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Silver Star for SSG Daniel W. Ridgeway, bomb tech

by Jonn Lilyea••18

Chief Tango sends us a link to the awesome story of Marine SSG Daniel W. Ridgeway, an EOD technician who was awarded a Silver Star for clearing minefields on his hands and knees to rescue a wounded Marine;

His award citation reads that he cleared a 40-meter path on his hands and knees to a fellow Marine after the team member was struck by an explosive device.

Upon reaching the victim, he treated the Marine’s wounds before turning him over to a corpsman for continued treatment.

Ridgeway then began clearing a 100-meter by 100-meter landing zone so his team member could be evacuated.

That would seem to be enough for a day’s work, but Ridgeway’s team came under fire and his job had just begun;

After the team member was evacuated, his unit came under fire and he continued to clear more paths for his team and disarmed five more improvised explosive devices.

There’s a video of SSG Ridgeway and the ceremony at this link.

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18 thoughts on “Silver Star for SSG Daniel W. Ridgeway, bomb tech”

  1. Cajones, brass, clanking, extra-large: UI, 2 ea.
    Well done, SSG Ridgeway, well done.
    And an extra-loud HUAH to you.

  4. One truly cool head on those shoulders. He’s welcome at my house any time.

  5. EOD personnel are something else entirely. One might question their common sense and sanity at times, but no one should ever question their guts.

    Well done, SSG Ridgeway. The honor is well-deserved.

  6. Slightly off-topic, but this story from Iraq also demonstrates how EOD folks are both a bit different and gutsy as hell:

    http://www.stripes.com/news/marine-bomb-expert-shaken-but-not-deterred-by-ied-1.43618

    The Omaha World-Herald article has aged off their site, but the photo referenced above can be viewed here:

    http://blogs.militarytimes.com/broadside/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/burghardt.jpg

    Per other articles, GySgt Burghardt was “back in the saddle” disarming bombs about a month after the incident.

  8. Apparently those EXLarge brass ones come as standard issue when finishing EOD school.

  9. Off topic

    I’ve seen EOD do something you never want to see them do, run. We found an EFP and called in EOD. They went in and did what they do. As they were carrying it back they dropped it and ran. You could see everyone in my Strker crouch down and cringe. Turns out they saw someone in a window with a weapon and were just getting into cover.

  11. @Twist. If you see an EOD type running, it’s best to keep up. Well done, SSG Ridgeway, well done. On a somber note, yesterday was the annual EOD Memorial at Eglin. It’s when we honor those EOD warriors, of all services, who have fallen in performing their mission. Eleven new names went up yesterday. We Remember……

  12. @11 EODMAN: To absent companions …

    SSG Ridgeway: Well done, Brother! Please have many children. The Republic is in dire need of them.

  15. Would it be out of place for me to ask a few of these phonies to clear out a minefield/IED patch large enough to land a helicopter while under fire?

  16. Well done Brother!! Boom, Boom, Boom!!
    @#8- They are not issued in EOD School, We already had them, they just got polished!

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