s Gunfire and artillery rounds rang throughout Makua Valley this morning for the first time in three years. Live fire rings in Makua;
observer says target missedBy Gregg K. Kakesako
gkakesako@starbulletin.comBut, as it has been in the past 50 years, controversy accompanied the 100 soldiers from the 25th Infantry Division who were allowed to resume training and to fire their weapons under a court approved settlement in an area considered by some to be sacred.
William Aila, one of the court-approved observers, said he believes one of two OH-58 Kiowa Warrior helicopters, which fired live 50-caliber machine guns, missed its target. Aila said the stream of bullets went far beyond the impact area. "It wasn't even close."
"That's two days and two mistakes," he added referring to the problems the soldiers of the 2nd Brigade had yesterday in preparing their mortar unit for today's exercise. "I am concerned about the cultural sites where the rounds may have fallen."
Capt. Kenneth Smith, who was in charge of the Makua firing range this morning, said he doubted whether any of the rounds went outside of the impact area, but couldn't say for sure.
Maj. Gen. James Dubik, 25th Division commander who observed the training, said he also wasn't sure if Aila was correct, but was gratified that the training ended without any incident. No wildfires, one of the Army's greatest concerns, were ignited in the training area.
His assessment of the training, which lasted for an hour and 15 minutes, was that all of the artillery rounds and other bullets stayed within the impact and safety area. "We are very happy to have this done. It shows we can train and do it safely and do no damage to cultural sites."
Today's live-fire training took place without the use of the 2nd Brigade's 81 mm and 60 mm mortars because the unit yesterday was unable to complete the crucial registration process, which is used to ensure that mortar rounds will fall within the impact and safety area.
Col. Andrew Twomey, 2nd Brigade commander, said last night that soldiers fired three mortar rounds but stopped when the third fell inside the impact area and safety zone but within 33 feet of the Firebreak Road, which rings the 456-acre training area.
Under an agreement reached between the Army and Malama Makua earlier this month, a limited amount of training can be held in the valley as long as the Army completes an environmental impact statement within three years. The last time the military trained in Makua was in September 1998.