Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1969 EOD Report and Incidents
1969 EOD Report and Incidents
ffrJ.NXEY l( lUTClmL
.lmj<1lll". Oree A
c.:.=rn.img
Inclosure 1
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.QNERAL EOD OBSERVATIONS
1. MTOE 9-5200 has Df.len submitted for approval. A great deal of time arid
effort be gOil!!> in<;'Q it, to include viflits to each unit for recommend!l.tion!l.
There are three (,) aepaa-ate IITOE'a, ona for the 533!"d. one for the two city
units ill Saigon GnU Dill Nang, and a thil"d for --th<,; field u-'1its. The new MTOE
implcments TOE 9-5200 and has been modified to pli"o1r:!.de that equipment
required for EOD in RVl'I. Th!a MTOE specifically covers the re=
quiremonts tor 1l'shicles tor:' mobility and for cl:Illl!liUnicationso
24 The day of the Q!J.U and AGI has Decam@ Ii :reality :!.n RVN. Some units
have reeel.ed Gl,MI's, AGI's. others hawe botho All EOD
units will haw", li"OC<ili1!'@<! bl:lth by the Elnd of Fbcal Yeal[" 700 Suppiy and
ali'e l;,hll gJr'l:latest 'pli'obllJJ;1 areas tac::llllg mD ooitao S1!pplisi:l have
proved extrem!;l:y b.aro to gilt. alO 1';"1(\11 afj !Jllll!El 1fehicle . Thill wathllX"
and terrain have tabn tmeil:' toll Oil roD 1;flileeled Units that do
not maintam a well plalweod and 0x'!lcutsd PM pll'ogram ultimatel;r end up with
a high rate of :!.nopsl."abla equip!ll..nt.
3. All:roD Wlitsls;1;lr.Jt:!.e:mfl iIi1 Rim will be foE' aml:'d of the
Meritoriol!1l Unit &""'W1!.lJi1d'.ation for the pllIrlod 1 Janua:I"Y thro J i Decem!:>"r
19690 Target d.at r"w procesamg is 30 Jan 700 The EeD
communit.y will hI! kapt :!JmroFmod as to the status ot tho :rec=llndationo
,
.,
Inclosuro 2
t
I. The overall a:nld :1nc:iaent rate bas subsided d!.lring the second
half of 1969. Tnis to h, enemy improvement
in ammunition retrograde and in the
handling, shrege and usa 01' ammu,'Iition, EOD unii,6 took advantage of this
lull by continuing the liaison visit pJr!l'gii"am and prodding mare tlr'l!.1ning
til> the field units in EOR, Lard H:L'I<lJS and iklllby Traps, DBmolition anal
Explosive safety, Tho owerall success of t,ho E{)!J missian depends on geilld
EOD-customer relations and a liaison and training program.
2. During the past six months 9 EOD teJ;.:lls M.V"l ambushes and
ether farms of diroct with the snemy with frequency.
Major ambushes, minlllg i."ll:;:!,d.;lnt,s. att"'lll:s 9 bOllby t>raps, and weapon
cache discoveris., inl:'rosaaQd signifi@a!1t1::l", eSp!l<Jiall;r i!lwring the parkld
Oct 69 - Dsc 69. Incident .oat,..,l'J increased st!!:l'idily dllI'ilig this period
with 1775 incidents dlJ!X'1llg th\!J m!llilth of b<l;irl.g th.. peak periq:,Q
o
.3. In thc:;l 85th Oro Dllot'!3 ar"l1> IlIperoll.tlon3 an h,Cre6111G in eilemy road.
mining activity \,s,s eXj1O'rieneed. During per:Lio<!i! j Jtm thru 31 DBc 69,
tho 85th reCi1J,<eroo ",H" o:l.l11tF'OYlld a. t,;tal o! 61 lllL,'!j!l Higrnm.ys QL 14
anti QL 19.
The 133d Om Dst (Eon) il'. hJ!.gIn fer thG IlUllIOOr of inci,gents cl!llIploted 1lI
the second half ef 1969. A tetel of 1256 witb the
least numb.... :1.'l Ot:t\l;blilZ' (J67) ani! gli"eabs;l;. n'I!1llbl!lr in Dl'i"mbelll' (245),
Thill was a gain if j 11 "wag' t.he 1145 r1>(:riAaQ durt':!lro-<: U,.. first half of 1969.
