Copied from another site. I did not know this and I wonder how many other Bomb Techs know of this incident. I should have done this from the start, many may not have heard of SGM Foster so here is a little background info... Heres the narrative of SGM Fosters death while protecting Robert Dole, then a US vice-presidential candidate running with Gerald Ford in the 1976 campaign: SGM Kenneth Ray Foster, Sr. was killed on 28 September 1976. SGM Foster was assigned to the 63rd Ordnance Detachment (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. SGM Foster, SSG James P. Smith, SSG George Sledge, and SP5 Mike R. Vining were on a Presidential Campaign Secret Service support for Republican Senator Robert Dole at Quincy, Illinois. Senator Dole was running as the Vice Presidential candidate for President Gerald Ford’s reelection. Late in the evening on 27 September, four bombs detonated in the city. One bomb detonated on a small bridge and three bombs detonated at Quincy Compressor Division Plant, a division of Colt Industries, Incorporated. A police officer that had arrived between the first and last detonation at the plant was treated for eardrum injury. Earlier that morning the plant had received two bomb threats. Another bomb threat came in later that same afternoon. On the morning of 28 September, a bomb threat was called into Baldwin Airfield as Senator Dole’s aircraft was in the process of departing. After being released from Secret Service VIP support, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team was asked by Adams County Sheriff to exam the bombing sites. The fire department was conducting a search of the area in the daylight and found an improvised explosive device in a truck trailers that housed a huge compressor. SGM Foster went down for a reconnaissance along with the Illinois State fire inspector. Shortly after 1030 hours the improved explosive device detonated killing SGM Foster instantly. SGM Foster took the impact of the blast into his upper body, head, and right arm. The state fire inspector was seriously injured, he was temporarily blinded and had his eardrums ruptured from the blast. The improvised explosive device consisted of approximately three pounds (six to eight sticks) of standard commercial dynamite, electric blasting cap, mechanical alarms clock, and a 6-volt battery.
Posted on: Sat, 19 Apr 2014 12:40:05 +0000
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