Making things go boom!

EUSTIS — Retired Air Force Tech Sgt. Ronald L. Stum, Jr., 58, represents a small but critical slice of America's armed forces — the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) warriors, who often go in alone and unafraid to defuse a variety of armaments in the tensest scenarios imaginable.

"The Air Force placed me in an administrative job, at first," said the former high school football offensive threat — Apopka Blue Darters, class of 1978. "But I was bored. I cross-trained into EOD from my assignment at Patrick Air Force Base on Florida's 'Space Coast.' I immediately discovered that even the schooling (at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama and Indian Head, Maryland) was high-impact, very interesting and exciting."

Post-training postings had Stum living and working at New Mexico's Cannon Air Force Base; with the Royal Air Force in Lakenheath, England; and at Arizona's Luke Air Force Base — a particular favorite for its 2.5 million acres of bombing and gunnery ranges.

"An EOD tech's dream," he said.

The constant moving, training and real-world experience paid off: Stum achieved the coveted designation of Master Explosive Ordnance Disposal Craftsman, known in the trade as a "Master Blaster."

The east Eustis resident pointed out that most people are not aware of the wide range of weaponry and explosives with which EOD personnel must be familiar, both nuclear and conventional.

"We have to know every weapon in the inventory, including every aircraft," he said. "And by 'every,' I mean throughout the world — not just U.S. hardware, mines and other widow-makers. And the aircraft house multiple explosive devices — ejection seat related and beyond. It's not just the bombs, rockets and guns.

"This is a job that requires continuous training," Stum emphasized.

Exuding a calm, confident spirit that bespeaks personal acquaintanceship with danger and adventure, he spoke fondly of worldwide travels and high-visibility missions, including security details in Moscow with former Secretary of State James Baker and a plethora of duties during the 1984 Summer Olympics.

His presidential jaunts in the Clinton era took him to several nations, including Spain, the Netherlands, France, Scotland and Wales — with special assignments providing support for foreign heads of state from Jamaica to Samoa.

But Ron's career highlight was deploying for Desert Shield/Desert Storm, reflected at home by his customized jeep with a meticulously-painted tan finish and striking EOD artwork on the spare tire cover. His souvenir-adorned den and shop also mirror the pride and camaraderie he felt being part of that historic success — a personal "final exam" that took in almost every aspect of the EOD mission.

The crew had the run of the massive Desert Storm area of operations and worked everything from disarming improvised explosive devices, to "un-hanging" aircraft bombs that had failed to launch, to other failure-is-not-an-option activities which remain classified.

"The danger piece," he said "truly is about the confidence in your training. You simply don't think about it. You have a job to do, period. And you 'know that you know' what you are doing."

Unabashedly "very patriotic," Stum points to his family service background with justifiable pride.

His late father, Ronald Sr., and late older brother, Jimmy, were both Air Force retirees. His daughter Crystal Stum Grissam is an Air Force veteran married to an active duty USAF NCO, and she has five children and a master's degree, her Dad points out. His younger brother "Chipper" was an Army signalman and grandfather James Edward Braswell fought in WWII and Korea as an Army medic.

"Faith in Christ" is the primary factor guiding Ron and his wife, Claire, he said. The couple is active in the First Baptist Church of Umatilla and Ron had served as a deacon in his hometown church in Apopka.

He also leads and encourages the practice of "adopting" out of town churches when he and teammates travel on extended EOD projects throughout the country in his position with Tetra Tech environmental services.

"You've got to have it," he says with a winsome smile.