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.)
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.
