Story by Cpt. Thomas Vail, 706th EOD Company, 303D EOD BN, 45th Sustainment BDE, 8th TSC

Picture of the MK15 artillery projectile after it was removed from FT Shafter and placed on SB range MF5 for destruction by detonation.

706th EOD response team prepares to load the projectile into a HMMWV for transport to Schofield Barracks for destruction.

FORT SHAFTER — Workers repairing a retaining wall dug up a 900-pound coastal artillery projectile, here, March 30.

The finding caused buildings to be evacuated, here.

The 706th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Company, 303rd EOD Battalion, 45th Sustainment Brigade, 8th Theater Sust. Command responded.

Staff Sgt. Thomas Maahs, team leader, 706th EOD Co., 303rd EOD Bn., 45th Sust. Bde., identified the shell as an MK-15, which still had a large explosive charge and fuse installed.

“Situations like these can be very dangerous,” Maahs said about the 48-inch-long projectile. “The age of the round, along with the condition of the fuse, can make these types of rounds very hazardous.”

The team of EOD Soldiers coordinated for an armored humvee from the company’s headquarters on Schofield Barracks to meet them on-site; they safely removed the round and transported it to a range capable of handling the detonation destruction.

The team coordinated closely with the Honolulu Police Department before and during the incident to ensure the transportation of the round was safely completed.

The area that was evacuated was reopened by noon.

“The incident site and size of the projectile were unusual, for sure,” said Sgt. 1st Class Kieran Dollard, operations noncommissioned officer, 706th EOD Co., 303rd EOD Bn., 45th Sust. Bde. “We respond to (more than) 100 incidents a year, on average, around the state of Hawaii.”

The 706th EOD Co., 303rd EOD Bn., 45th Sust. Bde., is responsible for all bomb squad requests across the entire state, with the exception of Oahu, where it responds only to Army property or military ordnances found off post. HPD’s bomb squad has the responsibility for all improvised explosive device calls for service and anything else that does not fall under those covered by the Army on Oahu.

“This type of cooperation and professional relationship building becomes vital when we respond to suspicious package calls and help protect major events,” said 1st Sgt. Darrin Watson, first sergeant, 706th EOD Co., 303rd EOD Bn., 45th Sust. Bde. “Without the high level of interaction, we would have a difficult time performing our homeland defense missions. The agencies, and more importantly, the people we work with are all great.”

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