Posted on 08/30/2006 8:26:21 PM PDT by Gomez
I think you're right. I read an article here on FR a few months ago about a guy from California who found a 40mm grenade while hunting on or near a military base, thought it was a dud, and used it as a paper weight. He tried to use it to smash a bug or spider that was crawling across his desk and it detonated. If I recall correctly, he ended up losing his hand and a good portion of his arm.
just damn...
When I was in ROTC training, the Sgt. who was teaching us to shoot the M203 was quite experienced with it. He was dropping rounds into the back of a (target) deuce and a half about 20 yards in front of us, firing from the hip and talking while he did it.
He mentioned that under NO circumstances was one to leave an unfired grenade in the tube (which attached to and hung under the barrel of an M16).
This is because someone might be crossing a river with his platoon, for instance, up to his neck in water with the M16 held overhead. If somehow that M203 were to go off, one might be inclined to yell, "HE straight up! HE straight up!" and have to explain to his platoon leader why he was SUCH A FRIGGIN' MORON.
The Sgt. was speaking from personal experience.
And I always treat duds like the real deal
Eric R. Pianka was born in the mountains in the shadow of Mount Shasta in Siskiyou County along the California-Oregon border in 1939. He discovered lizards and snakes at age 6, when he became entranced with these splendid creatures. At age 13, he was seriously injured in a Bazooka blast in the front yard of his childhood home in Yreka, California. His left leg became gangrenous, and he lost 10 cm of his tibia, as well as the terminal digit of the middle finger on his right hand. Pianka's childhood injury left him with a short and partially paralyzed leg, which seldom slowed him down very much. In later life, his short leg resulted in spinal scoliosis and cervical spondylosis (an S-shaped spine and a pinched brachial nerve between neck vertebrae).
File that excuse with "I didn't know it was loaded", "I thought the safety was on", and "Yes, I had my finger on the trigger, but it just went off by itself."
Not even close. IIRC, the Howitzer is 155 MM.
What happened to the bug?
This is no big deal. Its done millions of times EVERY DAY by millions of TROP dads to their sons (if they are really forward thinking, their daughters too), toddlers and up, to ready them for Jihad.
If it was a 40mm round just removing the primer and the propellant charge is only half the battle. Then there is the matter of the exploding projectile at the business end of the round. It would've been far safer to remove the projectile's HE and leave the propellant charge in place. Then the worst case would've been a pop-off and some flash burns. No violent explosion, no frags, probably no-one killed.
I say use him for a live fire exercise at Ft. Irwin - as a target. See how he feels on the receiving end of some grenade fire...
"military shell given to a group of children by a neighbor exploded "
Try a sea shell next time idiot....
40 mike,mike.common on naval vessals in ww2.usually paired in guntub.Carriers were over run with them for defense against kamakazi attacks.
Shown in picture the typical BOFORS 40 mm round.
I had heard a story from a friend of mine that he and some others survived an ambush during Tet because some soldiers comandeered a Duster and headed for the sound of the gunfight. From what he told me, they chased off the NVA and rescued the survivors pretty much single-handedly.
Semper Fi
Oh wait, Kalifornia. The land of fruits and nuts. Unfortunately the nut killed some kids and not himself.
Just damn!
BAKERSFIELD - Several of the children injured by the blast Tuesday on Maple Avenue trickled home from the hospital Wednesday morning.
But the neighborhood usually abuzz with the sound of kids playing was eerily silent. The man who gave the kids the old military round was inconsolable Wednesday morning.
Frank Sendejo didn't want to talk on camera...but told 17 News he thought the shell was harmless.
But it wasn't harmless, his grandson died in his arms.
Ten year old Nathaniel Etcheverry fought back tears Wednesday morning, as he talked about the explosion that killed his brother andrew.
His Uncle broke the news to him "He came back and said he was dead and collapsed to the ground,"said Nathaniel..
The explosion sent shrapnel tearing through Nathaniel's abdomen.
Today, that pain isn't as great as the pain of losing a younger brother, who he said always used to played soccer with him.
Andrew's other brother Terrence was playing football in the same yard when the explosion happened.
"I see him, he was laying face up, with his leg bent backwards, his face was covered with black on his face, on the side of him...and i ran up to try to get to him, but the people stopped me, they wouldn't let me get to him...i was yelling his name and everything, said Terrence.
A second family is also finding its way through grief tonight.
Seven year old Jeni Klawitter died from injuries she suffered during the blast.
Jeni's aunt says her mom Veronica is in shock and can't believe what has happened yet.
The family is calling for forgiveness, but also for justice.
"She's an angel and this should never have happened. They should have been supervised, " said family friend Gloria Ortiz.
There's a many good serviceman (and servicewoman) that have never gotten the thanks they deserve from the people of this country. Too many civies take a hell of a lot for granted with their freedoms and liberties that has been possible for those that have served and are serving in the military.
This is one ol' boy (an Army brat too) that is and has been always grateful for all soldiers, airmen, seamen and Marines. I honestly wish our government would quit using our military as policemen.
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