Current and former Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Mobile Unit (EODMU) 6, otherwise known as “Kegbusters,” celebrated the heritage of the command August 29 at a ceremony held aboard Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story.

“We are gathered here today to shed some light on what it means to be a Kegbuster,” said Cmdr. Evan Colbert, EODMU 6 commanding officer. “The inspiration for Kegbuster Heritage Day came from discussions with past and present EODMU 6 Sailors looking for an opportunity to celebrate the command’s roots, unique history, command culture and mission success in order to tie together our past, present and future.”

The Kegbusters, the official nickname of EODMU 6, comes from the historic mine countermeasure mission of “busting” sea mines, which during the American Revolutionary War, were made from wooden kegs and flintlock firing mechanisms.

The moniker pays homage to the original mission of the command, which was established January 1, 1986 in Charleston, South Carolina and commanded by Capt. (retired) Terry Briggs, the ceremony’s guest of honor.

As the unit’s first commanding officer, Briggs had the challenge of establishing EODMU 6 as the Navy’s premier mine countermeasure unit and quickly made its mark with noteworthy success in the Arabian Gulf in 1987.

“It has been 33 years, seven months and 23 days since the command was established,” said Briggs at the ceremony. “It is very gratifying to see this command where it is today. Although we were not Kegbusters in those days because the call sign came later, what we do have in command is that I can identify with you and you can identify with me.”

EODMU 6, still the Navy’s mine countermeasure experts, added mobility platoons to their arsenal in the emerging war on terror at the turn of the century and relocated from Charleston to Virginia Beach in 2008.

The ceremony continued with remarks from former EODMU 6 Sailors Capt. (retired) Brett Reissener, Lt. Cmdr. (retired) Rich Mahone and current EOD Group 2 commodore Capt. Rick Hayes.

The guest speakers highlighted the history of the command and significant achievements including mine countermeasure missions in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and the recovery of TWA Flight 800 in the Atlantic Ocean.

The current EOD mission still includes the mine countermeasure mission but the EOD technicians deploy world wide in support of Fleet, Joint and Special Operations forces.

“Diving, and mine countermeasures all still part of being a Kegbuster today and then some,” said Briggs. “Your CO and XO were throwing other mission acronyms at me yesterday that I’ve never heard before, but when I look at your command logo today, I still see EOD, diving and mine countermeasures.  That is the linkage that connects what we did 3 decades ago to what you do today.  You are Kegbusters!  Own it; buy into it, 33 years ago, today, and tomorrow.  We have that in common.  I am just as proud of you today as I was of the plankowners of the command 33 years ago.”

To close the ceremony, Colbert unveiled a replica Civil War era naval mine, donated to the command from the Coastal Heritage Society of Savannah.

“The historically accurate replica will be displayed on the quarterdeck of EOD Mobile Unit 6 to serve as a reminder not only to the command’s southern roots, but also to the command’s 33 years of demonstrated success as the Navy’s premier EOD mine countermeasure unit,” he said.

Current and former Sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Mobile Unit (EODMU) 6, otherwise known as “Kegbusters,” celebrated the heritage of the command August 29 at a ceremony held aboard Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story.

“We are gathered here today to shed some light on what it means to be a Kegbuster,” said Cmdr. Evan Colbert, EODMU 6 commanding officer. “The inspiration for Kegbuster Heritage Day came from discussions with past and present EODMU 6 Sailors looking for an opportunity to celebrate the command’s roots, unique history, command culture and mission success in order to tie together our past, present and future.”

The Kegbusters, the official nickname of EODMU 6, comes from the historic mine countermeasure mission of “busting” sea mines, which during the American Revolutionary War, were made from wooden kegs and flintlock firing mechanisms.

The moniker pays homage to the original mission of the command, which was established January 1, 1986 in Charleston, South Carolina and commanded by Capt. (retired) Terry Briggs, the ceremony’s guest of honor.

As the unit’s first commanding officer, Briggs had the challenge of establishing EODMU 6 as the Navy’s premier mine countermeasure unit and quickly made its mark with noteworthy success in the Arabian Gulf in 1987.

“It has been 33 years, seven months and 23 days since the command was established,” said Briggs at the ceremony. “It is very gratifying to see this command where it is today. Although we were not Kegbusters in those days because the call sign came later, what we do have in command is that I can identify with you and you can identify with me.”

EODMU 6, still the Navy’s mine countermeasure experts, added mobility platoons to their arsenal in the emerging war on terror at the turn of the century and relocated from Charleston to Virginia Beach in 2008.

The ceremony continued with remarks from former EODMU 6 Sailors Capt. (retired) Brett Reissener, Lt. Cmdr. (retired) Rich Mahone and current EOD Group 2 commodore Capt. Rick Hayes.

The guest speakers highlighted the history of the command and significant achievements including mine countermeasure missions in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm and the recovery of TWA Flight 800 in the Atlantic Ocean.

The current EOD mission still includes the mine countermeasure mission but the EOD technicians deploy world wide in support of Fleet, Joint and Special Operations forces.

“Diving, and mine countermeasures all still part of being a Kegbuster today and then some,” said Briggs. “Your CO and XO were throwing other mission acronyms at me yesterday that I’ve never heard before, but when I look at your command logo today, I still see EOD, diving and mine countermeasures.  That is the linkage that connects what we did 3 decades ago to what you do today.  You are Kegbusters!  Own it; buy into it, 33 years ago, today, and tomorrow.  We have that in common.  I am just as proud of you today as I was of the plankowners of the command 33 years ago.”

To close the ceremony, Colbert unveiled a replica Civil War era naval mine, donated to the command from the Coastal Heritage Society of Savannah.

“The historically accurate replica will be displayed on the quarterdeck of EOD Mobile Unit 6 to serve as a reminder not only to the command’s southern roots, but also to the command’s 33 years of demonstrated success as the Navy’s premier EOD mine countermeasure unit,” he said.

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