WHEELER ARMY AIRFIELD, HAWAI’I - On January 6th, 2025, three Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Specialists from the 74th Ordnance Company, 303rd Ordnance Battalion (EOD), 8th Military Police Brigade, 8th Theater Sustainment Command, responded to a request for support from the Maui Police Department. With the help of the 25th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB), 25th Infantry Division those EOD technicians flew to Maui in a UH-60 Black Hawk Helicopter where they immediately met with the Maui Police Department’s (PD) Bomb Squad. In a joint effort between the 74th Ordnance Company and the Maui PD, they successfully disposed of a hand grenade that was discovered in a residential area.
“Within the past year, the 74th Ordnance Company disposed of over 3,700 munitions while executing their emergency response mission,” says Capt. Daniel Travers, the 74th Ordnance Company commander. “EOD serves on the frontline of public safety and works tirelessly to remove unexploded ordnance from the islands of Hawai’i.”
EOD specialists work with the local law enforcement and fire departments, and at times federal authorities, such as the FBI, to dispose of Unexploded Explosive Ordnance (UXO). Due to Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 300, the law directs that the Department of Defense (DOD) is responsible for the removal of military munitions at locations other than operational ranges. The DOD is responsible for carrying out this task in a manner that limits harm to human health and the environment, and ensures the safety of response personnel and the public.
“We’re always seeing remnants from World War II training,” said 1st Lt. Christian Dunham, the coordinator for the 74th Ordnance Company response team.
UXO are uncovered in residential neighborhoods due to military training that happened in the early 1900s. Through Hawai’ian infrastructure developing over time on top of past training areas, they can be discovered due to natural erosion. It is a joint effort between the local law enforcement and components of U.S. Army Hawaii (USARHAW) to ensure that these UXO remnants are properly handled.
The 25th CAB maintains a flight crew on call 24 hours, 7 days a week, year-round, for emergency situations such as wildland firefighting and transporting EOD technicians.
“This was my third EOD mission,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kenneth Olson, a UH-60 Black Hawk pilot for the 2nd Battalion, 25th Aviation Regiment, 25th CAB. Olson shared that in his experience, it is important to stay mission ready and able to adapt to any changes in the plan. “I do think it’s cool that we are able to respond so quickly.”
In other parts of the world, it is faster for EOD response teams to drive to their objectives. But being on an island chain, the 25th CAB can provide quicker transportation than commercial flights.
“It exposes the 25th CAB and our personnel to different worlds. We need to work together to accomplish a mission like this,” said Sgt. 1st Class Rory Ehle, the 74th Ordnance Company duty officer that supported the mission on Maui.
When working within neighboring communities and local authorities, ensuring that the collaboration between the 74th Ordnance Company and 25th CAB is efficient and able to respond quickly is a top priority for USARHAW.
“The coordination required to carry out these missions is streamlined all the way up to the top,” said Dunham. “Along with our coordination with the police department and the fire department and any other agency that we work with, it’s vital that we maintain those relationships as closely as possible.”
This rapid response highlights the 25th Infantry Division and USARHAW's commitment to the community and its local partners. As part of its Defense Support of Civil Authorities (DSCA) mission, the Division provides essential capabilities, such as humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, to ensure the safety and security of Hawai'i's residents. The seamless integration between the EOD technicians, the aviation crew, and the Maui Police Department is a testament to the strength of these partnerships and the Division's enduring readiness to protect the community.