Thl!l increase in inc::lldl1lli'J.h, li11.S attI":l.buted t.o s;;"611'11.1 fact,<1jrll.
a. Persennel!fif tbJ.a Mit ollcQuragd ttlI units by providing
prcmpt, wld to
b 0 ta rnslte <iiil.jh incident l.'1tl\) .lA lllil:le'1'n nait bY' selling the
prllgram to all .,ol1ltat'!!2 illn incident...
c, Teabing \fhlch IAcquailnt lliillXO"l llil>0pl'" with the services roD
has to Gffer,
d. Using exist:mg mnm l:lo<.!:!.l1.. SI1lCl!1 !!.!!\ t<'lbwb1\!tilp ts advertise ou..
seMrices.
5. The overall trsna of in ths Gapital Military
of Saigon was t'llwO'.Jrd 111,o1))ll"" Pii"'Cl!Gll:l1:!.Iili:\ll.l U11i!l> @f exploaives and oxtnmel;r
>mll phnned and .-.tt:lCJ,1:8. Tn" w.st tv.,'l/ l!I(hnth.. of i 969 vhowd &
definite in the of .. on US and
personnel and ail ;;'l'lSlI":!!.ll in ac",i'\l'i'l;:; all Free Worll1
Forces.
Inclosure J
- __" .. ,-. _.. ..;. .. ,- ,-' .. ---.-'. --- ,-... _., _.._...
6. During the Bu",-mer months the 18L,.th Oro En (EOD S-action) lmd an increase
of enemy activi'cy agam,;;!:. the POL pip.. lin6 J"lInni.ng between Qui Nhon and All
The on QL 19. Most of the booby traps ware located in 11 500 Illeter area
between two bridges. All consieted of explosives acquired from US, ord-
nance and parts of PRC/25 batteries. All devicss wre pressure, type J:l!lde
from ca.-dboa:rd 07: wood and ccr:rerad with plastic to 1'f:pel moisture.. Probing
could' not ba done. so dirt- was either carefully moved aside by hand. l."ashed
auey- with a high pressuX"e hose. or the a/;"ea wae flatened by heavy
equipment.
7. Several incidents are now. on /;"<1'coro 4Q;J;Jl, H79 rounds lodged
in the bodies of psrooimsl. EOD teams have stood by t,:; assist in. the
removal and disposition of the once extracted by medical. personnel.
To date there have been no detonationl'l Iffiile peraomlel were !."s-
moving these roundllo.
8. Overall obserwation!1 by' EDD pl>l'."s!}nnel. as dOCUln<!lnted by incident
reports, lead to the ccnclusion that the enemy 15 using more sophisticated.
munitions in conjv..\'lction with wall organized and trained troops. '"!hilc
many- locally produced it,;,ms lillrc utilized. the<'ll _s a notica.ble inC:rlase
in. the, use' of' manufa.ctul"ed munitionso
"
Page 2 of Inclosure :3
'
DISASTER
1. The ASP's in RVN enjoyed a relatively pear.:eful period during the last
hal! of 1969. Only two notable incidents were reported during this period.
a. The clean-up of the Qui Nhon Ammunition Depot _s completed
EOD personnel destroying a total of 102 tons of unserviceable amnunition.
This ammunition was generated as a result of a sapper attack on the ASP.
b. The 133rd Ord Det (EOD) inV\lllled in the surface elsarancs of
the old Due Pho ASP. EOD personnel located and destroyed a total of 19.5
tons of unserviceable ammunition. Consideration has been given toward
attempting a sub-surface r:learance operation of' this area.
I
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2. The clearance of the Dong Ha. ASP. schedul<.ld to commence last November.
MS been postponed until March 1970. This will be a major EOD operation.
since much of the ordnance is located sub-surface as well as on the surface.
The over abbundance of ICM munitions adds further to the problem. The
IIIMAF has been assigned the responsibility for this operation.
Inclosure 4
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INJlfflJEq,.!l.HD
t.
