-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- http://www.accesswaco.com/auto/feed/news/local/2000/01/28/949107772.08003.4415.0429.html Artillery shells pound Coryell County ranch By RICHARD L. SMITH Tribune-Herald staff writer Army officials on Friday were still trying to find out why several artillery shells rained down on a Coryell County ranch causing damage. Joan Shoaf, a resident of the tiny community of King, was jolted from her bath tub Wednesday about 8:30 p.m. when the shells, believed to be fired from Fort Hood, came crashing into her yard. King is about 9 miles southwest of Gatesville. "I heard this terrible noise and I was on the side that it hit," said Shoaf. "I jumped out of the bath tub. I asked my husband what the noise was. He said he saw shrapnel everywhere." Shoaf and her husband, Robert, said four rounds of what they were told were 155 millimeter howitzer shells exploded near the four houses on their ranch. A 155 millimeter howitzer is a cannon with a barrel diameter of 155 millimeters. Robert Shoaf said Army officials told him the shells were fired from 71/2 miles away. That means the shells would have flown over Farm-to-Market Road 116, a route from Gatesville to Copperas Cove. Robert Shoaf said he called 9-1-1 after the shelling and that Coryell County had notified Fort Hood of the incident. The 70-year-old said this was the first time anything of the sort has happened. The Shoafs said the shells, some landing as close as 100 yards from their home, caused extensive damage to their ranch. "It did extensive roof damage to our house and cracked the foundation," Joan Shoaf said. "Of the four houses, there was damage to the roof of three and cracked sheet rock in one house." A chandelier in her living room flew off and broke into pieces, she said. Four small craters were left on the property by the shells and several trees were damaged by shrapnel. Fort Hood officials weren't releasing details about the incident Friday, saying an investigation is under way. "Once we learned of this, we immediately initiated an investigation into the artillery training that evening," said Lt. Col. Mary Ann Cummings, a Fort Hood spokeswoman. "We sent Explosive Ordinance Detection teams to the site to work with local authorities and review any physical evidence." Cummings said evidence was found that "leads to further investigation." She said artillery firing on the huge Army post has been suspended until the investigation is complete. Both of the Shoafs said the shelling was a scary situation for the couple. "I got to realizing how close to death we had come," Joan Shoaf said. "It could have blown up our house." Robert Shoaf said he called 9-1-1 after the shelling. Coryell Counties then notified Fort Hood of the incident. The 70-year-old said this was the first time anything of the sort has happened. Trees apparently deflected some of the impact of the shells. "We would have felt the whole blast if the trees weren't there," he said. Army officials, some of whom flew in on a Blackhawk helicopter, continued to conduct an investigation Friday at the Shoaf ranch. Robert Shoaf said an Army colonel flew in to apologize on behalf of "the general." "But," he added, "That's not quite going to cut it." Robert Shoaf said that years ago, residents of his area were approached by the Army about buying their land. A group of people banded together to fight the Army's efforts and won. "Now they're trying to take it by force," he joked. Richard Smith can be reached at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or at 757-5745. -- ----------------------- NOTE: In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only. 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