Bomb squad clears grenades in quiet Texarkana neighborhood

This quiet neighborhood in the 1600 block of West 17th played host to elements from the Texarkana Texas Police and Fire departments as well as an Air Force bomb disposal unit on Monday afternoon. A family clearing a shed found two grenades.
This quiet neighborhood in the 1600 block of West 17th played host to elements from the Texarkana Texas Police and Fire departments as well as an Air Force bomb disposal unit on Monday afternoon. A family clearing a shed found two grenades.

TEXARKANA, Texas - An explosive ordnance disposal team from Barksdale Air Force Base lent their expertise to Texarkana Texas Police and Fire Departments in dealing with two live grenades discovered in a shed behind a house on West 17th Street.

The event, which took place around 3:30 p.m. Monday afternoon, involved the team taking away World War II-era ordnance and later detonating it at a safe location.

"Our officers were called to the 1600 block of West 17th Street," said Sergeant Kim Weaver, assistant public information officer, Texarkana Texas Police Department. "Relatives of a World War II-era veteran were clearing out the property that was his former residence. Two live grenades from the conflict were found in a shed in the back among his personal effects."

The bomb squad from Barksdale was called in.

"They subsequently responded and disposed of the explosives," Weaver said. "We made sure the scene was cordoned off and secure and ensured the squad could do their job. The Barksdale unit came out and took care of business."

The home's current residents, Bobbie and Rickey Johnson, inherited the home when Rickey Johnson's father died. His parents had gotten it from Barry Wilkinson, the veteran in question and Rickey Johnson's great uncle.

"Rickey's father left here for some years, and we just got the place and were clearing it when we found the grenades belonging to (Barry Wilkinson)," she said. "They were in what looked like an old Army footlocker, part of the items he brought back when he came home from the war."

The Johnsons had some contact with him when they were teenagers, and Bobbie said he is remembered fondly.

"He was a great guy," she said. "He was a wonderful man, great family man."

She also had high praise for the emergency personnel that handled the final disposition of the explosives.

"I thank the Texarkana Texas Police and Fire Departments as well as the Barksdale bomb squad for their assistance," she said. "Very polite and professional."

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