval leadership because as I puked, the captain needed my immediate attention. The captain would then bellow more derision at my weakness across the bridge. After each episode, my shipmate’s faces displayed scorn, not sympathy.

As the watch finished, I’m sure my shoulders slumped. I was certain after four hours of dressing down and emptying my stomach that I was a complete failure as a naval officer. The months ahead onboard the ‘Darlin Harlan suddenly seemed infinite. Before I was able to shrink away to some hidden corner to lament my fate in private, Master Chief Hejnal called to me.

"Mr. Phillips,” he said from the port bridge wing.

“Yes, Master Chief.”

“Come here, sir.”

I stepped out to the bridge wing and followed the Master Chief a few feet aft, out of earshot of the lookout and the relieving bridge team. I anticipated the Master Chief was now to get his pound of flesh. For a second I mustered my last ounce of dignity and steeled myself for some reminder of how I fouled up the previous watch or perhaps drew unwanted attention toward the Master Chief.

It turns out I completely misread his purpose. Placing a hand on my shoulder and smiling slightly, Hejnal said, “Sir, I want you to remember something and carry it with you the rest of your naval career.”

“What’s that, Master Chief?”

“You’ve got more ass, than he’s got teeth.”

U.S Navy Diving and EOD Recruiting pages on facebook

2010-07-29T14:01:00.000-07:00

There are several U.S. Navy Recruiting pages on facebook now. I'm partial to the Navy Diver and Navy EOD pages. Check them out whether you're a vet or a wanna-be!

"Dispatches" - The Official Magazine of the Military Writer's Society of America

2010-06-15T16:45:00.000-07:00

The Military Writer's Society of America grew their newsletter into a full-fledged literary magazine. Yours truly made the cover of the inaugural edition by recommending the title "Dispatches."

Dispatches is available through MagCloud, a firm that publishes print-on-demand magazines.

'Indie' Press

2010-06-03T04:31:00.000-07:00

Article in WSJ on 'Vanity' publishing, especially through ebook formats. I like
to think of it as "Indie" publishing since I've not paid for production
of a single book. BTW, look for "Proximity" in ebook format soon thanks
to eBook Architects.

EOD on 60 Minutes this Sunday

2010-05-29T09:04:00.000-07:00

I pass on the following from Jim O'Neil, Executive Director of the EOD Memorial:

Hope all is well with everyone as we slide into the Memorial Day Weekend.

FYSA, CBS News will be airing a special 2 hour Memorial Day "60 Minutes" program that will include some footage of this year's EOD Memorial. As I understand, the primary story is about TF Paladin and the C-IED effort in Afghanistan. There will be footage on some of our EOD warriors as well as the Bagram roadside tribute that used to happen when a U.S Warrior was lost and was being transported to the plane to be flown home. As most of you know, that parctice was stopped last year after a rocket was fired into Bagram during a procession and killed two soldiers. Bastards. This part of the 60 Minutes program is currently scheduled for the first segment at 8:00 PM EST.

As we enjoy this long weekend with our family and friends, please remember to take a moment to reflect upon, and appropriately acknowledge, the sacrifice of those who have gallantly and selflessly stood in harms way to protect our precious and blessed country. It is the least we could do.

Take care friends and warriors.

V/R,
Jim O'Neil
Executive Director
EOD Memorial Foundation
813-389-0351 cell
jim.oneil@eodmemorial.org

EOD Book Review: The Day We Lost the H-Bomb by Barbara Moran

2010-05-26T10:37:00.000-07:00

During much of the Cold War, the United States Strategic Air Command (SAC) constantly maintained nuclear laden bombers near Soviet airspace as a form of deterrence. On January 17, 1966, one of SAC’s B-52s rendezvoused with a KC-135 tanker over Palomares, Spain to conduct a final mid-air refueling before returning home. An accident occurred during the refueling and both aircraft collided. In the debris that rained down on the Mediterranean coast were chunks of burning aircraft, chuffing jet fuel, parachuting aircrew, and four nuclear bombs.

Barbara Moran describes this accident vividly in The Day We Lost the H-Bomb. She then delves into the exhaustive efforts recover the weapons and rid the town of any deadly radiation. Fortunately, the first three bombs were discovered in Palomares within days. Based on the accounts of Spanish fishermen who witnesses the accident, it was determined that the fourth bomb plunged into the Med, miles offshore.

Much of Moran’s book follows the efforts of Navy Divers, Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technicians, and mini-subs like Alvin and Aluminaut, to find and recover the fourth bomb. Her account includes intimate details of many of the key players that she obtained through exhaustive research and interviews. Navy veterans especially will be able to identify with men like Admiral Guest, the Task Force Commander; Commander Red Moody, the EOD Officer in Charge; and Mac McCamis, the irascible Alvin pilot.

Moran’s writing flows very comfortably, drawing the reader into the story and then keeping them engaged with both politics and recovery operations. This books is a must read for those interested in Cold War history, diving, salvage, EOD, and mini-sub operations.

