Project Phongsali 2011: Our student correspondent triggered the demolition that destroyed four bomblets, but a fifth appeared.

While walking up a dry creek bed this boy found four cluster bomblets (visible on the ground to his right). The blast that destroyed them uncovered a fifth bomblet hidden beneath the others. Our student correspondent, half a world away, counted down to the moment we detonated our charges.

Week Five

Day Thirty-Three

Usually, when we head out in the morning to demolish ordnance, we either have to search for the reported item or make a return hike to the location where we saw it days earlier.  By the time we get to the item, post sentries, clear the area of people and animals, and set the demolition charges, it’s mid morning here and late evening in the United States.

Today, I recognized an opportunity.  We had four cluster bomblets to destroy, and they were located just a short hike from the village center, up a dry creek bed that provided us easy passage into the forest.  Our sentries would have to control only a small area with limited access by villagers and their animals.  All in all, this job being so quick and dirty, it appeared likely that we’d be ready to fire our charges by 9:30 AM Muang May time; 8:30 PM in Schofield, Wisconsin.

Then, more good luck.  Satellites were perfectly aligned and I was able to make cell phone connection with Jack, the President of the DC Everest Middle School Student Council and ask him, as a representative his school, to become part of our demolition process.  (Jack’s school has been one of our major sponsors.  In fact, we would not be in Phongsali this year except for his school’s financial support).

Once our sentries were posted and the charge set, we patched Jack into our radio so he would have direct contact with our team.  As the sentries scanned their assigned areas for human or animal intruders, Jack counted down to the actual firing of nearly two pounds of TNT.  After the dust settled from our controlled demolition we confirmed that all four bomblets had been obliterated.

But… we then discovered that we had new work ahead of us!  Our explosion had destroyed four bomblets but unearthed a fifth.  We gave that bombie an hour to rest, just in case it was armed with a timing device that our blast might have activated.

After our wait ended Vilasak again approach the site and set a 200-gram block of TNT on the bombie.  Minutes later, from a firing point 300 yards away, we flipped a switch, triggered a blast, and destroyed the bomblet.