Civilian Moves WWII Mortar Found in Shallow Florida Waters

St. Lucie, Florida The St. Lucie County bomb squad was called to Pepper Park Beach after a civilian discovered a WWII mortar in shallow water. Tom Gramlich, who was looking for lobsters, recognized the 12-pound munition as he had reportedly "found other bombs in the area."

Gramlich picked up the device and laid it at the edge of the water, before asking a fellow beachgoer to call the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office. He also notified the lifeguard on duty.

Deputies responded and evacuated the beach in a 300-yard radius. The mortar was safely removed for proper disposal.

Talking to reporters following the incident, Gramlich boasted about having a similar experience in 2023 just south of Pepper Park Beach when he noticed something sticking out of the sand. "The U.S. Navy is familiar with me," he said. "I have a direct line to the EOD, the sergeant with the bomb squad."

Ordnance finds are common in the area that is the birthplace of the Navy's Underwater Demolition Teams, a precursor to the Navy SEALs, who trained to clear beach defenses during WWII.