My friend Brad was attached to the 51st EOD (Explosive Ordance Disposal) detachment at Ft. Sheridan, Illinois.  During the late Spring, Summer, and early Fall of each year, it is common for state National Guard and Army Reserve units to go to Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin, for their annual two week training periods.  The 51st EOD had been tapped to provide personnel for range safety and clearance of unexploded ordnance.

 

The 40mm high-explosive grenade projectiles fired by the M79 or M203 grenade launchers are of serious concern to EOD if they don't explode.  The fuze mechanism of the projectile is known for its capriciousness in duds (unexploded projectiles).  Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is to blow the grenades in place when they are found.  Brad and his partner, Sgt. Butcher were assigned to range clearance on the 40mm grenade range.  This particular range had heavy use and had not been cleared for several years prior to their arrival.  It was decided by the Training Department to clear the range before the next batch of trainees were to use it.

 

Brad and Sgt. Butcher did a careful survey of the range, marking any and all unexploded projectiles as they found them.  The next job was to blow the individual projectles with C-4 plastic explosive.  During this process, other duds were surfaced as the result of the explosions and were attended to in a similar manner.  After a weeks' hard work, the range was cleared of 40mm grenade duds and troop training commenced.  The EOD personnel assumed the duties of range safety.

 

Each firing location along the firing line of the range was marked by a wooden stake about 12-inches high and painted with a number.  So, when Private Dufus came to the range to fire the M203 grenade launcher attached to his M16 rifle, he knew exactly what to use that numbered stake for -- a rest for his rifle while he shot the launcher!

 

Private Dufus assumed a good position, loaded a grenade, laid the rifle barrel on top of the stake, aligned his sights, pulled the trigger of the launcher, and waited for the grenade's explosion.  No explosion.  At that point, Private Dufus put the rifle down and noted -- to his horror -- a golden 40mm grenade projectile laying atop the grass at the base of the marker stake.  A quick call went out to the EOD range safety team.

 

Brad and Sgt. Butcher arrived on-scene.  They told the National Guard officers to clear the troops from the range and go back to the designated safety point while they blew up the grenade.  Once the troops were cleared out to a safe location, Brad and Sgt. Butcher surveyed the grenade.  There was an obvious dent in the marker stake where the grenade impacted.  Under normal conditions the 40mm grenade's arming distance was between 5 and 15 meters.  However, this was not a normal condition and no one could tell whether the grenade was still safe, partially armed, or fully armed by its impact with the stake.

 

SOP is to blow the grenade in-place.  Brad cutoff a chunk of C-4 explosive while his partner Sgt. Butcher prepared the blasting caps, time fuzes and fuze lighters.  Every thing was ready as Brad placed the charge.  The weight of the explosive on the grass allowed the unexploded grenade to move and it rolled down and against the C-4 block.  There was a collective sucking-in of breath by both EOD specialists.

 

Brad: "Butch, here's the plan.  I'll place the C-4, then go to the truck and get it started.  You prime the C-4 block.  When you hear me honk the horn, pull the pins on both fuze lighters, and haul ass for the truck."

 

Butcher: "You got it."

 

The plan came off without a hitch, and both EOD techs were soon at the safety point.  They got out of the cab, broke out cigarettes, and nervously lit up.  They were rewarded by a resounding BOOM! a couple of minutes later.  They then got back into the EOD truck and went back to the site.  Other than a splintered marker stake and hole in the ground where the grenade had been, everything was OK.  The troops filed back to the range and continued their training.  Brad and Sgt. Butcher waited for their adrenaline to stop pumping.