SAM NUEA, Laos –
An estimated two million tons of bombs were dropped in Laos during the Vietnam War marking a unique challenge the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency has when sending teams to search and recover remains of unaccounted-for personnel.
This danger is felt every time a shovel breaks through the earth and the loosened soil is placed into buckets and passed to screening stations to be sifted in search of items such as aircraft wreckage, life support equipment and possible remains. Due to the dangers of unexploded ordnance, personnel with the DPAA require explosive ordnance disposal technicians to accompany them on all missions, including the recent recovery mission in Laos from January until late February.
EOD technicians play a crucial role in recovery missions, providing expertise in locating, identifying, and mitigating hazards. Before a mission starts, EOD technicians ensure that teams are briefed on any potential unexploded ordnance or any other dangers the team may encounter while in the field. Once on-site, an excavation grid system is set up, and the EOD technicians perform metal detector sweeps of every unit to ensure the soil is safe to work in prior to other personnel operating within each section. Host nation partners collaborate closely with DPAA recovery teams to ensure there are no mishaps if or when possible explosive ordnance is found.
“If we encounter any ordnance, we liaise with our host nation partners to set up an evacuation area, provide positive identification of the hazards involved and provide any guidance needed for the safe disposal of the ordnance encountered,” said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Manuel Carvajal, EOD technician with the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight.
Each recovery mission uses standard field archaeology methods in the excavation as directed by the on-site scientific recovery expert, who work closely with EOD technicians to ensure mission objectives are met as securely and efficiently as possible.
“Having EOD technicians deploy with our teams is essential for both our safety and ease of operations,” said Ally Campo, scientific recovery expert for DPAA. “Working in an area that was highly bombed by U.S. forces and having specialists with expertise in the types of bombs we may encounter keeps us safer through their knowledge of how to identify and handle any unexploded ordnance recovered. Their competency with metal detectors helps expand the capabilities of my archaeological fieldwork, which provides me with more tools in my toolbox for tackling how to investigate or recover a site.”
An EOD technician’s toolbox consists of a handheld metal detector and flags to mark locations. They use these tools to also provide clues to scientific recovery experts as to where soil may have been disturbed by metal material especially in recovery sites involving an aircraft.
“It is crucial that we work together as a team and is imperative that we all use our specific training to ensure everyone can safely and successfully complete the mission,” said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ray Slusser, DPAA EOD technician. “As we possibly find items of the aircraft that we are looking for to help recover the remains, it helps illustrate the crash and clarify the extent of the impacted area. This can help lead us to finding the person we’re looking for.”
Field operations such as this one in Laos can last from 30-65 days. During this time, apart from ensuring excavation safety, EOD technicians also serve as team members assisting with unit digs and soil sifting. Every individual sent out on a mission will dig and sift through soil to ensure all hands-on deck throughout the missions. The team works in unison towards one motivating goal – to recover the nations missing.
“It’s an honor to be part of this mission because we are able to help keep our nation’s promise to our fallen and provide some comfort and answers to families,” said Carvajal “I feel a great sense of pride in being part of this amazing team and helping ensure their safety against any unexploded ordnance that we might encounter.”
As the recovery team continues to work in search of the missing member, Carvajal and Slusser are hopeful that they will be able to bring the missing home.
“It has been an amazing experience to work with service members and civilians from all branches, ranks and regions,” said Carvajal. “Their professionalism, work ethic and dedication toward this honorable mission has filled me with pride and confidence to know that we did our best on this mission. If we cannot bring a missing person home, then hopefully one of the following teams will successfully reunite a family with their lost loved one.”