Interview on Elemental Musings

2010-05-21T04:05:00.000-07:00

On 27 August (7-8 Mtn) I will join host Bev Walton-Porter on Elemental Musings with MWSA President and author of In the Shadow of Suribachi, Joyce Faulkner to discuss Proximity and the MWSA Conference coming up in September.

Navy Book Review: "In Harm's Way"

2010-04-11T06:39:00.001-07:00

One of the iconic stories of World War II, is that of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis after delivering the first atomic bomb, “Little Boy” to Tinian. Doug Stanton tells this story in great detail through his book In Harm’s Way. Those who served in the U.S. Navy will recognize their own shipmates in Seamen First Class Ed Brown, Private McCoy, Captain McVay, and the rest of the crew while sympathizing with their sailing at short notice, on an unknown mission, while still in need of repair.

Stanton introduces the crew, and quickly moves past their important mission. He then tells the tale of brief combat, damage control, and finally survival at sea. Stanton’s writing makes the whole account very real. The reader is drawn into the water with men struggling merely to stay afloat, and is forced to flinch as he describes the infamous shark attacks. Additionally, one senses the loss as men who consumed seawater and go insane often drowning themselves while chasing apparitions.

Those who survive are rescued by the heroics of their fellow sailors, especially a seaplane crew who land on the water, turning their craft into a lifeboat for all they can find until the fleet is able to arrive and return them all to safety.

The story’s end is frustrating as it appears that Captain McVay is chosen as the culprit in order to save the careers of others. The captain of the Indianapolis becomes the only U.S. Navy commanding officer who is court martialed for losing his ship to enemy action.

Stanton’s book is an important read to understand the unforgiving nature of service at sea.

EOD Book Signing at Global EOD Conference

2010-04-07T18:10:00.000-07:00

I'll be at the Global EOD Conference in Ft Walton Beach, FL at the EOD Memorial booth on 27-28 April to sign copies of "Proximity." Hope to see you there!

EOD Book Review: "Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown."

2010-03-25T04:28:00.000-07:00

Jonathan Cody drew on his experience as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician to write a fun piece of fiction in “Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown.” The whole narrative follows Staff Sergeant John “Jack” Breuer, an EOD Tech who demonstrates that he is part MacGyver and part Rambo as he endures combat, captivity, and eventual escape and evasion. Cody accurately captures the banter between fellow soldiers, the visceral challenges of following the Code of Conduct while a prisoner of war, and most importantly, the unique skills of bomb disposal. As a fellow EOD Tech, I recommend this book.

Proximity recognized by a second award!

2010-03-13T11:42:00.000-08:00

The American Author's Association recognized Proximity with a 2009 Silver Quill. Thanks AAA!

Thanks to WEODWF Polar Bear Plunge Participants!

2010-03-02T17:52:00.001-08:00

Thanks to all those who came and participated in the Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation Polar Bear Plunge! All hands braved a cold and ripping current for a great cause. Thanks to the firefighters who kept everyone safe. Thanks to Det Dahlgren for thier static display. Hooya to "The Adams Family" for winning the costume co...ntest and to all the "Supermids" dressed only in speedos and "Blue-buddy" capes. Support WEODWF!

Book Signing at Wounded EOD Warrior Polar Bear Plunge!

2010-01-16T05:49:00.001-08:00

Stephen will be at the 3rd Annual Wounded EOD Warrior Polar Bear Plunge in Fredericksburg, VA. on 27 Feburary 2010 to sell and sign copies of "Proximity." The event begins at 9:00am. Visit http://www.woundedeodwarrior.org/ for more details. Come out and support this great organization and their important cause.

Proceeds from the sale of "Proximity" support the EOD Memorial Foundation; http://eodmemorial.org/.

Meet the MWSA Authors! - Rescheduled

2009-12-31T11:11:00.001-08:00

Steve will join fellow Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) award recipients, Rob Ballister (God Does Have a Sense of Humor), Luke Ritter (Securing Global Transportation Networks), and Wesley Gray (Embeded: A Marine Corps Adviser Inside the Iraqi Army) on 23 January at the Navy Exchange in Annapolis, Maryland from 11:00am-1:00pm. Copies of Proximity will be available for purchase and Steve will be happy to sign your book, and talk about the EOD community. This event has it all - humor, fiction, non-fiction, and current events. Come and meet these four award-winning authors!

1/15/10

We're discounting "Proximity" for this event selling each copy for $20.00. Since you will be purchasing from me directly, please bring cash - one "Jackson" per book.

As always, part of the proceeds will benefit the EOD Memorial Foundation.

Meet the Authors Event - Weather.

2009-12-18T05:15:00.000-08:00

A friendly reminder that Stephen Phillips will be at the NEX in Annapolis, MD tomorrow December 19, 2009 11:30am-1:00pm, to sign copies of Proximity and talk about the book. There is a chance that the event will be affected by base closings due to expected snow in the Greater DC-Baltimore-Annapolis area. Visit the Navy Base website (https://www.cnic.navy.mil/Annapolis/index.htm) for information on closings or watch for my postings here, via Twitter (@eodauthor) or on my facebook fanpage (http://www.fbook.me/Author_Stephen_Phillips).

