CISR sends its condolences to the family and friends of this unforgettable mine action hero. Yoder was dedicated to mine removal in Thailand and helped return the land to its farmers.
Read more about his legacy below:
Howard "Jim" Yoder knew nothing about demining when he got his first assignment in August 2001. Five years later, at a VIP Day ceremony for the recent handover of demined and cleared land in Thailand (attended by the program manager of the U.S. Department of Defense Humanitarian Demining R and D Program, U.S. embassy representatives, Japanese ambassadors, the Italian ambassador, provincial governors, the Royal Thai Army Deputy Supreme Commander, Thai senators, heads of nongovernmental organizations and other dignitaries), Yoder's name was mentioned more than once in speeches, each time acknowledging his vital role with the Thailand Mine Action Centre and his dedication to his demining commitments. In the eyes of more people than he probably knows, Jim Yoder is a very deserving unsung hero.
In 2001, a vegetation-machine manufacturer in Cambodia hired Yoder and later sent him to Thailand to maintain their machines. He has never left, and has now worked for S-3 Services—which has a contract with the Department of Defense Humanitarian Demining R and D Program—for the past three years. Yoder has devoted his life to removing landmines in Thailand and returning the land to farmers.
"Jim is truly one of a kind. He is one of the most dedicated individuals I have ever met," says Ron Smith, owner and Director of S-3 Services. "I believe that without him, the mission of TMAC would never have seen the success in returning land to the Thai farmers. He is truly the driving force behind clearing the land of thick vegetation so that the manual deminers can get in and do their work."
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