2 Marines Killed, 15 Injured by Misfired Shell in Hawaii Drill
POHAKULOA, Hawaii — A misfired mortar shell exploded among a platoon of Marines at the Army’s training area here, killing two and wounding 15, a Marine spokesman said today.
The platoon of about 30 Marines was conducting live-fire exercises with 60-millimeter shells at about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday when the mortar round accidentally landed among the group, said Maj. Kerry Gershaneck, public affairs officer at the Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station on the island of Oahu.
“We had a company of infantry Marines who were practicing night defense fire,” he said. “That is, all the fire, all the weapons and ammunition that would normally be used at company level were being fired simultaneously.”
The injured, all suffering shrapnel wounds, were treated at medical facilities at Pohakuloa Training Area, on the island of Hawaii, and at Hilo and Kona hospital, where they were taken by a military helicopter, Gershaneck said.
Two of the injured Marines were in serious condition, he said.
The names of the dead and injured were withheld, pending notification of families.
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