During the second hali' of 1969 EOD parsonn'31 8ustainOO some u..'lfortul1ate
injuries. while performing their Snme wore minor in nature
others were mora serious. EOD perscnnel continua to be falJod with the
explosive hazards of the EOD mission as well as the additional hazardous
nature of operations in RVN. Personnel are exposed to enemy ambushes.
rocket and mortar attaok:!: and land mines. The following is a list of
injuries sus.tamed during the second half of: 1969 and a bOl"ief narrative
describing them.
. a. SFC Boyd .F. Kidd. SSG Willard A. fulall, and SF'J. JOlJleph E. Tremain
of the 25th Oro !Jet (EOD) first aild sec:ond degree burn:;! while
clearing sa.tCihel oharges frOOI the POL tank fali"'..n ed; Al1 JQle on 1 Nov 69.
Tqe three wre treated a.ndretumed to dnt.;r.
b. On 5 Aug 69. MSG Ronald A. Cola. sSG Roben C. Nye and sP5 Arthur
G. Dedmon of the 42nd Ol'd Det (EOD) weJ:'<1! injl.lA"ad v.hil<ll attempting to ;remove
a mine at lang Hai foX' ths 5ih FO::"'!l3 G:,rol.llp. A."l }I14 mine was
acoidentall,y debnatad. 1njm-ing MSG C-tlll'. Di.lF.i."lij'; an attempt to evacuate
MSG Cole trem the m.ine t!tlld. another M14 mine "la.!! accidentally detcnated,
injuring SSGNye and SP5 DeJdmcn. JlJSG Cola h ).1 . lett leg and received
multiple frag' wounds. SSG Njre ...,.;:e:!.'!ecl a llea-1;auI1Jyill wound. S!'5 Dedmon
received a :serious Jl'O'D'&. WT?W!<I, resulting in th'l loss of twti i:.!l>ee. All
three were med-I!l'll'al.:\i!ld, to Japa.n. and th!!<n to CONUS.
c. On 23 Octpber 1969. SSG Jlm7 E, K"'ke1il of title 4?nd Ord Oat (EOD). v-
while attempting to remove an 1mpll1l.11ted HIt, !llin2 .waB irljl!l!"tld. v<Jry seriously
when an unknown dl!1ri.::e und"rnoaa1;,li the mme det"nated. Ha was evacuated to
. Japan, where ha late!." died from pne1Xl\onia on 29 NO"1embar 1969.
d. SSG Mer:Le L. Me:l'rick and SP5 David '1'. J"hnsQn of :he 44th Ord Det
(EOD) injl.l.red on 25 Nov 69. whlln they and infantry security
element were An Hi! of attacked, using
mortar and small arms fire. SSG in the leg by mortar
fragments and SP5 John;fjon slight .t'Eag ;;ou..",ds about the face. SSG
Merrick was evacuated by dust off and spGnt thz",ee days in the Dall Tieng
hospital. SP5 Johnson treated .his own men have returned to
duty.
e. On 2 July 1969
9
3P5 T.tnothy J. of the 59th Ord Det (EOD)
-was traveling with " whGn the vehiele waa riding on hit a mine.
resulting in a frag woW1.d his right leg. H:e was treat!ld and returned
to duty,
.1'. SP5 D. Bailsy otthe 99th Ord (EOD) received frag
wounds to his bl1ek and should"!' frem I!lnsmy 2.1rM.llllJ!'Y will:l engaged in a
clean-up operatum at Bu Dap CIDG Camp,. H!!l waB o1rMuated to Japan,
Inclosure 5
(J/-I "'7.)
/
. J tr! - J'( &""- d 1
g. On 12 Jul,y 1969. SP4 ICraig D. D?Jrn of the 133rd arc! ]Jet (EOD) was
wounded in the back when the helicopter in which he \"'s riding received
small arms tira f,"om the gNund. SP4 Dam was evacuated to Japan and
later to GOrIUS.
h. SFC Floyd A. Ames and &>4 David J. Fre;Y1.ll<;;nd of the 2S7th Ord Det .
