Allen Middaugh

Segment Synopsis: Middaugh talks about his childhood and their moves around the country before settling in Canton, OH. He discusses his family's history of military service and how his desire to be a firefighter eventually lead him to the military.

Keywords: California; Canton (Ohio); Frankfurt am Main (Germany); Surgical Assistant; United States. Air Force; United States. Army

Subjects: Childhood; Family; Military Choice

Segment Synopsis: Middaugh's parents originally worried by his choice to join the Air Force come around to his decision. He talks about his reasons for enlisting, his memories of the 9/11 attacks, and his basic training.

Keywords: Lackland Air Force Base (Tex.)‏; National September 11 Memorial & Museum; September 11 Terrorist Attacks, 2001; United States.Air Force

Subjects: 9/11; Basic Training; Enlistment

Segment Synopsis: Middaugh discusses his indoctrination training which was meant to screen applicants before EOD School. Middaugh got advice to choose something different from what he wanted to be after his military career so he decided to be an explosives expert. He explains how his training at the Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal was organized.

Keywords: Eglin Air Force Base (Fla.)‏; Explosives Ordinance Technician; Explosives, Military; Lackland Air Force Base (Tex.)‏; Ordnance disposal units--United States; San Antonio (Texas); United States. Navy. Bomb Disposal School

Subjects: Indoctrination Course; Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal

Segment Synopsis: Middaugh starts again as the new guy at Dover Air Force Base, where he is stationed from 2008 to 2010. He describes the culture among the Explosives Ordinance Technicians. He also explains Port Mortuary, dignified transfer, and dealing with death.

Keywords: Dover Air Force Base (Del.); Dover Port Mortuary (Dover Air Force Base, Del.); Explosives--Detection; United States. Air Force. Mortuary Affairs

Subjects: Dover Air Force Base; Port Mortuary

Segment Synopsis: Middaugh says it feels strange when so much has happened in your life, but no one seems to have changed at home.

Keywords: Canton (Ohio); Dover Air Force Base (Del.)

Subjects: Home

Segment Synopsis: Middaugh had a surprise Thanksgiving dinner with the Vice President. He describes his ordinance disposal duties and destroying cannonballs.

Keywords: Biden, Joseph R.; Dover Air Force Base (Del.); Explosives, Military; United States. Secret Service

Subjects: Cannonballs; Ordinance Disposal; Thanksgiving with the Vice President

Segment Synopsis: In 2008, Middaugh finds that his first deployment to Kuwait is less exciting than he expected. In 2009 he deploys to Afghanistan. Middaugh discusses his pre-deployment training, traveling to Afghanistan, what is an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), and the heightened awareness during deployment. He also describes his job and combat experience.

Keywords: Afghanistan; Florida; Germany; Helmand (Afghanistan); Kuwait; Kyrgyzstan; Taliban; United States. Marine Corps

Subjects: Afghanistan deployment; Combat; IEDs; Kuwait deployment

Segment Synopsis: Middaugh talks about about the Air Force's reintegration process through Operation READY and his return to Dover Air Force Base.

Keywords: Dover Port Mortuary (Dover Air Force Base, Del.); READY program; Ramstein Air Force Base (Germany)

Subjects: Post-deployment Reintegration

Segment Synopsis: Middaugh discusses his short tour to Korea where he worked with the Korean Bomb Disposal Unit. His next station at Hickam Air Force Base is where he met his wife.

Keywords: Frankfurt am Main (Germany); Hickam Air Force Base (Hawaii); Osan Air Base (South Korea); South Korea

Subjects: Hickam Air Force Base; Short Tour Korea

Segment Synopsis: Middaugh describes about his deployment to Afghanistan, working with the Afghan Border Police representative, and the vetting of Afghan EOD trainees. He visits the Afghan Border Police Compound. He also discusses the differences between how the U.S. and Afghan EOD technicians, Lt. Azim Noori and Sgt. Abdul "Ahmed" Khan, do things.

Keywords: Afghanistan. National Police.; Al Udeid Air Base (Qatar); Counter-insurgency operations; Explosives Ordinance Technician; Spīn Būldak (Afghanistan)

Subjects: Third Afghanistan Deployment; Training the Afghan Border Police

Segment Synopsis: Middaugh and his wife have their first trial run apart as they are deployed separately. He has to get calling cards in order to stay in communication with her. They get married in Hawaii, his wife leaves the Air Force when she learns she is pregnant. They move to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base on humanitarian assignment to see his ailing mother.

Keywords: Afghanistan; Explosives Ordinance Technician; Hawaii; Wright-Patterson Air Force Base (Ohio)‏

Subjects: Developing a Relationship; Getting Married; Moving Home

Segment Synopsis: Middaugh discusses his decision to attend officer candidate school and learning to fly drones.

Keywords: Alabama; Colorado; Creech Air Force Base (Nevada); Drone aircraft; Drone aircraft pilots--Training of--United States; Randolph Air Force Base (Tex.); Texas; United States Air Force Academy

Subjects: Officer Training; Piloting Drones

Segment Synopsis: Middaugh discusses his choice to join the EOD, how his service has changed him, how his wife's own experience in the EOD affects their relationship, and what people should know about those who serve.

Keywords: Explosives Ordinance Technician; Military spouses; Relationships

Subjects: Reflecting on Service; Shared EOD Experience Creates a Stronger Relationship; What People Should Know About Those Who Serve

Segment Synopsis: Middaugh discusses losing friends in the service, including 1st Lieutenant Noori on the day they were coming home. He shares a humorous story about Lieutenant Noori.

Keywords: Azim Noori; Explosives, Military; Premature death; Schooling

Subjects: Losing Friends

Segment Synopsis: Middaugh worked with the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command in Vietnam to ensure that as the archaeologist were looking for bodies they didn't inadvertently trigger an explosion. He discusses how much he enjoyed the food and culture.

Keywords: Human remains (Archaeology)--Vietnam.; Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command (U.S.); Phantom II (Jet fighter plane); Philippines; Quảng Bình (Vietnam); Typhoon Haiyan, 2013; Vietnam

Subjects: Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command