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2 EODs killed in Iraq

SEATTLE — Two Whidbey Island-based Navy explosives technicians have been killed in combat operations in Iraq, the Defense Department said Wednesday.

Killed Tuesday were Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal Technician Patrick L. Wade, 38, of Key West, Fla., and Explosive Ordnance Technician 1st Class Jeffrey L. Chaney, 35, of Omaha, Neb. The Defense Department said they died during combat operations in Salah Ad Din Province. Both were assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit Eleven at Naval Air Station Whidbey Island.

In Manawa, Wis., Wade’s mother, Shirley Wade, said her son had been on a mission in Samarra, north of Baghdad. Relatives said he was her second son to die while serving his country.

“They were just on a convoy. They were going to take care of some explosives and their vehicle was hit by a very deep charge,” she said, her voice choked with emotion. “He was a very outgoing young man. He enjoyed the service and his family. I just really can’t talk about that.”

Wade was deployed to Iraq about two months ago, his 70-year-old mother said.

He was married with two daughters, ages 3 and 1, and the family lived in Oak Harbor, Wash., his older brother, Gary Wade, said.

“He loved what he did. He was a good friend, a good brother, a good uncle. He was a good man,” the brother said. “He believed in what he was doing and he believed that he was accomplishing his mission.”

Gary Wade said his brother’s vehicle survived an initial bomb blast Tuesday but he was killed when his crew discovered other bombs in a culvert under the highway. Steps were being taken to detonate them safely when they exploded.

Pat Wade is the second son in the family to die in military service. An older brother, 37-year-old Bob, was killed in a helicopter accident in 1993 in Japan while serving in the Air Force, Gary Wade said.

Ever since high school, Pat Wade wanted to follow his brothers into military service, said Gary, 48, who served four years in the Marines.

He wanted to become a Navy SEAL. “He just liked the adventure and the challenge,” the brother said. He didn’t make it but figured the next best thing was the explosives disposal team.