Armory Explosion
and death of
A1C Robert Edward Pascoe

by: Fred Krisch,
633rd SPS, Pleiku
1966-67

633rd Security Police Squadron, Pleiku, 1966-67

The October 1997 issue of Guardmount and read Steve Ray's column (Guardmount Pass-on's). Yes, A1C Robert Edward Pascoe was indeed a Security Policeman at Pleiku AB. He had arrived in Pleiku about May of '67. If I can recall correctly, he left a wife and two children. Pascoe was on "C" Flight and we had just got off duty and were turning in our weapons at our SPS Armory. The time was probably 0700 to 0730 hours. At that time, the policy was for an AlC to check all the incoming weapons to be stored. Also, the hand grenades AND the hand flares were stored together in ammo boxes.
       When I arrived to turn in my weapon, there were maybe three or four guys cleaning their weapons prior to turning them in to Airman Pascoe, who was working in the Armory that day. I was exhausted and did not want to clean mine (and I never skipped weapon's cleaning!) so I walked past Pascoe and put my weapon on its respective rack and walked out. It was no more than thirty-seconds passing when three terrific explosions came from the Armory. The guys who had been cleaning their weapons were injured, but there was no remains left of Robert Pascoe.
       Pleiku Air Base had to receive an emergency shipment of weapons and ammo, since we had none with the exception of those on duty and on the reserve team. A service was held for Pascoe at Pleiku Base Chapel (below photo):

Fred "Lurch" Krisch,
 9-'66 - 8-'67, Pleiku

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