Posted on 04/22/2009 4:58:52 PM PDT by ButThreeLeftsDo
A Minnesota couple's home came under fire, sort of. On April 7, a 102-pound artillery shell flew over Rich and Kelly Nelson's home and landed on their 80-acre property on April 7.
They live four miles south of Pillager, near Camp Ripley, which is where the shell originated.
Capt. Ross Nieber told the Brainerd Dispatch BAE Systems, a defense company, was testing weapons. The company fired eight inert rounds. Nieber said one flew 800 meters off Camp Ripley property onto the Nelson's property.
As it skidded along the ground, it damaged trees and finally came to rest about 400 meters from the Nelson's home.
The Nelsons weren't home, but a construction crew installing cabinets was taking a break on the back deck when the shell flew over the garage.
Kathy Nelson told the paper they thought "they were done for."
Nieber said the shell would not have exploded since it was inert, but it could've damaged the home.
He told the Brainerd Dispatch Camp Ripley shut down its artillery firing after the incident. Since then it's added a larger buffer zone for weapons testing. Also, from now on weapons will be shot in an east-west direction, instead of north-south.
Nieber said this is the first time this type of incident has happened.
;-0
INCOMING!!!
Would have made a kewl paperweight.
I’d have collected it and said nothing.....
They obviously need more tests. On the way “Up North” my dad let me and my brother play on the tank they had sitting at the front gate. They moved it or put another one just to the East of the new highway, but fenced this one in.
Me too.
Did winter training at Camp Ripley in 1980 and 1981. Second time, no snow; just minus 10 and blowing dirt! Terrific ranges and facilities. 47th Division (Viking) U.S. Army Reserve were great hosts. Very helpful.
Got to climb around on a Bradley FV a couple of weeks ago in Bemidji.....
Very cool.
Ah...the blowing dirt!!
I pass Ripley twenty time or more each summer on the way to the lake...
I’ll have to drive faster with my head out the sun roof, I guess...
;-)
I got to do the same at the Wright County fair last summer. It is one cramped vehicle but seems like it could deal out death in a pinch.
Got a personal tour of the Bradley from a couple of the Red Bulls stationed in Bemidji....
You know, the Red Bulls....”Halp Me Jon Carry”.....
;-)
What poor choices we have for leaders in this country. One buffoon after another.
Curly Howard
This was one in a million.. The clown-car-media just had to make a story about this...
That’s why I stuck it in Chat......
Nyuk!!
;-)
Likely so. We were out on the range first day and had one go short I think down at Ft Stewart. We got tossed off the range and send back to the barracks for training.
Many ranges when they were built were deep in the boonies like Ft Pickett. The areas then became developed near the bases and the shots were more critical. This isn't a career ender or anything but the offending units C.O. likely caught some royal flack over it.
I have nothing but the utmost respect for our military and the NG, as well.
Shit happens. And the local clown-car-media chose to make this NEWS.
>>>This was one in a million.. The clown-car-media just had to make a story about this..
Well in fairness, a howitzer round lands in your yard, you might think it’s a big deal. I’m pretty easy going, but I’d notice.
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