Photos

Gunnery Sgt. Erik N. Swanson, explosive ordnance technician team leader with Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 7th Engineer Support Battalion, 1st Marine Logistics Group, digs up an improvised explosive device, during his deployment to Afghanistan. Swanson received a Bronze Star at Camp Pendleton, Calif., Feb. 1, for heroic achievements in Afghanistan. In one particular event, the citation states that Swanson was tasked with the termination of five dual-pressure plate IEDs in a single day that are intended to kill a technician during the disabling of the volatile device.