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Ordnance Disposal Complete on Al Asad

Marine Corps News

Story Identification #: 2004122417427
Story by Cpl. Joel A. Chaverri

AL ASAD, Iraq (Dec. 24, 2004) -- The destruction of almost 5,500 tons of weapons, munitions, and explosives held at Al Asad was completed Dec. 18.

With one final, "BOOM," the last of the ordnance went up in smoke putting a huge dent in the overall removal of captured enemy weaponry.

Since September of last year, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has destroyed almost 200,000 tons of enemy ammunition.

Contractors here destroy at least 100 tons of explosives with each blast and have been doing this since May of this year.

"My company alone has blown almost 15,000 tons of ordnance throughout Iraq," said TJ Die, senior unexploded ordnance supervisor, Zapata Engineering, "and there are four other different companies doing the same thing as us."

Many of these bombs are dated back as far as World War I, yet terrorists are still able to use them as improvised explosive devices.

"We need to destroy all of this ordnance so that the (terrorists) can't use them against our troops," said Die, native of Lumberton, Texas. "Our work here on Al Asad has helped to do that."

The cache on Al Asad contained anti-aircraft missiles, rounds, and airdropped bombs as large as 20,000 pounds.

"Saddam had a ridiculous amount of ammunition here," said Zapata. "They even had bombs too big for their own planes to use."

Iraq's former regime purchased bombs from numerous of differing countries, spending more money on weapons projects than their own people.

"They really misdirected their finances," said Die. "Often we blow up missiles costing over two million dollars."

The U.S. military has also stored over 130,000 tons of these weapons to give back to the Iraqis for protection in the future.

"There's still a lot of weapons in perfect shape, so we save them to give back to the Iraqi people," said Die. "We can't leave them defenseless once we leave."

Even with all of the work done in Al Asad, there is still a lot more to be done throughout the country.

"Next we're going to Fallujah," said Die. "A lot of stuff has been found in the city there and we're tasked with destroying it."

Disposing of these weapons is a hazardous job. Ammo technicians have the job of piling up the bombs and prepping them for disposal.

"The ammo techs deserve the most credit for what we do because it's so dangerous," Die. "All I do is supervise and pull the trigger."

A former U.S. Navy service member, 57-year-old Die has worked with explosives for 33 years and worries for the safety of his men.

"I have 30 men on my team," said Die. "In the whole time I've been here we haven't any accidents, and the makes me happy as heck."