SSG Isaac Allender, Iraq 2004

SSG Isaac Allender was an EOD Technician assigned to the 52nd Ordnance Group. This DCU is from the time he deployed to Iraq in 2004 with the 748th EOD Company out of Fort Jackson. During this deployment he spent much of his time in and around Baqubah while supporting EOD operations in the area.

One of his stories is that he got to blow up a Lamborghini that belonged to Uday Hussein. He stressed that it was purely for scientific reasons. They were testing how a Jersey barrier withstands the explosive effect. The vehicle was an extremely rare Lamborghini LM002 off-road vehicle powered by a V12 engine. Only a little over 300 were produced, manufactured from 1986 to 1993. For additional reading on this story: https://www.military.com/off-duty/why-us-troops-blew-uday-husseins-rare-lamborghini-suv-iraq.html

His team removed over 100 IEDs and he received the Bronze Star Medal for this.

He had been deployed to Kuwait in 2002 prior to this 2004 Iraq deployment. He would later deploy to Afghanistan in 2008–09 then again in 2017. In 2022, Isaac returned to the 52nd Ordnance Group as Command Sergeant Major. He retired in 2024.

Notes:

Interview with Isaac Allender by Jeremy Albright, May 29, 2026. Personal images courtesy of Isaac Allender.