(OOD) were injured on 1 Sep 69, Hhen 11 PG2 fuze detonated in the rear of
the vehicle in which they Ifare riding. SFC .Am<lfl received damage to his
right ear clrum and frag wOl.!.\1ds on the back ot hia head. He was evacuated
to the 85th E-"ac Hospital a!:ld later to ,Japan. SP4 Freymond rec"ived frag
wounds in his right arm. He _s treated at the 85th Emc lfuspital and
returned to dnty the day.
i. While "sponding till an incident. Cpt P.alph J. Schuchman and SFC
Robert A. Kelley of the .En (EOD Se?tion) ltere injured in a helicopter
craeh. The helicopter in which they were experienced mechanical
failure and crashed into a water filled bomb cll"atl9X". Cpt Schuchman received
II. fracture of the left ankle l1.nd right 11'5 was evacnated to .Japan and
later to CONUS. SFC Kllllley l'I'Jlceived mino!" lacerations and bruises. After
baing treated at the hospital he was returned to d utyo
j 0 SSG Michael D. Lizak and SP5 Brian J. Berst. of t,he 184th Oro Bn
(ron section) were injuNd by Ii liGtonation on 11 69, while checking a
pipelina foX" booby trapl3. SSG Lizak lost his leg below the Imee and was
evacuated to Waller F.!loo Genex-al Hospital, SP5 Bel."st rseeived frag wounds
of the face. He was treated at the 67th Hospital and later returned
to duty.
Page 2 of Inclosure 5
AWARDS MID DECORATIONS
During the second hill of 1969, EOD personnel continued to receive many
awards and decorations. Belolf is a list of the awards and the personnsl
receiving
Legion of
!.IA.J Gerald N; Pack /
. Soldiers !4edal
SFC Thomas S. l'Iheelel."-/
SSG Robert C. Nye v
CPT Chester H. Hilidl,/
CPT Thomas L. Stall"k V
BFC Blanchard v
SFC R2;ymond Puig..-
SSG Gregory Do Hentschel
SSG Lemuel T. H<ibry r
CFTMarvin-C.
--CPT==t!Oas=S;: Grl!!iE {2nd 6idFv
-CPT-Chester-H.. -Heidl- (1 st OLe)' ..r
saM; Franklin R. \1fardwell
MSG-J-ama-s-ih-A.nst1..'1"17'"
MSG-Ronald--A..-c<:1<rt2nd-
....L1er--Jr...-(-1-st-f}Let-
HSG . lee R 1!n1"r---
Thomas
-SFG-Donald-L.-i-\.nkel'.man {lst- OLC)V
.-SF..GJ!Dbert- Blanchmrd--(l st-owh..
SFe- Robert E;' . Chrm:1nal."'d=-
.SFG-!'1il1iam-J;--Slmde-l-,./'
SSG":Rona.1d-D.".._Car.lt.on-....-
..sSG-,{leorge-.F,-C!111pman-.- .
ssa--ehar-l-es--D"-Cr&.wford.,,,-
Inclosure 6
Bronze star w/V
Bronze star
-51'5 Arlhlll" G. ,/
SPS Albert W. Hays V
SP5 1TIJberl Keefe v
BPS James N. v
BP5 T.tnothy J. Rownph V"
BPS Jamea L. Williams V
SSG Frank R. HornbakeV--
.gsa Michael Do .Id;zii,k-
-S5Q ,i e"l.':rjt-E....[eke!" y'"
(Posthumously)
-ssG-J-immy-P;--Lynch,
.ssG-Lea-R.....Ness-
..sscLBoJ.and.-W-.---Petexollon-
-asG-Eugene--S..-Presnel-l-
SSG-Willard A;' S\nrli-
SSG-I:srls-F;-We:lliberg-
SF) John-U, GlaHi'--"
SP5 .ten R. lIa?ert.-..---
SP-5-Albert-"\ioHaysv
(1.at OLar-
.
. .sP-5-Datid-so-Tip'l<on-
SP-5-Robert-E.-Wert
-SP/.rThom&s-Eo-Nuttew-
Ci!'l'-Chestar-H;;-Hetd-J:- --
MSG-I:.ee-R.-MB:l=-f3rd-01e-)-
1!5G-!lllna-ld--C"....Sse.rlet>(-jllt-Of;C"j
'SSG-Georgll-F-.-Chapman-......
