6/21/1943
2LT John A. Randall and 1LT William W. Farris, Jr. were killed on 21 June 1943. 2LT Randall was assigned to the 1st Ordnance Bomb Disposal Squad and 1LT Farris was assigned to the 235th Ordnance Bomb Disposal Company. They were attempting to render safe an Italian naval sea mine when it exploded. The sea mine was located on a beach outside of Bizerte, Tunisia. Their deaths were the first of several deaths, which resulted from U.S. Army bomb disposal technicians being called on to render safe items of underwater ordnance that they had not received any formal training.
*This bio was researched and authored by SGM Mike R.Vining, USA (Retired). Please send any additional information and/or corrections to the author of this bio by email: sgmmvining@gmail.com. The EOD Warrior Foundation is not responsible for the accuracy of the information in bio.