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3 EOD sailors killed in Iraq

The Defense Department announced Monday that three sailors assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit 11 died April 6 in Kirkuk, Iraq.

Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposalman (EWS) Gregory J. Billiter, Explosive Ordnance Disposalman 2nd Class (EWS) Curtis R. Hall and Explosive Ordnance Disposalman 1st Class (EWS) Joseph A. McSween all died “from enemy action while conducting combat operations,” according to DoD.

Billiter’s father, Barry Billiter, said his son had been in the Navy for 15 years and was on his third tour in Iraq.

“He was a wonderful son,” he said.

Billiter was married and had one child. His wife and child live in Washington, where the sailors’ unit is based at Whidbey Island. His wife is a seventh-grade science teacher at North Whidbey Middle School; pupils were advised of Billiter’s death in a written notice Monday morning, The Herald newspaper of Everett, Wash., reported.

Billiter, the second of six children, kept in touch with his family in Kentucky by e-mail, his father said.

“I knew where he was,” Billiter said but added he didn’t know the circumstances of his son’s death.

Hall, 24, was a native of Burley, Idaho, according to the Navy. McSween, 26, hailed from Valdosta, Ga.

“We’re not the guys who go out and blow stuff up,” Chukk Fogel, who took EOD training with Hall, told the Everett newspaper. “We blow stuff up in safe areas. We blow stuff up to save personnel and property.”

Fogel, of San Diego, said Hall was fun-loving and not afraid to take risks.

Hall’s sister, Brenda Thiebeault, said the family was not ready to discuss his death.

The Associated Press contributed to this report