192d OD Honor the Fallen

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Angel Martinez-Navedo | Lt. Col. Benjamin Lipari, 192d Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion (EOD) commander, addresses friends and family members of past and present members of the 192d EOD Battalion during the reveal ceremony of the Hall of Heroes at the battalion headquarters in Fort Bragg, North Carolina on April 21. The hall will consist of 44 pictures of Army EOD professionals who died in the line of duty while on deployment since March 12, 2001.  

FORT BRAGG, NC, UNITED STATES

04.21.2016

Story by Staff Sgt. Angel Martinez-Navedo 

20th CBRNE Command

ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. – Members from the 192d Explosive Ordnance Disposal Battalion (EOD) decided to honor their fallen members with what they named the Hall of Heroes at their headquarters in Fort Bragg, North Carolina on April 21.

Although there are other forms of memorial dedicated to the sacrifice made by EOD professionals, the 192d EOD decided to do one of their own.

“The day we fail to remember and honor our fallen, the day we forget that we serve a higher purpose than just ourselves, is the day we loss focus on what it means to be a Soldier,” said Lt. Col. Benjamin Lipari, 192d EOD commander. “The Hall of Heroes was created to honor and remember our fallen comrades; lest we never forget those who have gone before us and shown us the true meaning of Honor, Duty, and Selfless Service.”

The hall will consist of 44 pictures of Army EOD professionals who died in the line of duty while on deployment since March 12, 2001.

“The Hall of Heroes not only memorializes those who sacrificed their lives with honor, but also serves as a reminder to the newer generation of EOD professionals assigned to the battalion,” said Maj. Brian Kibitlewski, the battalion executive officer. “That the life of an EOD professionals at times comes at a cost, and it is extremely important to train and be ready when called upon.”

According to Kibitlewski, the project was fully supported by the entire battalion, but specially Command Sgt. Maj. Samuel Turner, its command sergeant major, former and present commanders, Staci Miko, a Family Reediness Group member and Spouse of an EOD technician from the 737th Ordnance Company (EOD), who’s dedication, time and talent to the artwork included in the memorial was describe as “outstanding” by Kibitlewski.

Seven of the fallen represented on the hall were members of the 192d EOD Battalion: Staff Sgt. Kristopher Linwood Shepherd, Staff Sgt. Russell James Verdugo, Staff Sgt. Eric Scott Holman, Staff Sgt. Jonathan Philip Schmidt from the 767th Ordnance Company (EOD), Staff Sgt. Eric M. Steffeney, Sgt. Justin Ryan Helton from the 18th Ordnance Company (EOD), and Sgt. 1st Class Scott R. Smith from the 737th Ordnance Company (EOD).

• Date Taken: 04.21.2016
• Date Posted: 04.22.2016 18:40
• Story ID: 196295
• Location: FORT BRAGG, NC, US
• Hometown: FORT LIBERTY, NC, US