CORONADO, Calif. - Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 3 held a change of command ceremony, March 1, at Naval Base Coronado, Calif. During the ceremony, Cmdr. Lawrence E. Hall relieved Cmdr. Charles Andrews as commanding officer of EODMU 3.
"There are many people that stray away from difficult tasks, but you don't have to look any further than mobile unit three to find individuals that are ready to put their life on the line daily. Your courage, patriotism, and willingness to carry the fight to the enemy are the very reason America is the most dominant military force in the world,” said Andrews. “Every day I was humbled by the selfless warriors of EODMU 3. I will remember you always as the bravest men and women with whom I have served."
Andrews assumed command of EODMU 3 in June 2010. Since taking the helm, Andrews led the unit during two deployments to Afghanistan.
During his tour at EODMU 3, Andrews also trained and deployed seven special operation force platoons, seven combat expeditionary support platoons, three carrier strike group platoons and one mine countermeasures platoon for combat operations in direct support of Operations New Dawn, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.
Capt. Ed Eidson, commander, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (EODGRU) 1, served as guest speaker for the ceremony.
“It’s very easy to lead a command when everything goes right. That’s not hard. As a commanding officer, your job is to lead when things don’t go right. Charles, you did an exceptional job,” said Eidson. “Lawrence, you have been preparing for this your entire life, I know you will do well.”
Andrews is a graduate of the University of Mississippi and was commissioned an ensign in May of 1992. His next assignment is to the Center for Explosive Ordnance Disposal and Diving in Panama City, Fl.
“Everybody’s told me for the last 28 years, command at sea is the greatest job in the Navy, and it is,” said Hall. “It’s also one of the most humbling jobs that I know I’ll ever have, because I’ll have to try and live up to what is demanded to lead men and women like this.”
Hall enlisted in the Navy in May of 1985, is a graduate of Virginia Polytechnic University, and was commissioned in May of 1996.
EODMU 3 provides operational explosive ordnance disposal capability as required for the location, identification, rendering safe, recovery, field evaluation and disposal of all explosive ordnance, including chemical and nuclear weapons.
U.S. Navy EOD is the world’s premier combat force for countering explosive hazards and conducting expeditionary diving and salvage.
Learn more about Navy EOD and what West Coast EOD is doing, check out our facebook page: www.facebook.com/eodgroup1
Date Taken: | 03.01.2013 |
Date Posted: | 03.04.2013 14:29 |
Story ID: | 102879 |
Location: | CORONADO, CALIFORNIA, US |
Web Views: | 834 |
Downloads: | 1 |
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