Vietnam War-era artillery shell explodes in central Vietnam, killing 3 farmers

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Vietnam War-era artillery shell explodes in central Vietnam, killing 3 farmers
By Associated Press, Published: July 31

HANOI, Vietnam — A Vietnam War-era artillery shell has exploded, killing three farmers who were cutting it up for scrap metal in central Vietnam.

Police say two of the men died at the scene and another died on the way to a hospital following the incident Saturday.

Tieu Viet Thanh, police chief in Binh Chau village in Quang Ngai province, said Monday that the men, who were aged 52 to 55, had collected the 105-millimeter shell near a beach in the village. The village, a former stronghold of North Vietnamese communist forces, suffered bombardment and artillery fire from American and South Vietnamese forces during the war.

Vietnamese government figures show unexploded ordnance has killed more than 42,000 people and wounded some 62,000 since the war ended in 1975.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia-pacific/vietnam-war-era-artillery-shell-explodes-in-central-vietnam-killing-3-farmers/2011/07/31/gIQAl1QSmI_story.html

[TheWraith]

1. In France, they still dig up bombs from the first world war.

About 900 tons worth every year, in fact, between WW1 and WW2. They're even afraid of finding mustard gas shells.

[PatrynXX]

2. course in the USA authorities get called up on false alarms

for all the inert shells people can buy. :P Colemans surplus is one such that sells that sort of thing. Great wool blankets though. they don't make or um (wash them in kerosene anymore)

[Kolesar]

4. The frost cycle heaves the iron to the surface

Or so I have heard

[TheWraith]

12. Yes--most often in farmer's fields.

It's referred to as the "iron harvest."

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

5. And when a French farmer finds one ...

does he immediately attack it with a hacksaw, for the value of the scrap brass and lead?

I'd guess that Vietnam has some government experts in disposal of unexploded ordnance. But then you lose the scrap value.

[Blue_Tires]

7. Even in the countless times the fields have been raided by memoribilia seekers

In Virginia if you know where to dig you can still find plenty of intact Civil War cannonballs

[Yon_Yonson]

3. We are just the gift that keeps on giving

:sarcasm:

[Judi Lynn]

10. Killing people 40 years later. That's some war. n/t

[Harriety]

6. Our neighbor just came back from Vietnam...

He was there for three months to help the orphans. He told me that there are undetonated shells all over the area and you have to be very cautious where you walk. Just another cost of war not to many of us think about. How many more bombs from how many more wars are still out there? I can't imagine.

[Dirigo]

8. VietCong Bomb

And we thought the Vietnam War was over...

[Odin2005]

9. "who were cutting it up for scrap metal" Darwin Award!

:crazy:

[Yon_Yonson]

11. Scrap metal and selling it to the Japanese

So they can build cars that American's drive around in ... rather ironic ya think! :sarcasm: