Active-Duty EOD Technician Honors Vietnam Veteran with Bedside Salute on Veterans Day

In Brief:

SrA Justin Hart, an active-duty EOD technician, rendered a bedside salute to Vietnam veteran and former EOD tech SMSgt Irv Duvall on Veterans Day.
The ceremony included Duvall’s family, other veterans, and was facilitated by VITAS Healthcare’s Bedside Salute Program with support from the EOD Warrior Foundation.
Duvall served 26 years in the Air Force, deployed to Vietnam, and helped found the Air Force Master Blasters Association to support retired EOD technicians.

Shoal Creek, Fla. — November 7, 2025 — In a heartfelt Veterans Day tribute, Senior Airman Justin Hart, an active-duty Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Technician stationed at Hurlburt Field, visited Shoal Creek River Rehab to honor retired Senior Master Sergeant Irv Duvall, a Vietnam veteran and fellow EOD technician. Dressed in his Air Force blues, Hart rendered a slow bedside salute to Duvall, recognizing his decades of service, sacrifice, and contributions to the Air Force and EOD community.

The ceremony was attended by Duvall’s family, including his daughter Pam, son Thomas, granddaughter Kimberly Coon, and great-granddaughter Kaylee Coon, as well as three other veterans residing at the rehabilitation center. For the Duvall family, the moment was deeply meaningful and emphasized the lasting bonds of military service.

“It was my absolute pleasure to have the opportunity to honor a veteran and a fellow EOD technician,” said Hart. “Paying respects to those who had to learn the hard lessons so that our lives might be easier is the least we can do to show our thanks. It was an honor to meet Irv and his family. I’m truly thankful for his tremendous sacrifice.”

Senior Master Sergeant Irv Duvall served 26 years in the United States Air Force, graduating from the Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal (NAVSCOLEOD) in Indian Head, Maryland, on January 15, 1960. He later deployed to Vietnam from 1968 to 1969. Duvall was also one of the original 26 EOD Technicians who founded the Air Force Master Blasters Association, an organization dedicated to fostering camaraderie, support, and communication among retired EOD personnel.

Reflecting on his career, Duvall shared, “I was EOD for 19 years. Out of all the people I met, knew, and heard about, there were only four I ever disliked — that says a lot about the caliber of people in the EOD career field.” Regarding the salute, he added, “It was really nice to be recognized by a fellow EOD Technician who understands the battles we’ve endured. I appreciated everyone who came — and the other veterans who attended. It means a lot for all of us to be recognized for our service and sacrifices.”

The bedside salute ceremony was facilitated by Samantha Quigley of VITAS Healthcare through their Bedside Salute Program, in coordination with the EOD Warrior Foundation. Quigley explained, “A bedside salute is a slow salute — a deliberate, three-second motion up, a three-second hold, and a three-second motion down. It’s a gesture of profound respect and honor, worthy of the extra time, to recognize the sacrifice of a service member. It gives both the saluter and the honoree a meaningful, reflective moment.”

The Bedside Salute Program is designed to honor veterans who may be unable to participate in traditional public ceremonies due to health or mobility constraints. Through this program, service members, retirees, and their families experience a personal recognition of military service, helping to foster appreciation and intergenerational connections between active-duty personnel and veterans.

For more information about the EOD Warrior Foundation, which provides support and resources to EOD personnel and their families, visit www.eod-wf.org. To learn more about the Air Force Master Blasters Association, a network for retired EOD technicians, visit www.afmasterblasters.com.