Pentagon identifies Navy sailor killed in northern Iraq bomb blast

Navy Expeditionary Combat Command released the identity and information about an Navy explosive ordnance disposal technician killed Thursday in an explosion, amid the U.S.-backed effort to retake Mosul from Islamic State fighters.

Chief Petty Officer (EOD/EXW/SW/PJ/DV) Jason Finan, a 34-year-old from Anaheim, California, died “of wounds sustained in an improvised explosive device blast” in northern Iraq, DoD said in a news release.

"The entire Navy Expeditionary Combat Command family offers our deepest condolences and sympathies to the family and loved ones of the sailor we lost," said Rear Adm. Brian Brakke, the head of NECC, in a statement Friday.

Finan, a master explosive ordnance disposal technician was assigned to Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit 3 and was serving in an advisory capacity to the Iraqi coalition force supporting Operation Inherent Resolve in Iraq.

Finan joined the Navy in 2003 and served aboard the aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan from 2004 through 2006, when he was selected for training as an explosive ordnance disposal technician, according to Navy records.

Attending dive school first, he spent the next year in training at the Naval School Explosive Ordnance Disposal at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida.


His entire career as an EOD tech has been spent with EODMU 3 in Coronado. Along with the warfare qualifications listed above, Finan is an Iraq veteran who earned the Navy Marine Corps commendation for his service in combat. His awards:




Navy Marine Corps Commendation w/ Combat V

Army Commendation Medal

Navy Marine Corps Achievement Medal (two awards)

Army Achievement Medal

Combat Action Ribbon (two awards)

Joint Meritorious Unit Award

Good Conduct Medal

Nationai Defense Service Medal

Afghanistan Campaign Ribbon

Iraq Campaign Ribbon

Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal

Global War on Terrorism Service Medal

Sea Service Deployment Ribbon

NATO Medal

Rifle Expert Medal

Pistol Expert Medal