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Blood, sweat, tears: Team Shaw members remember their comrades

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jonathan Bass
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. --  Service members and civilians remembered their fallen comrades by enduring the EOD 130 Memorial Workout here, Oct. 15, 2015.

Airmen assigned to the 20th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight, along with family and friends, pushed through their physical limits to remember the 130 service members across the four branches of the Department of Defense who gave the ultimate sacrifice since 9/11.

Of the 130 fallen EOD technicians, 20 were Airmen. While none called Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, home, the EOD community considers them all family.

"This was a good reminder of the suffering and sacrifice our EOD brethren have made," said Chaplain (Capt.) Robert Pitts, 20th Fighter Wing chaplain, who completed the workout in 49 minutes, one second.

The extreme workout was completed in groups of four people. Each individual completed four couplets of two different exercises before moving on to the next set. Exercises included front squats, kettlebell swings, squat-thrusts, pull-ups, and more.

The EOD Warrior Foundation, which is a non-profit organization, sponsors the workout across the DOD. It provides financial assistance and support to active duty and veteran EOD warriors and their families and maintaining the EOD Memorial Wall, Eglin AFB, Florida.

"We're doing this to raise money for a good cause," said Staff Sgt. Zachary Herrera, 20th CES EOD team leader. "The money will go to support EOD service members and their families."

This is the second consecutive year the 20th CES EOD flight has participated in the event, raising more than $700 for the foundation.