ABOUT ME
My real name is Ed Rodgers, aka "Crazy Ed" or "AJ". I'm a retired Navy Master Chief Boatswain's Mate (EOD/Master Training Specialist). I was born in the 50's in Aylesbury, England. I lived there for 3 years and was imported to Roswell, New Mexico (or my space ship crashed there, I can't remember which LOL) as an Air Force brat. My family moved to Salina, Kansas when I was 9 and then to Fairfield, California when I was 11. I basically grew up there until I joined the Navy in 1973 at the ripe old age of 17. I joined the Navy at the MEPPS station in Oakland, California and was sent to boot camp in San Diego. I'll never forget the night I left home. They put us up in a seedy hotel in downtown Oakland. If being alone in Oakland at 17 wasn't bad enough I just happened to channel surf right into that movie about Jerry Lewis joining the Navy. After surviving boot camp, I attended and graduated from Personnelman (Personnel Clerk) Class A' School where I was taught to type and file and stuff like that. When I could finally grab the pebble from my instructors hand [Grasshopper...] I was ordered north to Naval Air Station, Lemoore, California. I reported to Attack Squadron ONE FOUR SEVEN (an A7E Corsair II Squadron for all you aviation buffs) where I lived and learned from February 1974 to September 1977. During this tour I made 2 Western Pacific cruises on the USS CONSTELLATION (CVA-64). The "Connie" is an aircraft carrier (for all you land-lubber types). After surviving sea duty I was sent to the Personnel Office at Naval Air Station, Lemoore where I worked as the Separations/Reenlistment Supervisor until November of 1980. I am a "Plank Holder" at PSD Lemoore. For all my compadres who remember the old CADO data base; boy, things have sure changed. I still remember when we got our first IBM Selectric II typewriters in my first command! I believe I owe the rest of my career to a man named Ron Holman. Ron was my roommate at the barracks in Lemoore while I was at PSD. He is one of those unique individuals who ran in 100 mile marathons. Seriously. He got me started in running and shortly after that I took up weight lifting and distance swimming, all of which contributed to my success in the EOD field. With Ron's motivation I managed to get two marathons (26 miles) under my belt before starting diver training. So, "Thanks Ron"! I submitted my request for EOD training. I was surprised at muster one day by being frocked to PN1 AND receiving my orders to EOD School. The rest is history.  Me At MK12 Diver Training in Indian Head, 1981 I love this country though I wasn't born here. I would love to go back to England to see where I was born but unless my condition improves I don't see that happening. Apparently the city I was born in is famous for its ducks! Dad was stationed at the infamous Walker Air Force Base in Roswell, New Mexico when we first came to the U.S. in 1960. I was 3 at the time. My mother is British and dad was Spanish and Filipino and serving in the USAF in England when he met my mom. Quite a combo eh?  Squeekies guarding my desk. The EOD community will always be a part of my family. I had the pleasure of working with some of the finest men and women I've ever met. I pray we don't keep adding to the EOD Memorial at the rate we have the past few years. Risk has always been part of the job. I don't think anyone could have seen the current situation coming. Education - Graduated from the University of Bombs and Bullets in Indian Head, Maryland; Class 5B-81, in March 1982. I was 2 Spanish classes, 2 business classes, and 2 accounting classes away from a BS degree in Computer Information Systems before life started getting interesting with assorted medical issues. Sports Teams - I'm "Unavailable" during all Boise State Bronco football games. I also try to catch all the Dallas Cowboy and Seattle Seahawk games. The Dallas Cowboys are home to more than a few ex-broncos; including Kellen Moore who is the current Offensive Coordinator. With a 50-3 record with Boise State, he is the winningest quarterback in college football history. A record that may never be broken.
OTHER LINKS Autism Society of America Generation Rescue Autism Site Boise State Broncos Web Site The Humane Society 
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