FSB FONTAINE — As the first round exploded, the cry "incoming" was heard all over the firebase. Skytroopers of the 3d Bde., 2d Bn., 8th Cav. and C Btry., 1st Bn., 21st Arty, anxiously awaited for the calm of the night to return.
The first incoming this firebase received was not the normal mortars the enemy usually lobs at American forces. These were U.S. made 105mm artillery rounds that had apparently been duds when they were fired from U.S. artillery pieces. Two nights later more duds went off, only this time they were 155mm rounds, instead of 105s.
A member of 3d Bde.'s EOD team was called to Fontaine to dispose of a round that failed to detonate. According to him, some type of time fuse was rigged up to blasting caps in the rounds to cause an airburst. The reason the round hadn't detonated was that the timing device had fallen out.
The rounds were fired from holes used as launching tubes 150 meters from the firebase. Sticks were used to prop up and aim the rounds.
"Let's just hope they don't find any dud 500 lb. bombs."
Transcribed from original clipping by archive, 2026. Original scan preserved separately.
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