Technical Sergeant Robert Butler: Explosive Ordnance Disposal 

When a bomb goes off, most people do not run toward it. If you’re Robert Butler, that’s exactly what you do. For Sergeant Butler, an explosive ordnance disposal team leader, it’s a selfless act of heroism, one that saves lives; five to be exact.

In June 2007, then-Staff Sergeant Butler was riding in a convoy led by Iraqi police when the unarmored police vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device (IED). Immediately, his explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) vehicle pulled up to the scene. The driver waited in the vehicle as Sergeant Butler jumped out and swept the area for secondary explosive devices. “In an emergency like that, there are guys injured,” Sergeant Butler said. “You don’t have time to sit back and drop a robot to look for secondaries. You pull up, you get out, and you’re walking, or running in some cases.”

“The hardest part about completing a sweep after an IED goes off,” he said, “is knowing the enemy is watching and waiting to push the button. You just try to be faster than the bad guys.” After Sergeant Butler completed the sweep and collected evidence, he immediately assisted the combat medic in performing life-saving measures. Afterwards, he evacuated the injured police officers to medical care in Kirkuk, Iraq.

Despite the viciousness of the attack and traveling two hours for care, his quick actions ensured all five Iraqi policemen survived.