World War II-era munitions found in Beatrice home deemed to be safe

Old World War II munitions found in a Beatrice home created a scare but turned out to be safe.

Nebraska State Patrol

BEATRICE, Neb. — What began as a routine property clean-out turned into a scene from history last week when local authorities discovered approximately 40 WWII-era ordnances in a Beatrice home. The cache, reported by the Beatrice Police Department following the homeowner's passing, brought Nebraska's Bomb Squad and the 155th Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) unit of the Nebraska Air National Guard to the scene.

Fortunately, all of the munitions were confirmed to be inert after careful examination. "Thankfully in this case, none of the items were live munitions," said Sgt. Clayton Dishong, Commander of the Nebraska State Patrol Bomb Squad. “But it’s not safe to assume that of any potential explosive device you may find.”

The discovery is a reminder of the hidden hazards that sometimes surface when families handle the possessions of loved ones. Authorities encourage anyone who encounters similar items to call 911 without moving the objects. The NSP Bomb Squad and the ANG EOD team respond to dozens of such cases annually, handling everything from forgotten military relics to potential explosives found by unsuspecting family members.