A ceremony was held on July 8 to present the Bronze Star Medal to Aviation Ordnance Senior Chief Petty Officer (EOD) Eric Clark of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 11. Clark received this award for his service in Afghanistan from Oct. 12, 2004 to April 1, 2005.

While in Afghanistan, Clark was assigned as Acting Officer in Charge of the Combined Explosive Exploitation Cell to Combined Task Force 76 in Bagram Airfield in direct support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

He led the cell in providing mission-essential weapons intelligence and collection of critical enemy intelligence in support of technical exploitation of enemy technology and development of counter-terrorism measures. He also was responsible for the safe elimination of over 8,000 pounds of hazardous enemy ammunition.

Clark, who was joined by his wife Erin at the ceremony, explained, “I was just doing my job. I put the knowledge and expertise that I have gained from the Navy to use.”

Senior Chief Clark works in the Readiness and Training Department at EODMU-11. He trains and prepares six mobile and two mine countermeasure detachments to deploy worldwide in support of the global war on terrorism. EOD detachments deploy with Carrier Strike Groups, Mine Counter Measure ships and on land.