• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

EODMU 11 Detachment Bangor Verifies Decorative Projectiles Inert

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060811-04
Release Date: 8/11/2006 8:20:00 AM

By Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Mary Popejoy, Northwest Region Public Affairs Center

SILVERDALE, Wash. (NNS) -- The crew of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Mobile Unit (EODMU) 11 Detachment Bangor traveled to Naval Base Kitsap (NBK), Bremerton, Aug. 8 to verify that decorative 19-inch projectiles were in fact inert and possessed no hazardous materials.

The decorative projectiles are located in front of bldg. 853, which houses the NBK career counselors, the Navy College Office and the Religious Program Specialists office, is due to be demolished in the near future. EOD was made aware of these projectiles by the NBK- Bremerton Environmental and Safety department.

“These are replicas that are full of concrete,” said Chief Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EWS) Keia Patti, a native of Yreka, Calif. “U.S. military installations are not in the habit of putting live projectiles as ornaments in front of buildings,” he said.

Even though Patti knew the ornaments were replicas before he arrived on scene, he still went through the process of determining that they were in fact inert objects.

“The first thing we look for is a certification number because with a tracking number, we can pretty much figure out what the item is, how it works, and defeat it that way,” Patti said.

The certification number also helps the EOD technicians when going through the investigative process.

“We have a library that tells us every ordnance item ever manufactured by the U.S. and other countries,” said Patti. “If the paperwork can be produced and it proves that it is inert, there’s no reason for me to show up,” he said.

Since the replica projectiles did not have a visible certification number, Patti x-rayed the items to ensure they were empty, and they were.

With EOD’s blessing for the replicas to be removed, Patti suggested that if the ornaments find a new home, they should be certified inert and labeled with tracking numbers and records kept, so those who encounter it in the future will know they are merely decoration.

"It's a good feeling to do this because it is what we're trained to do and we're glad to do it," said Explosive Ordnance Disposal 1st Class (EWS) Matthew Harrison, a native of Oxford, Mass. "At least now they know these projectiles are cleared to be moved without any worries of them exploding," he said.