-SSG J,
-eP-T'-IlonaJ.d L,
-{1Pr-Mc-hae-l...,J:.,,-4'ava.ne-
12G-fWbert;-E;;-fJhllu-inln'd-
-
SSG-Ra-ymand-C,,-MeI':i"erIr
_
-- -sP5
-SPHlilhl.lr'd P., .. HllUElll-
SF-5--David.-K,-Kal\!''lbka.la.ni-
BPS
MSG Franklin To PO!)l."estt'lr V""""
SFC Floyd A. Amo!l!ll .....-
SFC Boyd F, Kidd (1st OLe) ..........
soo Leg 13, C9nl<h:1lfi .......
SSG Michael D. U.ZK J...--
SSG Willard A, Srn!lll v
SP5 Stephen D,
ARCOM w/V
SSG
SaG-RI<li--fh-Pattrlc:k_
.-8SS-.HJrJ'\}1:-E.-\'1iH:i-s-
Sf;; Rnbert .-
..sI!5-P,.,bel't-Keef'e-
J] fl, PJ::llIlgI:l_'
AHC01f
SP5 lfualu"Lh i". McCiin1il,Hrs
SP5 l'l-;;-,.'1<l<'Win--
Sf5 M:l:",llael
R:ngh-k;;-NeJltn'l'
SP5
m';
SF5 Iltll.!"gJJiOs F. 1"l1l>ilaS'"
SF, tlwnSli-d-G";-Robbiri""s-
J. P<.llWllpn-
sES
.5i?5 Rrihoma3"'
SPts Da1J'id S. 'E'l-pton-
SP5 S.."I'11Il-L,,-Young
SP4
,$Pl. Kx:li;j\.g D
. -- Pb, llr.OJ1Gl J"
SPIt TkI,$$Ilil g, l1u1i;i-er-
SP4
SF!,. A "'J','lOIl2.-
PURPLE HEl\RT -
,Io
1a
il J,L,.-ClQ.i1't-r
SP5 T:!m1)thy J. Roumph V"
BPS E.
SF4 KI-aig D, Dorn_
SP4 David J. Froymond V'
SP4 Gary L, IlD.ines V"
- o.-
NOT PREVIOUSLY
SFC D<l.le N, Smith (PurPle Heart
Page 2 IncloBux-e 6
lOClD INCIDENT INFORMATION
Date: 28 Oct 69
Unit: 3d Oro Bn, IDD Section
Identification: See NuTative
Narn.tive:
lOClD assim.snce was requested in the cleanup of llOIIIe abandoned 8lIJJl1mition
that had been involved in a fire and detonation. The lllIIIIItIJ1ition had
bell11 abandoned by the lith Armored Gav Regiment when it left
Blackhoree. Upon arriWti the IDD team found that the ammunition hadbeen
buried in a ditl/lh near an ARVN housing area and school. The ditch 1IllS
bmned off Md several detonations had occurred. The EOD team
found and pOlliced up several buried caches of 4.2" mortars and various
types of' fwlelil in the ditch.
The lOClD temn _I! U210 taken to an abandoned helo-pad. where numerous 2.75"
rockets and 40mm grenade IIImIIU11ition for helicopter had been lett. Most .
of the rockets lind 40mm ammo was olll; of the packing containers and lett ,
strewn around the pads. Many of the rocket motOI'll were unshunted. These.
items were polleed up and destroyed by the IDD team. Numerous additional
ammunition items were found still packed in their original shipping con-
tainers. It WilB relCommended that these items be tmned in through anmuni-
tion supply channels.
ITEMS DESTROYED
5 ell. Ctg 4.2" vIP
9 ell. Gtg 4,2" vIP
72 sa etg 4.2" W/F PD
14 ell. ctg 4.2
11
.1l1um W/F MTSQ
41 ell. Supplementary Charges for 4.2"
1,416 ell. ctg 40mm HE
45 sa 2.75" Rkt HE W/Hotor
12 e" 2.75" Rkt HE Xl1 229
18 ea 2.75" Rkt SHK WP
170 ell. Fuze VT T226E2
86 EA Fuze I1TSQ
44 ell. Fuze 14565
65 ell. Fuze PD H557
10 ea Fuze PD M51A5
1 ell. Gran H!U1Q Frag H26
EOD INCIDENT INFORMATION
Date: 28 Oct 69
Unit: 3d Ord Bn (EOD Section)
Identification:
Incident Narrative:
l.0 ea cis Fiber Containers
l.6 ea cis Grenades
At 2300 brs. this section received a call i'rom SOC of the LBASD. They stated
that the vehicle .patrol. on the bunker Hne had found a case of CS grenades
bursted open and were l.y1ng on the bunker Une road. All of the individual.
grenades cont&1ners had been damaged and seven (7) of the fiber containers
had been bursted and powered cis was spread over anareaapproximatel.y l.5'X l.8'.
The team consisting of MBG Gaddy and SP5 Pool. 'put on M-l.7 masks and gl.oves
and proceeded to pick up and package the --- cis grenades in pl.astic bags.
After this was compl.eted the two I!lB.Il team packaged the bursted fiber containers
in pl.astic bags. MIlG Gaddy requested SOC provide water so that the team coul.d
rinse the powered cis from them, al.so a detail. was requested from Area III.
The two man team then returned to CP to gather more packing equipment. At
0200 brs. the team met the detail. at Tower 26. The detail. was instructed to
shovel. up the cis getting the top l.ayer of soil. al.ong with it. This was put
in pl.astic bags and the bags were seal.ed by the EOD team. Al.l. the packages
of cis were l.ef't in the cis storage area until. such time as conditions permit
disposal..
7
1 Ctg HE (eS63)
, ,
_c.
Holcing
,
,.
.,
,
.,
,.
..
I.
..
, .
,
i'
f
f
.
,----
32-R
'!::is Ll ::,d.1 at n7s. ::c::-. f.GT cf
LC't:S st.JtcG. a CoI at t'..: .kQ":, 412 o? l:';e '::':':=:". "::::: :c..:;:c. i:: :'.:.:::
Eon the a SP5
S?5 Gee ., ....1 SP5 \ .. ... .... "l to t"",, 1.;-::. :;: - :-,.. .: .... _ ,'" , .. .1".; .. 1.,: __ ::. __ ,.1.:", 1 __ _ ... _''' __ - '-" u -":.J '-
2 \,c:1:'::1(;;F C' ..
els:o:.:hcl"c. i,-r.ile tha tea.=: ';..'.35 in rc:.:::c to the.
COfltacted tho 93d Evac a dccro:" tc be at tte
lcc2t ion. i' ,
LPO:l .::.rrivin,; at t.he [:'':'10:::- l:':-.e ilot .s.P?:-:J:-:i::,?.tely 20CJ l.:-s. :.h(l
l.:'-<i:g 0';""1 n. a :.::.t.r::r:";. L'h2 :::er. .:.sk-:::: ".:.C'
step tllCre a of 30 pco?12
r.:2dic \,':10 h:.:::: put the 0:1 ::aid the ;-::':1 C:...... be8n !:.it:i:lg
iIi tr.c the l"ClJ.'2.G ...c:s fi:=t'.d. The '\;;::' ".;2,.5 f.c:-::
Br. c,::jlj hi::-5e.l.f or coule :L.::::::r:g 0;1 :.;".,::
2n Grcn2.c:.c !..u'..!;:-:.hr.:.:' it t::::::iC:erl,:ly fi:i:':. L: 'or.:.-:-,
ir. the eX;Jcr.ce.':' cc.rtr:':':':;c. Ci'lSC. It \:aF dl:::;' c:::er:::i.ne.:: ::L.":t the
\\'25 still in the of the t.$ there. ,.85 only hel:
At 2015 hrs. S:cnt?ctery t::e
bo.:!y he i .. the tea::: chat he; could de ti:::;:rc!:o::2 "'':'U!.C hu.... e to
the body trc.n!iported back to l:\".Jc l:ospitc-.l. T;-I-2 'eDdy t,.;'?S in 2;\
n::-bl.!lance and SP5 road to the: hC'5pitnl ...... ith dccto:-. The i:.:"::b',.11a::e
...... as p!.ecE:t:ded by an vehicle and the :-0::1 SOC ;:hi,:::-' car-::iin 81'S
Pool SP5 Gee.
-.
: