Airmen destroy Iraqi weapons for base security

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. John Gordinier
  • 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq (AFNS) --  Approximately 30 Iraqi weapons were destroyed here March 18 to enhance base security, including many AK-47s; a Browning 9 mm pistol; a World War II-era .50 caliber anti-aircraft gun; an RPG 5 and 7; 61 mm and 81 mm mortars; and a 122 mm howitzer artillery piece.

"We destroy these weapons, so the weapons cannot be collected by enemy personnel and used against us at a later point in time," said Master Sgt. Gregg Fleming, 332nd Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron armory and combat-arms assistant NCO in charge.

"These weapons have been turned in by units on base. Other weapons were turned in through amnesty boxes," added the Minneapolis native deployed here from Altus Air Force Base, Okla. "We have no idea where some of the weapons came from that were turned in through amnesty, because amnesty asks no questions.

"We destroy any weapons not categorized as historical or classified as war trophies for home units," Sergeant Fleming said. "This is something we normally do at deployed locations."

Airmen from the 332nd ESFS began placing all the weapons outside the armory in preparation for destruction. Waiting for civil engineer Airmen and the cutting torch, they stood guard over the weapons.

"We are going to chop the weapons down," Sergeant Fleming said. "We are going to de-militarize them to specifications by using a cutting torch."

"Security forces have specific instructions on how to de-militarize weapons that show us where to cut," said Tech. Sgt. Roy Hurd, 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron structural journeyman.

The torch uses an oxygen and acetylene mixture, which allows the temperature to get up to 1,000 degrees, added the Omaha, Neb., native deployed here from McChord Air Force Base, Wash. It can cut through just about anything.

Sergeant Hurd kicks on the torch and begins cutting through the weapons with specific instructions from Sergeant Fleming. Some melt like butter and break apart fast. Others take longer, like the 122 mm artillery weapon.

"It gives me great satisfaction to destroy these weapons, because now I know they are not going to be used to hurt Iraqis or military personnel again," Sergeant Hurd said.


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