Meet the Authors!

2009-12-12T09:22:00.000-08:00

Stephen Phillips (Proximity: A Novel of the Navy’s Elite Bomb Squad) will join fellow military authors Rob Ballister (God Does Have A Sense of Humor) and Wesley Gray (Embedded: A Marine Corps Adviser Inside the Iraqi Army) at the Navy Exchange in Annapolis, MD on 19 December, 11:00-1:00pm. Steve will be on hand to sign your copy of “Proximity,” talk about the book, and discuss life as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician. Proceeds from Proximity support the EOD Memorial Foundation.

60 Minutes report on Task Force Paladin

2009-11-20T16:13:00.000-08:00

60 Minutes did a piece on Task Force Paladin - EOD Techs in Afghanistan. They focused on route clearance. Visit "The Deadliest Weapon" for a video of the broadcast piece plus extras such as "Bomb Squad Training" and "The Deadliest Job."

(Photo: Navy Lt. Jonathan Kehoe, commander, Plt. 602, 63rd Bn., EOD Mobilization Unit 6, attached to 2nd BCT, 4th Inf. Div., crosses the finish line in 10 minutes and 13 seconds for the Guinness World Record for the fastest mile in a bomb suit at Camp Echo Feb. 2. Photo credit Sgt. Rodney Foliente)

Another Wounded EOD Warrior Event - WEODWF- 2 Day Ride!

2009-10-19T09:45:00.000-07:00

All Hands - Read this message from Ens. Matt Byington.

"Hooya, Rembrandt!"

Family and Friends-

As you know, I am currently studying Arabic in the capital city of Amman, Jordan as part of my initial training to become an Explosives Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Officer. This training has been tough, but it has brought me many great experiences and opportunities to grow, such as this month-long immersion. However, another tremendous opportunity has presented itself, one that I need your help to accomplish.

From 13-15 November, a dedicated group of athletes will participate in a fully supported 2-day bike ride from Naval Station Point Mugu south to Liberty Station in San Diego in order to raise money for the Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation. This event provides an opportunity to enjoy one of the most spectacular biking tracks in America, while supporting our Wounded EOD Warriors and their families. All proceeds will go to the WEODWF (www.woundedeodwarrior.org) which funds and supports military EOD families caring for their loved ones at military medical facilities across the country. The resources provided to the families are above and beyond the budgetary constraints of the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The resources of the WEODWF are entirely obtained through donations and fund-raising events.

My goal is to raise $750 for this organization. For my part, I will be donating $250 as a start towards this goal. If you would like to help me along in this journey, I (as long as the EOD warriors receiving aid from this fundraiser) would greatly appreciate it.

If you would like to give a monetary donation, be it $5 or $50 or any other amount you would like to donate, please make checks payable to:

WEODWF 2-Day Ride

Also, please send the checks to my address so I can submit them all together. My address is:

5 Sommerset Vale
Monterey, CA 93940

I will be returning to Monterey on 23Oct, and will be submitting donations and the entrance for on 30Oct. However, any donations received after that I will submit prior to the event.

If you have any questions or would like any more information, please do not hesitate to ask. Also, if you know of anyone else that may be interested in donating, please let me know so I can get in contact with them. I hope that life is giving you all the best, and thank you for your support.

Very Respectfully,

ENS Matthew Byington

[Image: Matt Byington running in the Avenue of the Giants Marathon.]

Wounded EOD Warrior Event

2009-09-25T12:57:00.000-07:00

Please read all of the information below on an upcoming Wounded EOD Warrior Event. I'm donating a copy of Proximity to the silent auction.

A Brave Warrior, Our Hero: TSgt Michael Williams

On August 2, 2009, Mike Williams, his wife Kristi and son Zachary all discovered how a single step could change their lives. While serving in the United States Air Force in Afghanistan, on a mission to disarm a roadside Improvised Explosive Device (IED), Mike stepped on a landmine and lost his left leg. He is lucky to be alive. His teammates rushed to his aid, grabbing a discarded wheelbarrow to help transport him to a helicopter for evacuation. Even as he was being evacuated, under direct fire, Mike was clutching his weapon and directing his team.

Today, Mike and his family are living at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington D.C. He continues to improve at a fast pace and his spirits are high.

To honor Mike and others that have sacrificed so greatly for our freedom, we will be holding a Chili Dinner Fundraiser. All proceeds will be donated to the Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation. For more information on the foundation or to make an online donation, please visit http://woundedeodwarrior.org/.

WHERE: V.F.W.

10154 Bellwright Rd

Summerville, SC 29483

WHEN: Saturday, October 10, 2009

5 pm until?

WHAT: Food, Music and Fun.

There will also be a silent auction and raffle.

COST: Admission is $10/person and includes chili and the fixins’.

Make your donation and receive a wristband to wear in support of the foundation.

RSVP: Hannah Morris 843-276-5651 or Hannah.morris@threatgroup.com

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

We are currently looking for volunteers and items to be donated so that we may have a raffle to raise additional funds that evening. Do you have contact with a business or private individual that might be willing to donate something of value for our fundraiser? Or do you know someone who might be willing to make a monetary donation? Would you like to donate some of your time or services? If so, please contact:

Hannah Morris

106 S Knightsbridge Ct,

Goose Creek, SC 29445

(843) 276-5651

hannah.morris@threatgroup.com

Please make all checks payable to the WEODWF.

Donation Information:

Contact Name:

Company:

Address:

Email:

Phone:

I would like to sponsor a table at the event: $250. Includes 5 Tickets to chili dinner and recognition/advertising on one of the tables at the event.

I would like to donate an item(s) for the silent auction or raffle.

I would like to make a donation of

Businesses must provide logo to hannah.morris@threatgroup.com by October 5, 2009 to receive proper recognition on all advertising and signage.

All proceeds of the event will be donated to the Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation.

Please make checks payable to the WEODWF and send to:

Hannah Morris

106 S Knightsbridge Ct

Goose Creek, SC 29445

EOD Memorial Support through CFC - #10119

2009-09-07T13:06:00.000-07:00

The EOD Memorial features prominently in Proximity. Here is one example from Chapter Twenty-Two:

TWENTY-TWO

Indian Head

The next day Jazz drove the rental car down Indian Head Highway to the main gate of Naval Surface Weapon Station Indian Head. As he passed through, a wave of old feelings returned. He wiped them, reminding himself that he was already a Tech.
He saw the base club, The Powder Keg, on the right hand side. Jazz turned into its lot and parked there.
The memorial was not far. Jazz always paused when he first saw the four obelisks of granite each with the seal of one of the four services on top. Under each seal were bronze plaques bearing the names of EOD Techs who died in the line of duty.
Jazz was first drawn to the list under the seal of the United States Navy. Its most recent addition was an instructor Jazz knew as a student.

GMC (EOD/PJ) Stephen J. Morris, USN

Morris died in a training accident the very day Jazz graduated. Jazz was on leave and did not hear the news until he reported in at Mobile Unit Six. As he looked at the name, Jazz recalled the cold November mornings less than two years before, his class standing in shorts on pool deck. He remembered Morris, warm in a sweatsuit with coffee in hand, the class taskmaster.
“Get in the water!”
“Hooya!” the students would yell as they plunged into the cold water. Morris would wait a moment until a quorum of his charges was shivering.
“Anyone wanna quit?”
There would not be an answer.
“Ten thousand yards, crawl. Go!”
Upon finishing the swim, the students were required to exit the pool and get into the ‘leaning rest,’ the pushup position until the last of their classmates finished the swim. Jazz recalled looking at Morris’ boots as he stood in front of him.
“Mister Jascinski, you had better square these people away. Two more failed room inspections yesterday. Come by after class today and we’ll discuss.”
“Aye, aye, Chief!”
Jazz looked to the Army column.

Timothy A. West, Sgt USA

Cameron P. Martin, Sgt USA

Jazz still struggled with his role in their deaths. He made the phone call that set their demise in motion.
There was a noise behind him. Jazz turned around to see a fossil of a man in a short-sleeved shirt with a bow tie. The man was stooped and wore thick glasses. He had long ago ceased combing the thin wiry hair on his head that matched the bush in his ears.
“Zero eight five eight,” he said.
“Excuse me?” replied Jazz.
“Zero eight five eight.”
“Uh, was that your class number, sir?”
“No. Ever heard of the Combined Federal Campaign?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Get a pen and write it down. Zero eight five eight,” the white Yoda growled as if Jazz was negligent to not have known and remembered this important number.
Jazz nervously pulled a pen from his shirt pocket. He then extracted an old receipt from his wallet.
“Zero eight five eight,” the man repeated.
Jazz mimicked as he wrote it down. “Zero eight five eight.”
“What is it?” he asked.
“The number for the EOD Memorial Scholarship Fund in the Combined Federal Campaign. I assume you are a student?”
“I graduated a few months ago. I’m Lieutenant James Jascinski,” he said extending his hand.
“Nice to meet you, sir. I’m Sergeant Horace Pickney, United States Army Retired. I’m one of the curators for the EOD Memorial and the scholarship fund. Army? Navy?”
“Navy.”
“Are you here for someone in particular? That chief who was an instructor I guess.”
Jazz studied the sergeant’s face. He noticed that his eyes were glossy and that his teeth were stained from cigarettes and coffee. When he raised his bushy eyebrows in anticipation, Jazz snapped back.
“Uh, yes. The chief, and the two most recent Army Techs from Texas.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. I didn’t know them directly, but we kinda worked together. How about you, do you know any of these men?”
The old man smiled at Jazz. “Well, Lieutenant, I’ve only met four of them, but I know all of ‘em.”

