CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan -- In 1945 the Battle of Okinawa was fought. During the battle, tens of thousands of pounds of ordnance and small arms ammunition were expended on Okinawa. Today artifacts from the war can be found and may still be considered active and dangerous.
Some of the many skills explosive ordnance disposal technicians possess are the ability to handle hazardous material and disarm explosives. U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Jose Gonzalez, an explosive ordnance disposal technician with Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific, is one of those highly trained Marines.
“My job is challenging because we are always on call,” said Gonzalez. “We constantly receive calls and if you treat every call as if it were the same, you start becoming complacent. When Marines become complacent, they or other service members can lose their lives.”
Gonzalez’s family immigrated from Mexico to the U.S., raising him in Port Chester, New York. When he turned 18 years old, he felt that the Marine Corps was calling him. By the time Gonzales turned 21 years old, he heeded to that calling. Looking back, Gonzales explains that he has never regretted his decision.
“I joined the Marine Corps because this country has given my family and me so much,” said Gonzalez. “To me, this is my way of giving back to the country. I am the first in my family to join the military. As a result, I've fallen in love with every moment that I experience in the Corps, and I am constantly growing and learning.”
To be a technician, Marines must transfer from other military occupational specialties. The MOS is limited to those ranked corporal and above. Technicians regularly conduct demonstrations of their equipment and responsibilities to recruit the most qualified applicants and help Marines better understand what it takes to be a technician.
Before Gonzalez joined EOD, he was a radio operator with Combat Logistics Regiment 17, until he reached the rank of corporal. During his time at Camp Pendleton, Gonzalez had the opportunity to work with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force – Crisis Response – Central Command where he was introduced to the EOD community.
“Sgt. Gonzalez is an extremely hard worker,” said Capt. Nathan Stuhr, an EOD dispatch officer with H&S Bn., MCIPAC. “He is an inquisitive Marine that is always looking for the next thing to learn or the next thing to do to help his fellow Marines.”
When Gonzales is not conducting his regular duties at work he holds the role of a supply custodian. The job consists of working on maintenance and logistics service requests, completing gear inventory of gear, and testing equipment.
After completing his daily tasks, Gonzales takes it upon himself to read publications on ordnance to study EOD knowledge. Following the end of his workday, he heads home around 4:00 p.m. to change over and enjoy car rides around the local town, expanding his 3D printing and guitar skills. Gonzalez explains that he likes to partake in these activities because it is a chance to learn something new.
“During my time with EOD, their lifestyle piqued my interest,” said Gonzalez. “When I was in Kuwait, I submitted a transfer package to EOD and received on-the-job training by the technicians there. I thought to myself, ‘I could do this for years to come,’ and I still feel the same way today.”
Stuhr explains that the EOD MOS needs Marines that can experience failures or setbacks but understand the broad breadth of knowledge that is expected to learn and maintain as technicians. He continues that there will be humbling experiences during their job and it's crucial to have individuals like Gonzalez that are willing to do just that.
“l find myself looking at the legacy pathed by past EOD technicians,” said Gonzalez. “Because of my training, I like receiving different calls because they will require different tools, and different procedures, to accomplish the mission. I think that's the best part of this job.”
Gonzalez’s mission is to detect, locate, identify, diagnose, render safe, and exploit all explosive ordnance. He does this by responding to calls from emergency personal and construction sites when needed. When Gonzalez responds to calls like this, he supports MCIPAC’s capabilities, alliances, and expands the capabilities of expeditionary forces, ultimately aiding the Marine Corps's operational status in the Pacific.
“Helping my brothers and sisters to the left and right of me motivates me,” he said. “I want to help cast a good light on the past EOD technicians and hold to the high standards they have set. I joined the Marine Corps to protect my country and give back to the community, he said. “ I think I have done this, and I know that the future EOD technicians will do the same.”