Sergeant Major
Edward F. Komac, Jr.

Sergeant Major Edward F. Komac, Jr. was born in Chigaco, Illinois, in 1937 and joined the Army in 1955. Following assignments with the 24th Infantry Division and the 1st Cavalry Division in South Korea, he became acquainted with members of the 542nd Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) school upon re-enlistment in 1960.

In his first EOD assignment with the 146th Ordnance Detachment (EOD), he volunteered for his first tour of duty in Vietnam supporting the 5th Special Forces Group in 1967. Following his next assignment with the 54th Ordnance Detachment, he returned to Vietnam with the 85th Ordnance Detachment (EOD), again in support of the 5th Special Forces Group. During this tour, he particiapted in the seiges of Dak Seang and Dak Pek, near the Laotian border. He supplied ammunition during the seige and participated in the defense of the post. For his actions, he was awarded the Combat Infantry Badge (CIB). Following another short tour in the U.S. with the 77th Ordnance Detachment, he would return to Vietnam for the third time in 1971 with the 269th Ordnance Detachment (EOD).

After several senior Noncommissioned Officer (NCO) tours, SGM Komac joined the 146th Ordnance Detachment (EOD) in 1978. During this assignment, he volunteered to be the Noncommissioned Officer-in-Charge (NCOIC) of the EOD detachment of the Multinational Force and Observers Mission to the Sinai Peninsula in 1982, in which he established the groundwork and standard operating procedures (SOP) for future EOD detachments.

SGM Komac culminated his career as the Sergeant Major for the 542nd Ordnance Detachment (EOD), EOD Control Center in 1983, in which he was responsible for all EOD detachments in the northeastern United States.

Sergeant Major Komac retired in 1986, following 31 years of service.

He died on 27 March 2016.