The U.S. Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) community celebrates its birthday on August 22, commemorating the graduation of the first Navy Mine Disposal class in 1941, which served as the foundation for all other U.S. military EOD programs.
The history of U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) began during World War II in response to the threat of German delayed-action bombs and other enemy ordnance.
The first “Bomb Disposal” training school was established at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, in 1942 under the leadership of Maj. Thomas J. Kane, often referred to as the father of U.S. Army Bomb Disposal.
Following the war, some EOD units were deactivated or converted to reserve status and in 1949, the remaining units...