I wrote of the EOD Memorial and Foundation as a means to entertain, but also to educate my readers to this important effort. Now more than ever, we must help those who serve, especially the families of the fallen. This is best expressed in a letter sent by Jim O’Neil – Executive Director of the Foundation. Note that the Memorial’s CFC number is now 10119.

Date: September 8, 2009

To: The EOD Community & Friends

Subj: CFC Contributions

Greetings to all. This is the time of year when the CFC Campaign commences and we all will be asked to assist many worthwhile organizations and causes. I would however, ask each of you, and those to consider The EOD Memorial Foundation as your organization of choice.

In 2008, we lost six exceptional EOD Technicians who were placed upon the EOD Memorial. As of this date in 2009, we have lost nine gallant warriors. Hopefully, we will have no more. Please keep their families and fellow techs in your thoughts and prayers.

In 2009, the EOD Memorial Foundation: a) approved $100,000 in scholarships to the children and spouses of the EOD community; b) paid for the travel costs associated with the family members attendance at the EOD Memorial Service and Ball; c) Spent over $75,000 in the upgrade, maintenance, and expansion of the EOD Memorial.

We are exploring ways in which we can expand our services and support for the families of our fallen as well as the EOD community in general. Your ideas or suggestions are welcome. To be successful, we need your help. I am asking that you contribute as much as you comfortably can, but at least ten dollars ($10.00) per month. I am also asking that each of you make a personal effort to encourage your fellow EOD techs and work associates to do the same. Please send them to our website (www.eodmemorial.org).

Our CFC Identification Number is: 10119. Say it again: 10119.

Fellow EOD Warriors, we need your assistance. Please call if you need any additional information or if your workplace would host a presentation. We are ready to assist you to assist us in any way we can. Thank you!! We Remember.

V/R,

Jim O’Neil
Executive Director
Jim.oneil@eodmemorial.org
www.eodmemorial.org
813-389-0351

(Photo: The EOD Memorial as it appeared in Indian Head, MD.)

Author Stephen Phillips on facebook

2009-07-01T18:46:00.001-07:00

For readers who are on facebook - I have established a facebook fan page. It can be found at: http://www.fbook.me/Author_Stephen_Phillips [U.S. Navy Photo of EOD crabs to be awarded at NAVSCOLEOD graduation ceremony]

MWSA meets with The Capital

2009-07-01T03:50:00.000-07:00

Teri Winslow is a staff writer with The Capital. On June 11, four members of the Military Writers Society of America sat down with Teri at Hard Bean Coffee and Booksellers in Annapolis. Teri wrote an article about the MWSA crew entitled "Military provides good training for some authors". The Capital is on facebook.

"The Hurt Locker"

2009-06-28T02:30:00.000-07:00

Shortly after the Saddam's statue was toppled in Firdos Square, America found itself embroiled in an IED war. In fact "IED" is now in the Merriam-Webster's Dictionary. And yet little is known about the service men that defuse IEDs - the EOD Techs.

A few articles have emerged including a September 2005 Playboy article entitled, The Man in the Bomb Suit by Mark Boal. Mark saw EOD work up close while embedded with an Army EOD Team serving in Iraq in 2004. His article grew into a screenplay and film that Boal co-produced with Kathryn Bigelow called The Hurt Locker.

Boal and Bigelow were kind enough to share The Hurt Locker with the EOD Memorial Foundation at a private screening last Thursday. Jim O'Neil, the foundation's executive director put the word out to the EOD community and the event became a fundraiser. Thus, the theater was filled with EOD Techs of all ages - a discerning audience.

Jim set the tone when he said, "Remember guys, this is not a training film!" I knew exactly what Jim was driving at. I did not expect realism as much as entertainment. Still, I brought my father, wife, and son to see the film with me. I hoped they could see the life of an EOD Tech - live and in color. We were not disappointed.

After the film I enjoyed a short conversation with Mark and Kathryn. Mark and I corresponded while he was working on the screenplay. I even sent him a copy of my book proposal for a non-fiction companion to Proximity (Which is still in the works).

"What did you think?" he asked.
"Actually, I'm impressed," I responded, "I think you guys really captured the essence of EOD work."

I was and they did.

The whole package - writing, cinematography, acting - vividly depicted what it means to go down range. This led to the true value of the film. On the car ride home, my family asked question after question about life as an EOD Tech. As a result they more clearly understand the courage and sacrifice of our nation's EOD Techs.

So for my EOD brethren I say, "Go see this film...and take your loved ones. You won't regret it."

For Mark and Kathryn, I'd like to say, "Thanks for donating you time to share this film with the EOD Memorial Foundation. More importantly, thanks for telling this story."

The EOD Memorial Foundation hosts a premiere of "The Hurt Locker."

