THE STICK!

Back in 1973, our country was at war and as a cop, we were the first line of defense. We were sent in to try and resolve the conflict and only when we failed to bring about peaceful change, the regular military was sent in to end the conflict by force. Regardless of whether this was an acceptable system or not, it was how our country did it.

During, training, we as cops were subjected to the same kind of protocol, as the military.  So, what I am saying, is that combat rules were taught from the same books, as the military. Search and destroy and the principles and of collateral damage. In brief, searching and destroying applies, when negotiation talks had reached a dead end, we, as cops would arrest the “enemies of the state” on treason charges. We look for the “enemy” and either capture or return fire when met with armed aggression.

One morning, at the crack of dawn, my platoon, Bravo company were being instructed in live grenade throwing. As in the military, we also are required to prime, (load) your own grenade. Suddenly it is time to throw the grenades.

A squad of 4 launching cadets, also called “a stick” (us) are called up to the launch platform and at a count from the armory instructor, you pull out the safety pin, wait for the count from the instructor, then throw, wait for 3 seconds and hit the deck.

One by one the explosions would detonate, shake the ground, send off bits of deadly shrapnel whizzing overhead, while you lay waiting for four explosions. Then, once again the command comes, section clear! At which point, all four get up, run to the bomb shelter and alert the next stick to run to the launch platform.

<a href="http://www.wikiwand.com/no/H%C3%A5ndgranat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source</a>

That is how it goes down until someone’s grenade doesn’t explode! Like mine! I was immediately commanded, to get up from behind the protective wall, and to look for and find the unexploded grenade. Nothing in a hundred years can prepare you for this. You come up from behind the protective wall, to spot your “live” grenade and leopard crawl towards the still lethal bomb.

On the way to where it lies, amid dozens of shrapnel pieces, you die a thousand deaths. With each movement towards it, hundreds of disjointed thoughts, flash through your mind. You are now within arm’s length of the grenade, you ask the instructor what to do next…From behind the wall, he shouts back:”Hey motherf–kr, you prime it over there, replace the safety pin and come back here.”

<a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flickr_-_The_U.S._Army_-_Grenade_training.jpg" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Source</a>

Then you once-more fling your grenade and hit the deck. repeating the exact last part of the grenade training procedure.  And if successful, you join the rest of the platoon in the bomb shelter. When I opened the explosive chamber of the grenade, I noticed that the .22 caliber percussion cap had not lit the 5-second fuse. which is supposed to ignite the first cylinder of Amatol, which then ignites the cylinder of Baritol.  Both components which in turn, release extreme kinetic gasses resulting in shattering the outer grenade casing, sending off the pieces of hot metal, flying off in dozens of directions, maiming or killing what or whom ever, standing in its deadly path. Mercifully, mine went off and I lived to tell this story.

P.S. The international protocol for unexploded ordinance, (grenades and bombs) now requires mechanical detonation. A far cry, from the 1973 rules.