Quantico EOD called to remove WWII-era mortar from Virginia home

IncentralVirginia,it’snotuncommontounearthrelicsfromCivilWarbattles.Butfindinga50mmFrenchmortardatingtoWorldWarIIhiddeninyourbackyardissomethingelseentirely. That’swhathappenedtoHunterVap,aMarineveteranandresidentofOrange,Virginia.Afteramidnightencounterwithanancientpieceofunexplodedordnance,he’denlistcountyofficials—andultimatelyexplosivesspecialistsfromMarineCorpsBaseQuantico,about70milesaway—tosafelydisposeofit. LateontheeveningofApril23,Vapwasalertedbyhisdogtoafoxprowlinghisproperty,wherehekeepsasmallfarmwithpigs,chickensandturkeys.VaptoldMarineCorpsTimeshewasmovingbrushashechasedoffthefoxwhenhisfootmadecontactwithwhatfeltlikeaglassbottle. “Ipickeditupbecause,youknow,it’swherethepigskindofrootupandclearthewoods,andIdidn’twantthemtocutthemselvesonitorsomething,”Vapsaid.“So,Ipickeditup,andthensawthelittlefinsonthebottomandrealizedthatitwasn’taglassbottle.AndforasecondIwaslike,‘There’snowaythisisac