Suspicious package reminder to Team Mildenhall to stay vigilant

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Kathleen M. Ferrero
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Friday didn't seem like a day that he could die. But, the five minutes it took a stranger to hand Tech. Sgt Bobby Wood a package was enough time to detonate a bomb. 

It all started when Sergeant Wood strolled up to Building 257 at about 10:15 a.m. to prepare a house for its next occupants. As noncommissioned officer in charge of unaccompanied housing, he routinely picked up the previous occupants' mail and took it to his or her squadron. 

"When I opened the gate, a guy walked through the fence as if he was part of the party I was there to meet," Sergeant Wood said of the man he thought was a project manager. "He asked if I had anything to do with house. I said yes. He handed me the package. I didn't think anything of it and carried it in." 

Then one of the project managers he was scheduled to meet came from behind the house and asked who the man was. 

Adrenaline spilled through the technical sergeant's veins. His eyes moved to the brown envelope in his hands. 

There was no return address. The sender had written "MAJOR GENERAL, U.S.A.F. MILDENHALL, SUFFOLK." on the address label. Next to it with asterisks read "This package is safe." 

"Everything pointed to the contrary," Sergeant Wood said. 

He placed the package down and called the law enforcement desk. They dispatched troops who determined the package to be suspicious and set up a cordon and traffic control points. 

According to a police report, Colchester Explosive Ordnance found that the envelope didn't contain a bomb, and the threat response terminated at 1:52 p.m. The letter inside is still under investigation, according to Sgt. Allister Hutchison, senior Ministry of Defense police officer for RAFs Lakenheath and Mildenhall. 

What to look for 

Anyone who stumbles upon a suspicious package should do as Sergeant Wood did, said Master Sgt. Will Clemmons, 48th Civil Engineer Squadron Explosive Ordnance Disposal team chief. 

Many warning signs point to a dangerous package - some include protruding wires, irregularly shaped containers, an unfamiliar point of origin and buzzing or ticking noises. 

Other signs to look for include peculiar odors, previously used or greasy wrapping.
Less obvious signs that a package may be dangerous are names with the wrong rank or title, badly-typed or written addresses, excessive or no postage and foreign styles of writing.

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When unsure, err on the side of safety, Sergeant Clemmons said.
"It's better that we come out and look at it and determine that it's not an IED than (to have) someone getting hurt," he said. 

What to do 

If a package found on base exhibits some of the warning signs, it shouldn't be touched. However, if it is handled it should be gently placed in a corner of the room, making sure not to turn it over or throw it off balance. 

Next, determine if anyone in the immediate area claims ownership. If no one claims it, calmly evacuate the area and call the LE desk at 238-2667, or call 911. 

Thankful for the outcome 

For Sergeant Wood, everything took place in a flash.
"If I had it to do over again, maybe I would question things a little sooner," Wood said. "Everything took place in a span of four to five minutes, but that was still long enough. One the gate opened, I turned my attention back to the people I was there to meet. 

"In all actuality, by the time I turned back around to say anything, the guy was gone. Had that been a real explosive device, things could have ended a lot worse."