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Vietnam War-Era Bombs Hamper DPAA Recovery mission in Laos
Table of Contents
- Vietnam War-Era Bombs Hamper DPAA Recovery mission in Laos
- The Constant Threat of Unexploded ordnance
- The Vital Role of EOD Technicians
- Collaboration and Expertise in the Field
- A Unified Mission
- Hope for the Missing
- Unearthing the Past: Laos, UXO, and the Perilous Hunt for Missing Servicemen
- Unearthing the Past: Laos, UXO, and the Perilous Hunt for missing Servicemen
SAM NUEA, Laos – The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) is navigating a perilous landscape in Laos, where an estimated two million tons of bombs where dropped during the Vietnam War. This vast quantity of unexploded ordnance (UXO) poses a constant threat to DPAA teams as thay work to locate and recover the remains of unaccounted-for American personnel. The expertise of explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians is essential to every mission, ensuring the safety of the recovery teams.
The Constant Threat of Unexploded ordnance
Each DPAA recovery mission in Laos carries significant risk. The simple act of digging, necessary to uncover aircraft wreckage, life support equipment, and potential remains, can trigger a deadly explosion. This ever-present danger underscores the critical need for EOD technicians to accompany all DPAA missions, including a recent recovery effort that spanned from January to late February.
The work is painstaking and methodical. Teams carefully excavate designated areas, knowing that a single misstep could have catastrophic consequences. The presence of EOD technicians provides a crucial layer of safety, allowing the recovery teams to focus on their mission while mitigating the inherent dangers of the habitat.
The Vital Role of EOD Technicians
EOD technicians are indispensable to DPAA recovery missions. Their expertise in locating, identifying, and mitigating explosive hazards is paramount to ensuring the safety of the entire team. Before any mission commences, EOD technicians conduct thorough briefings, educating team members about potential UXO and other dangers they may encounter in the field.
Once on-site, EOD technicians establish an excavation grid system and meticulously sweep each unit with metal detectors. This process ensures that the soil is safe before other personnel begin operating within each section. Host nation partners collaborate closely with DPAA recovery teams, providing invaluable assistance in identifying and safely disposing of any explosive ordnance that is discovered.
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.
U.S.Air Force Master Sgt. Manuel Carvajal, EOD technician with the 35th Civil Engineer Squadron, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight.
Collaboration and Expertise in the Field
Each recovery mission adheres to standard field archaeology methods, with excavation directed by an on-site scientific recovery expert. These experts work in close coordination with EOD technicians to ensure that mission objectives are met securely and efficiently. The synergy between archaeological expertise and explosive ordnance disposal is crucial for maximizing both safety and the potential for triumphant recovery.
Having EOD technicians deploy with our teams is essential for both our safety and ease of operations. 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.
Ally Campo, scientific recovery expert for DPAA.
An EOD technician’s toolkit includes a handheld metal detector and flags for marking locations. These tools provide valuable clues to scientific recovery experts, indicating areas where the soil may have been disturbed by metal material, particularly in recovery sites involving 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. 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 definitely help lead us to finding the person we’re looking for.
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Ray Slusser, DPAA EOD technician.
A Unified Mission
Field operations in Laos can last from 30 to 65 days. During this time, EOD technicians not only ensure excavation safety but also actively participate in unit digs and soil sifting. Every member of the team contributes to the hands-on effort, working in unison toward a shared and deeply meaningful goal: to recover the nation’s missing.
It’s an honor to be part of this mission as we are able to help keep our nation’s promise to our fallen and provide some comfort and answers to families. 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.
Carvajal
Hope for the Missing
As the recovery team continues its work, both Carvajal and Slusser remain hopeful that they will be able to bring the missing home, providing closure to grieving families.
It has been an amazing experience to work with service members and civilians from all branches, ranks and regions. 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.
Carvajal
Unearthing the Past: Laos, UXO, and the Perilous Hunt for Missing Servicemen
Two million tons of unexploded ordnance litter the Laotian landscape—a silent testament to the Vietnam War’s devastating legacy.This isn’t just a historical footnote; it’s a critical obstacle for teams attempting to recover the remains of missing servicemen.
World-Today-news.com Senior Editor: Dr. Evelyn Reed, a leading expert in humanitarian demining and the recovery of remains in conflict zones, welcome to World-Today-News.com.The DPAA’s mission in Laos is incredibly challenging, given the sheer volume of unexploded ordnance (UXO). Can you elaborate on the specific dangers these teams face daily?
Dr. Reed: Absolutely. the DPAA faces a uniquely perilous environment in Laos.The presence of an estimated two million tons of UXO—a staggering amount of unexploded bombs, artillery shells, and other munitions—transforms the landscape into a minefield. The simple act of excavation, crucial to locating remains, poses a constant threat. Digging or even disturbing the soil can trigger a devastating explosion, endangering recovery teams, local civilians and those dedicated to recovering the remains of our lost servicemen. This underscores why explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians are absolutely indispensable to these missions. their expertise is not just about safety; it’s about enabling the vital work of recovery.
World-Today-News.com Senior Editor: The article highlights the crucial role of EOD technicians. Could you unpack their responsibilities and training further? What unique skills and knowledge do they possess to navigate such hazardous conditions?
Dr. Reed: EOD technicians are highly specialized personnel. Their training is rigorous, covering a vast range of ordnance identification, handling, and disposal techniques. In laos, they must possess a deep understanding of the specific types of munitions used during the Vietnam War. They conduct thorough sweeps of the area using metal detectors and other advanced technologies to pinpoint potential hazards before any excavation begins. This complete risk assessment is paramount. They then employ meticulous procedures to safely remove or neutralize these threats. Their ability to safeguard the recovery teams isn’t simply a matter of security; it’s basic to the success of the mission itself. The scientific recovery experts depend on the EOD teams to create a safe work environment to uncover important artifacts, personal effects, and the remains of those lost in the war.