2009-06-18T04:54:00.000-07:00

I've just signed up to attend a special screening of The Hurt Locker that will support the EOD Memorial Foundation. Check out both sites and give to the Foundation!

(Official U.S. Navy photo of EOD Tech in Med Eng bomb suit.)

MWSA meets with The Capital

2009-06-11T19:56:00.000-07:00

This evening four members of the Military Writers Society of America (MWSA) gathered at Hard Bean Coffee and Booksellers in Annapolis, Maryland to meet with Teri Winslow, a features reporter with The Capital. The MWSA group included Rob Ballister (God Does Have a Sense of Humor), Geri Krotow (What Family Means), Luke Ritter (Securing Global Transportation Networks), and myself. It was a fun evening, filled with great conversation. I'll leave the interesting details and insight to Teri...and will post a link to her article when it comes out.

Readers comment on Proximity

2009-06-01T18:18:00.000-07:00

Cory S. is a sailor interested in the EOD community. He wrote, "Bravo Zulu Sir! I read through your Proximity and I loved it! I’ll be honest, I’m not a reader yet I’ve never moved so fast through a read. Your book is what I’ve been looking for. The EOD community is quite small and thus I’ve had difficulty trying to find information about the type of missions, work environments, etc. I had a good idea but have been always looking for someone to give me an inside look……and truly, your book sealed the deal in that I know the EOD is what I want to do. Combining physical and mental challenges, with an error in any of those areas will cost a life, that’s what I’ve been looking for! When Jazz used his intellect and reasoning to come to the magnet proposal, I thought, 'Wow! Science and explosives to save the day…has me written all over it!' HOOYAH!"

Thanks, Cory...I'm glad that you enjoyed it. I wrote Proximity hoping to inspire and educate sailors who are interested in the community.

Chris C. also sent me a note:

"Steve, the book made it into my hands last evening....and, I can't put it down. Are you working on the screenplay, yet?"

Hooya, Chris. You're not the first person to comment that Proximity reads like an action movie. I do hope it finds it way to the silver screen.

Have an opinion, comment or critique of Proximity? Feel free to post a comment here.

SWJ - "Civil Affairs Confronts Weapons of the Weak"

2009-04-22T05:07:00.000-07:00

I'm a fan of the Small Wars Journal. They have a five part series entitled "Professors in the Trenches." SWJ describes this series as: "Each article was co-authored by one Army soldier/civilian and one university professor/academic as part of a joint research project. This project and product responds to the Army’s objectives regarding the integration of cultural social sciences into its training and operations."

Number 2 in the series is "Civil Affairs Confronts Weapons of the Weak." It has a very interesting counter-IED (C-IED) construct. I recommend this as reading for any EOD Tech or student of counter-insurgency (COIN).

FREE 19!

2009-03-09T18:31:00.000-07:00

I want to send a "Hooya!" to Midn 2/c Gulliksen, Midn 3/c McCrary, and the Plebes of FREE 19! Thank you all for the Naval Academy clock. As suggested, it is now displayed prominently in my bar. I will remember a fun Saturday morning training lecture with you guys....especially the 70% who chose to stay on for the second hour. The rest of you...bring around a Form Two!

FAQ #2: How can I learn more about an EOD career?

2009-03-02T04:26:00.000-08:00

I'm often contacted by those who are interested in a career as an Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician. This community was practically unknown before the war on terrorism, and is still not well understood today. Still, the Military Channel did a great program on the Navy's EOD community. It is available on You Tube starting with this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMVJlk1bVgY.

After seeing this program, if you are still interested, I recommend "hitting the books." On this page I've posted some of my favorites. If you search "EOD" or "Bomb Squad" on amazon.com you will note I've reviewed many of them there. I recommend first reading America's First Frogman: The Draper Kauffman Story by Elizabeth Kauffman Bush. Next, pick up Eight Lives Down by Chris Hunter. The Kauffman book will provide an important historical understanding of the roots of this community. Chris Hunter describes counter-IED operations while serving in Basra, Iraq which provide a sense of EOD work in the war on terrorism.

For the best insight into a Navy EOD career I recommend visiting the Navy EOD recruiting website at: http://www.eod.navy.mil/. I'm certain that the other services have similar websites.

FAQ #3 You mention in the opening of "Proximity" that EOD procedures are often classified. How then were you able to publish?

2009-03-02T04:24:00.000-08:00

The exact quote in the front of Proximity is:

"The methods, tactics, and procedures used by military Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technicians are often classified. This is to prevent the architects of military ordnance or improvised explosive devices from incorporating countermeasures into their design. This book only reveals procedures that are intuitively obvious or so widely publicized that mentioning them here could not be considered irresponsible. Where required, the methods described are fictitious while maintaining the flavor of explosive ordnance disposal work."

To ensure that I did not unwittingly publish classified information I submitted this manuscript to the U.S. Navy's Office of Information and Personnel Security. They authorized it for release after a nine month review. Since that time, I've submitted a collection of historical accounts. One of which has been published as an article in the Small Wars Journal entitled The Birth of the Combined Explosives Exploitation Cell.

