The Real Hurt Locker - US Army EOD Staff Sergeant | Aaron Hale | Ep. 228

Army Staff Sergeant Aaron Hale was severely injured in Afghanistan when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated in his presence. Hale, of the 760th EOD (explosive ordinance disposal), served a tour in Iraq and two tours in Afghanistan. EOD technicians are the Army’s tactical and technical explosives experts, who are trained to destroy and disable unexploded ordnance, improvised explosive devices and weapons of mass destruction. SSG Hale’s unit completed 1,100 counter-IED missions, destroying more than 20,000 pounds of enemy explosives. SSG Hale estimates he disabled as many as 50 explosive devices during his last tour in Afghanistan. SSG Hale received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, two Army Good Conduct Medals, Army Achievement Medal, two Navy Achievement Medals, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Navy Unit Commendation, Navy Excellence, Navy Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, two Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medals, Naval Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, Navy Enlisted Surface Warfare Pin, NATO Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, and five NCO Non-Commissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbons.