1970 — June 8, TNT Explosion, demolition trng., Green Berets Killed, Fort Bragg, NC– 7

— 7 Hellman, Paul T. Historical Gazetteer of the United States. 2005, p. 815.
— 7 UPI. “7 Berets Die in Explosion.” The San Antonio Light, TX. 6-9-1970, p. 2.

Narrative Information

June 9: “Fort Bragg, N.C. (UPI) – All demolition training for Green Berets has been stopped until the Army can make a ‘complete check’ of procedures involved in an explosion that killed seven soldiers and injured five others. Fen. E. M. Flanagan Jr., commander of the John F. Kennedy center for military assistance, ordered the halt Monday following the premature explosion of 20 pounds of TNT on a demolition training range. Flanagan called the blast, which occurred during an exercise involving 10 trainees and two instructors, a ‘regrettable tragedy.’

“The squad was learning the kinds and uses of explosives late Monday morning [June 8] on a range in a remote section of this Army training center in southeastern North Carolina. The 10 trainees, part of about 121 Green Berets completing their final week of training, were in a circle with two pounds of TNT in front of each man. The men were to attach negative and positive wires to each explosive and then retire to a nearby bleachers to watch the detonation. But one wire apparently was ‘hot’ and triggered the TNT prematurely, blasting the boots and clothing off the men and gouging a hole three and one-half feet by one and one-half feet in the ground.

“Seven soldiers were killed by concussion and debris and the other five were injured, two seriously. One of the injured lost a leg and the other a foot. Three of the dead men were identified as Sgt. 1.C. Ernest J. Bryan, 37, and Sgt. Phillip N. Schnicke, 22, both of nearby Fayetteville; and Spec. 4 Ronald E. Puckett, 23, of Smyrna, Ga. Schnicke was a native of Madison, Wis. Names of the other victims were not released.

“The Army said the explosion happened despite safety precautions, which included a safety wire on each detonating cap. ‘I’ve ordered a halt to further demolition training until we’ve made a complete check of all detonation procedures,’ said Flanagan, adding that a military investigation was underway to determine if the explosion was the result of natural or human error. ‘The loss of these dedicated men so close to becoming full fledged special forces soldiers is particularly painful,’ he said.” (UPI (United Press International). “7 Berets Die in Explosion.” The San Antonio Light, TX. 6-9-1970, p. 2.)

Sources

Hellman, Paul T. Historical Gazetteer of the United States. NY: Routledge, 2005, p. 149. Partially Google digitized: http://books.google.com/books?id=EQ-R4O2L3nEC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

UPI (United Press International). “7 Berets Die in Explosion.” The San Antonio Light, TX. 6-9-1970, p. 2. Accessed 3-22-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/san-antonio-light-jun-09-1970-p-2/