Grandpa(w)'s Grenade Safely Removed from Michigan Home

Paw Paw Township, Michigan Family members cleaning out their grandfather's basement found a military munition dated 1945. The discovery led to a response by the Van Buren County Sheriff's Office, the Paw Paw Fire Department and Van Buren Emergency Medical Services.

Deputies confirmed that the item was a grenade but were unsure if it was live or not. The Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety Bomb Squad was called in to X-ray the grenade and safely remove the grenade for proper disposal.

The sheriff's office is reminding residents that old military ordnance and other potentially explosive devices can remain dangerous for decades, regardless of appearance.

Estate Sale Purchase Includes Antique Ordnance

Austin, Texas An estate sale purchase led to the discovery of several WWII-era grenades, prompting a response from the Austin Police Department. Upon examination, the Austin Police bomb disposal team determined that the decades-old grenades could still be explosive and safely removed them after securing the area.

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Antique Hunter Unearths 50-Kilogram WWII-Era Bomb

Pinrang, South Sulawesi Indonesia An antique collector using a metal detector in Malimpung Village discovered a 50-kilogram unexploded aircraft bomb, prompting an emergency response from local authorities. The UXO, believed to be a remnant of the Japanese occupation of Indonesia during WWII, was found buried approximately 50 centimeters underground.

Upon being notified of the discovery, the South Sulawesi Police Mobile Brigade's Gegana bomb disposal unit deployed to the site. Under police security, bomb disposal personnel secured the area and successfully neutralized the hazard by conducting three separate controlled detonations.

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Suspected UXO in Bald Head Island

Bald Head Island, North Carolina Local authorities responded to the discovery of a suspected UXO near Beach Access 35 on Bald Head Island. Village Public Safety officials immediately established a protective cordon around the area, allowing EOD technicians to safely perform an on-site controlled detonation to eliminate the hazard.

The emergence of legacy munitions is a known occurrence on the island, stemming from its historical military footprint during both the American Revolution and the Civil War. Shifting sands caused by coastal storms, tidal changes, and routine dredging operations frequently expose these long-buried munitions along the shoreline.

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Royal Navy EOD Responds to Mortar Donation at Thrift Store

Paignton, United Kingdom Royal Navy EOD personnel were called to a local British Heart Foundation retail store after a piece of suspected military ordnance was accidentally handed in with a batch of civilian donations.

Specialist from the Royal Navy's Bravo Squadron EOD, based at HM Naval Base Devonport in Plymouth, responded to the scene and identified the object as a live British 3-inch HE mortar. After conducting an initial assessment and determining the item was safe to move, the EOD team carefully transported the munition away from the populated commercial area.

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Supreme Court Hears Arguments OB/OD Operations in Guam

Washington, D.C. The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments recently regarding an environmental legal challenge to the U.S. Air Force's ongoing practice of utilizing open detonation to dispose of UXO on the Pacific island of Guam.

The case, Department of Air Force v. Guahan, centers on a 2021 permit renewal application submitted by the Air Force to the Guam Environmental Protection Agency. The permit allows the military to continue destroying legacy munitions, including World War II-era explosives, at an isolated beach facility on the island's northeastern coast. Environmental groups filed suit to halt the operations, arguing that the disposal site sits atop Guam's primary drinking water aquifer and holds cultural significance. The plaintiffs also contend that the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requires the Air Force to formally evaluate alternative disposal technologies and solicit public input rather than defaulting to open detonation.

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EOD Goats on the Frontlines of Wildfire Prevention

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California MCAS Miramar has launched a firstofitskind wildfireprevention experiment, 471 goats are now grazing across the base's rugged East Miramar training area to clear dense, fireprone vegetation.

The pilot program, "Operation Goat Rope", began September 15 and marks the first prescribed grazing effort on a U.S. military installation. The allfemale herd of SpanishBoer crossbreeds, supplied by Shepherdess Land and Livestock, is tasked with reducing invasive grasses across an initial 600acre zone, including areas too dangerous or inaccessible for human crews due to steep terrain and active EOD ranges.

Base officials say goats offer a safer, environmentally friendly alternative to heavy machinery, which can damage habitat and threaten the near dozen endangered species living on MCAS Miramar. Col. Erik Herrmann, Commanding Officer of MCAS Miramar, said, "Bringing the goats in is much better than bringing in heavy machinery that's going to trample a lot of those protected areas."

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