IRONMAN EOD FUND

2009-02-28T05:17:00.000-08:00

I received this message via the Navy and Marine Corps EOD Association - LT Michael McMahon will participate in the Florida Ironman Triathlon in Panama City. Proceeds support the Wounded EOD Warrior Foundation and EOD Memorial Read below.

Dear Friends and Family,

I would like to thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I am LT Michael McMahon, Officer In Charge of Navy EOD Mobile Unit 2 Platoon 2-5-1 deployed to Mosul, Iraq. The reason I'm contacting you is to raise awareness and funds for two organizations; The EOD Memorial Foundation and the EOD Wounded Warrior Foundation. On November 7th, 2009 I will be competing in the Florida Ironman Triathlon in Panama City. I'm running it to honor all of the fallen and wounded EOD warriors that have given so much for this country.

EOD stands for Explosive Ordnance Disposal. EOD techs, as we are referred to, are on the front lines in the war on terror. EOD teams are integrated with combat units from all services. We are there to ensure safety from explosive hazards more specifically IEDs; Improvised Explosive Devices. EOD personnel save countless lives, both military and civilian, on a daily basis. Unfortunately, there are those who are wounded in this effort and those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

Below are links to both the EOD Memorial Foundation and the EOD Wounded Warrior Foundation's web sites. Please take a moment to visit these foundations and take a look at what they do for the families of the fallen and the lives of the wounded EOD warriors.

www.woundedeodwarrior.org

www.eodmemorial.org

A donation of any amount is much appreciated. Your contribution will help make a difference in the families of the fallen and the lives of the wounded. If you choose to donate please make checks payable to the MICHAEL MCMAHON IRONMAN EOD FUND, and send to:

2024 Sunset Maple LN Chesapeake VA, 23323

The total amount of donations will be split equally, with a check made out to each organization on the day of the race.

If you know of anyone else who might be interested in donating please forward this e-mail along. Thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Michael McMahon

LT USN

michael_mcmahon76@hotmail.com

EOD Book Review: The Longest Walk

2008-11-30T07:46:00.001-08:00

This is word-for-word what I posted on amazon.com about The Longest Walk.

"The Longest Walk is a well written history of the U.K.’s explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) community from its inception through the late 1990’s. As implied by the cover, Peter Birchall provides insight into the heroic actions of Ammunition Technical Officers (ATOs) operating in N. Ireland – but The Longest Walk includes much more. Birchall describes the birth of EOD in the UK, provides insight into EOD selection and training, and devotes pages to several counter-IED campaigns to include actions in Hong Kong, Cyprus, and the Falkland Islands. He even gives a nod to the Draper Kauffman, the father of the U.S. EOD community. Birchall served as an ATO, so his writing is strengthened by an authenticity that only someone who has “Been there, done that...” can provide. This book will serve as a valuable addition to any historian’s library, and is a must for all displosaleers."

EOD Book Review: Bomb Squad

2008-11-30T07:36:00.000-08:00

"As a military Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician, I recommend BOMB SQUAD. The authors spent a year in the field with the NYPD BOMB SQUAD. The result is a narrative that strikes the right balance between history, human interest, and blowing stuff up. By the time I finished BOMB SQUAD I understood what it means to be a disposaleer in the Big Apple. I am particularly impressed and amazed with the number of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) that New York's Finest face on a regular basis. This book is a must read for anyone interested in EOD, police work, and homeland security. Thank you, Messrs. Esposito and Gerstein."

EOD Book Review: A Cold War Story

2008-11-10T16:11:00.000-08:00

Jim Conkey adds to EOD legend and lore with A Cold War Story. The reader is immediately drawn into a Bond-like mix of secret missions and romance. EOD Techs will especially appreciate Conkey's description of a period in EOD history that is not well known; North Africa and its mix of terrorism and Soviet aggression in the late 1950s. This books is highly recommended. See my full review on Amazon.com.

EOD Book Review: Eight Lives Down

2008-10-01T03:16:00.001-07:00

The heritage of American EOD forces comes from the UK. Draper Kauffman was a Royal Navy Bomb Disposal Technician before returning to the U.S. to stand up the first mine and bomb disposal school here. From that point until 9/11 the Brits encountered more IEDs than American forces, especially during "the troubles" in Ireland. Their units are structured differently from those in the U.S. and their EOD Techs are called Ammunition Technical Officers or "ATOs."

Eight Lives Down by Major Chris Hunter, is one ATO's account of his tour of duty in Basra as part of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM. I highly recommend it for someone who is interested in the life of an ATO and the counter-IED effort in Iraq. See my detailed review on amazon.com at: Eight Lives Down.

EOD Book Review: America's First Frogman

2008-09-26T03:05:00.000-07:00

“Draper Kauffman is our father. In fact, he is the father of all disposaleers and demolitioneers. This group includes EOD, SEALs, and the former UDT, the toughest and fittest brood in the United States Navy. And yet ironically Kauffman graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1933 with a medical record that said he was unfit for service due to poor eyesight."

- CO of NAVSCOLEOD speech to students in Proximity

I applied for the EOD Community several times. On each screening the applicant must first complete a physical test that includes swimming, pushups, situps, pullups, and a mile and a half run. Then the candidate interviews with an EOD Officer who determines suitability. On my second attempt, the interviewer asked, "Who is Draper Kauffman?" I was told afterward that my ability to answer this question led to a glowing recommendation. I'd impressed upon the officer that I was serious enough about the community to do some research.

Today, there is a great book available that chronicles the life of Draper Kauffman. The book's author is Kauffman's sister, Elizabeth Kauffman-Bush and it is published by the U.S. Naval Institute Press. I highly recommend it.

Military Writers Society of America recognizes Proximity with Gold Medal

2008-09-24T15:49:00.000-07:00

The Military Writers Society of America recognized Proximity as a 2008 Gold Medal recipient. It is a humbling honor to be placed next to military authors such as Steven Pressfield (Killing Rommel -fellow 2008 recipient) and Nathaniel Fick (One Bullet Away- 2005 recipient). Visit the MWSA 2008 Awards page to see all of those who were recognized at: MWSA 2008 Awards.

EOD Memorial

2008-07-03T20:16:00.000-07:00

Some of the proceeds from Proximity support the EOD Memorial Scholarship Fund, which features prominently in the book. I encourage others to donate to the EOD Memorial by noting 10119 on their Combined Federal Campaign form or by sending donations to "The EOD Memorial" at:

EOD Memorial Committee
PO Box 594
Niceville, FL 32588

You can visit the EOD Memorial website at: http://www.eodmemorial.org/index3.html

"What is EOD?"

2008-07-03T20:05:00.000-07:00

I hear this question often. Through Proximity I tried to answer this question in an entertaining way. The specific genesis of this book was an encounter where I was asked, "So, you're a SEAL, right?"

"No, I'm not a SEAL. I'm a Navy Diver and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician. We render safe unexploded conventional, chemical, biological, nuclear, and improvised explosive devices. In other words, we are the guys who disarm terrorist bombs, we clear minefields before amphibious landings, and we act as the bomb squad for the U.S. Secret Service."

"....right, a Navy SEAL."

("Arrgh!")

Advance Praise for Proximity

2008-07-02T13:20:00.000-07:00

“Stephen Phillips is the real deal; a Navy EOD Officer and front line operator in the war against terrorism. Proximity is a well crafted thriller-- enthralling, realistic and frightening. Move over Tom Clancy.”

CHUCK PFARRER, author of Warrior Soul and Killing Che

“Steve Phillips is a member of a select group who live by the creed ‘Initial success or total failure.’ EOD Technicians are the special operations community’s unsung heroes…until now.

Proximity is a great read and hopefully one of many more books by Phillips.”

STEVE WATERMAN, author of Just a Sailor

Proximity: A Novel of the Navy's Elite Bomb Squad

2008-07-02T13:17:00.000-07:00

EOD Techs

“It’s a lot like brain surgery, except if we screw up the patient detonates….Oh yeah, and we do it underwater.”

- A Navy EOD Technician

The U.S. Navy Divers of the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) community “perform under pressure” in the hazardous job of bomb disposal, often deep beneath the sea….alone.

An EOD Technician must have the brains of an engineer, the hands of a surgeon, and the courage of a martyr. In the U.S. Navy, carrier flight operations only occur under the watchful eye of EOD Techs ready to respond to ordnance accidents. U.S. Marines assault enemy beachheads only after EOD Techs clear the littoral seas and landing zones of mines. The U.S. Secret Service even relies on military bomb squads to protect the President and visiting foreign dignitaries. Perhaps the best testimony of their value is that when the Navy needs to place a limpet mine under an enemy ship it tasks the Navy SEALs, but to respond to such an attack – the Navy summons EOD.

Proximity highlights the exciting work of one EOD detachment as they become enmeshed in the efforts of a terrorist coalition operating both in Europe and the United States. Lieutenant “Jazz” Jascinski and the men of Detachment Four become the key to helping the FBI apprehend these terrorists - until their unique skills place them under suspicion. To protect themselves, the Techs must race to find the culprits before they become the next victims…

Book Signing - August 9, 2008

2008-07-01T17:52:00.000-07:00

On August 9, 2008 Steve will be at Hard Bean Coffee and Booksellers in Annapolis, Maryland to sign copies of his book Proximity: A Novel of the Navy's Elite Bomb Squad. Steve (USNA '92) will join fellow MWSA members and Naval Academy Alum; Rob Ballister (USNA '94, God Does Have a Sense of Humor), Jeff Garigliamo (USNA '89, Dogface), and Luke Ritter (USNA '90, Securing Global Transportation Networks).