50th Annual Memorial Ceremony Honors Fallen EOD Technicians

Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal (NAVSCOLEOD) hosted the 50th annual Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Memorial Ceremony at the EOD Memorial onboard Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, May 4.

The EOD community from each of the joint services gathered to honor the memory of 338 fallen EOD heroes and add the names of three additional EOD technicians to the memorial.

Those added to the memorial this year include: Army Sgt. Joseph P. Collette, who was killed in action on March 22, 2019 while serving in Afghanistan; Army Sgt. James Allen Slape, who was killed in action on Oct. 4, 2018 while serving in Afghanistan; and Army 1st Lt. William F. “Bill” Alter, who was killed in action on June 11, 1945 while serving in World War II.

Secretary of Defense Patrick M. Shanahan stated in a letter to NAVSCOLEOD, “Our EOD technicians have a long legacy of providing our nation critical service in the face of great danger. This year’s memorialization of Sgt. Joseph P. Collette, 1st Lt. William Alter, and Sgt. James Slape highlights the timeless criticality of the EOD mission and the enduring appreciation of their sacrifice by our military community.”