An experienced diving instructor from Vero Beach was finishing up looking for lobsters at Pepper Park Beach when he noticed a mortar in shallow water.On Saturday afternoon, Tom Gramlich, 58, immediately knew what the 12-pound object was because he had found numerous other bombs in the area. They are leftover bombs used for training during World War II before the invasion of Normandy.”I have my favorite places,” Gramlich, who has been an instructor for 12 years, told WPBF. “I’ve studied the reef. I was finishing my dive and was low on air. I was in shallow water. It was crystal clear.”I saw an object. What is that?” he added, “Oh, this looks like another mortar. I held in my If I drop it, who knows what would happen.”Because he was at the water’s edge, he walked down from a few feet of water.He laid it at the water’s edge.Gramlich told a woman with kids to call the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office about the World War II mortar. In the meantime, he alerted a lifeguard, who “came over to where I was with the bomb.”Around 3:30 p.m., deputies responded to the park at 3302 N. Highway A1A, which is near Fort Pierce Inlet State Park.As a precautionary measure, beachgoers were evacuated at least 300 yards in all directions, the agency posted on Facebook.The public was advised to remain clear of the area.The bomb disposal team was dispatched to the scene. Three hours later, they successfully rendered the device safe, and the scene was cleared.”They detonated it,” he said. “They dug a hole in the sand and placed it in the hole. They put their explosives around it.”He said it was necessary to blow it up because it’s not known if it could explode.In 2023, Gramlich said he was spearfishing July 14 just south of Pepper Park Beach and noticed something sticking out of the sand.”The U.S. Navy is familiar with me,” he said. “I have a direct line to the EOD (explosive ordnance disposal), the sergeant with the bomb squad.”Most recently, the Navy wasn’t alerted because it was in shallow water.He even once found a 300-pound explosive.They are linked to the U.S. Naval Amphibious Training Base, which has more than 140,000 troops for amphibious assaults by simulating beach obstacles and running exercises with landing craft, rockets and amphibious trucks.It was the birthplace of the Navy’s Underwater Demolition Teams, which is the precursor to the Navy SEALs, who trained to clear beach defenses in the Pacific and Europe.Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25
An experienced diving instructor from Vero Beach was finishing up looking for lobsters at Pepper Park Beach when he noticed a mortar in shallow water.
On Saturday afternoon, Tom Gramlich, 58, immediately knew what the 12-pound object was because he had found numerous other bombs in the area. They are leftover bombs used for training during World War II before the invasion of Normandy.
“I have my favorite places,” Gramlich, who has been an instructor for 12 years, told WPBF. “I’ve studied the reef. I was finishing my dive and was low on air. I was in shallow water. It was crystal clear.
“I saw an object. What is that?” he added, “Oh, this looks like another mortar. I held in my If I drop it, who knows what would happen.”
Because he was at the water’s edge, he walked down from a few feet of water.
He laid it at the water’s edge.
Gramlich told a woman with kids to call the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office about the World War II mortar. In the meantime, he alerted a lifeguard, who “came over to where I was with the bomb.”
Around 3:30 p.m., deputies responded to the park at 3302 N. Highway A1A, which is near Fort Pierce Inlet State Park.
As a precautionary measure, beachgoers were evacuated at least 300 yards in all directions, the agency posted on Facebook.
The public was advised to remain clear of the area.
The bomb disposal team was dispatched to the scene. Three hours later, they successfully rendered the device safe, and the scene was cleared.
“They detonated it,” he said. “They dug a hole in the sand and placed it in the hole. They put their explosives around it.”
He said it was necessary to blow it up because it’s not known if it could explode.
In 2023, Gramlich said he was spearfishing July 14 just south of Pepper Park Beach and noticed something sticking out of the sand.
“The U.S. Navy is familiar with me,” he said. “I have a direct line to the EOD (explosive ordnance disposal), the sergeant with the bomb squad.”
Most recently, the Navy wasn’t alerted because it was in shallow water.
He even once found a 300-pound explosive.
They are linked to the U.S. Naval Amphibious Training Base, which has more than 140,000 troops for amphibious assaults by simulating beach obstacles and running exercises with landing craft, rockets and amphibious trucks.
It was the birthplace of the Navy’s Underwater Demolition Teams, which is the precursor to the Navy SEALs, who trained to clear beach defenses in the Pacific and Europe.
Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines and weather from WPBF 25