Coke Bomb

“I’ve found what appears to be a bomb connected to one of the silos.”

“81 Bravo to 81 Alpha”.

“Go ahead.”

“I’ve found what appears to be a bomb connected to one of the silos.”

This communication started an event that is still very fresh in my mind. I was the leader of the patrol on that side of base that night. I was an Air Force Security Policeman stationed at Elmendorf AFB, Anchorage, Alaska. The year was 1981.

The area we were responding to was a very large antenna field that was used to listen to the Soviet Union. I knew the area well because that was my first duty station before the 6981^st and 21^st Security Police combined.

I raced to the compound with my partner hanging on tight. We drove to the guard shack that sat in the middle of the very large antennae field. The SP that manned the guard shack was talking to CSC (Central Security Control). He took me to the silo that had a suspicious object attached to it.

What I saw was a Coke can with wires coming from inside the can going to the silo. I doubted that such a small explosive device could take down the silo but I wasn’t taken any chances. I returned to the guard shack to call CSC taken the proper safety precautions with radio discipline. Being too close to a bomb while talking on a radio may set it off. I described what I saw to CSC, this set the ball in motion.

The Base Commander, Security Police Commander and EOD (Explosives Device Disposal) all responded. I stood back a safe distance while EOD inspected the suspect device. I was rather taken aback by the lack of concern by the two commanders as EOD worked. They were practically on the guys back peering over his shoulder. If it was a bomb and it exploded we would have been minus two commanders. The SP commander would not have been a great lose though. He was a jerk.

EOD disarmed the harmless Coke can and I headed back to the guard shack that Blade B occupied. Blade (Yes, his real name) seemed a little nervous. Not the kind of nervousness you may have in a situation like this though. I suspected what turned out to be the truth. He planted the Coke can and wired it up. He was an idiot.

They ended up tracing some papers inside the can to Blade. Blade then got a new duty station in beautiful Kansas- Leavenworth, United States Disciplinary Barracks. He was sentenced to six months hard labor and a dishonorable discharge.