World-Today-News.com Senior Editor: The article emphasizes the collaboration between EOD experts and scientific recovery experts. How does this interdisciplinary approach maximize efficiency and safety?
Dr. Reed: The success of these operations depends on seamless collaboration.The scientific recovery experts,often archaeologists and anthropologists,are driven by the need to collect and protect the evidence necessary to identify the remains accurately. Tho, they need the EOD team to guarantee that the recovery environment is safe and appropriate for their work. This involves not only the immediate removal of UXO; it’s also about providing context. The EOD teams’ initial identification of the ordnance type, location, and potential triggers can greatly inform the excavation strategy and overall safety protocols used by the scientists. The EOD team’s skill using metal detectors aids the archaeologists in searching for metal fragments (wreckage, personal effects) of importance in the identification and recovery of the remains of missing personnel. The integration of their expertise ensures a delicate balance between scientific rigor and operational safety.
Unearthing the Past: Laos, UXO, and the Perilous Hunt for missing Servicemen
Two million tons of unexploded ordnance.That’s the grim reality facing teams searching for missing American servicemen in Laos. It’s a staggering number, and it underscores the immense challenges involved in this vital mission.
World-Today-News.com Senior Editor: Dr. Evelyn Reed,a leading expert in humanitarian demining and the recovery of remains in conflict zones,welcome to World-Today-News.com. The DPAA’s mission in Laos is incredibly challenging, given the sheer volume of unexploded ordnance (UXO). Can you elaborate on the specific dangers these teams face daily?
Dr. Reed: Absolutely. The DPAA faces a uniquely perilous habitat in Laos. The presence of an estimated two million tons of UXO—a staggering amount of unexploded bombs, artillery shells, and other munitions—transforms the landscape into a minefield. The simple act of excavation, crucial to locating remains, poses a constant threat. Digging or even disturbing the soil can trigger a devastating explosion, endangering recovery teams and local civilians alike. this underscores why explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) technicians are absolutely indispensable to these missions. Their expertise isn’t just about safety; its about enabling the vital work of recovery of missing personnel.The risk extends beyond immediate explosions; there’s also the danger of long-term exposure to toxic materials within the ordnance.
World-Today-News.com Senior Editor: The article highlights the crucial role of EOD technicians. Could you unpack their responsibilities and training further? What unique skills and knowledge do they possess to navigate such hazardous conditions?
Dr. Reed: EOD technicians are highly specialized personnel. Their training is rigorous,covering a vast range of ordnance identification,handling,and disposal techniques. In Laos, they must possess a deep understanding of the specific types of munitions used during the Vietnam War. This isn’t just about knowing how to disarm a bomb; it’s about predicting its behavior, understanding its potential triggers, and mitigating the risks associated with its proximity. They conduct thorough sweeps of the area using metal detectors and other advanced technologies to pinpoint potential hazards before any excavation begins. This complete risk assessment is paramount. Their training also emphasizes meticulous procedures for safely removing or neutralizing these threats, minimizing the risk to both the recovery teams and the surrounding environment. Their ability to safeguard the recovery teams isn’t simply a matter of security; it’s fundamental to the success of the mission itself.
World-Today-News.com Senior Editor: The article emphasizes the collaboration between EOD experts and scientific recovery experts. How does this interdisciplinary approach maximize efficiency and safety?
Dr. reed: The success of these operations depends on seamless collaboration. The scientific recovery experts, frequently enough archaeologists and anthropologists, are driven by the need to collect and protect the evidence necessary to accurately identify the remains. Though, they need the EOD team to guarantee that the recovery environment is safe and appropriate for their work. This involves not only the immediate removal of UXO; it’s also about providing context. The EOD teams’ initial identification of the ordnance type, location, and potential triggers can greatly inform the excavation strategy and overall safety protocols used by the scientists. The integration of their expertise ensures a delicate balance between scientific rigor and operational safety. The EOD team’s skill using metal detectors also aids the archaeologists in searching for metal fragments (wreckage, personal effects) of importance in the identification and recovery of the remains of missing personnel.
World-Today-News.com Senior Editor: What are some of the long-term implications of the UXO problem in laos, beyond the immediate risks to recovery missions?
Dr. Reed: The UXO problem in Laos has devastating long-term implications.Beyond the immediate danger to recovery teams and military personnel, it poses a significant threat to the civilian population. Accidental detonations continue to cause injuries and fatalities,hindering economic growth and impeding access to critical resources like farmland and water sources. The presence of UXO also creates persistent psychological trauma for communities living with the constant fear of unexploded bombs. Cleaning up the UXO is not merely a humanitarian concern; it’s also a crucial step towards sustainable development and peacebuilding in Laos. International collaboration and sustained funding are imperative to address this persistent legacy of war.
world-Today-News.com Senior Editor: What message would you leave with our readers regarding the importance of this mission and the ongoing challenges?
Dr. Reed: The DPAA’s mission in Laos embodies a profound commitment to bringing closure to families who have endured decades of uncertainty. The challenges are immense, but the dedication of the recovery teams, working in concert with EOD technicians and international partners, is truly inspiring. It serves as a powerful reminder of the lasting impact of conflict and the enduring importance of honoring those who served. The work underscores the need for ongoing support for humanitarian demining efforts and the continued commitment to accounting for all missing personnel, even in the face of extreme adversity. We must remember that bringing these servicemen home is not just about the past; it’s about honoring their sacrifice and providing solace to the families who still grieve. Let’s all engage in thoughtful conversation about this issue and how we can assist in the recovery of our missing servicemen. We welcome your thoughts and comments below.