Remembering the depot’s darkest day
By Terry Murry on Friday, March 8th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
HERMISTON – A memorial service will be held on March 21 to observe 80 years since a bomb exploded, blowing up Igloo B-1014 on the Umatilla Chemical Weapons Depot near Hermiston. The cause of the explosion has never been determined.
Six people were killed. They were Foreman Kenneth Fraser and civilian crew members Alice Wolgamott, Lance Stulz, Hiram Cook, William Sanders and Harry Sever. The six were unloading 500-pound bombs into the silo. The blast was heard 30 miles away and broke windows up to 20 miles away. The silo construction forced the blast upwards rather than out so none of the surrounding igloos were damaged.
The commemoration ceremony is being hosted by the Columbia Development Authority, which now oversees the depot land; and the Oregon Military Department. It will be held at the Rees Training Center near Hermiston. The public is invited and is asked to use the entrance into the depot at the Interstate 82 Exit 10 overpass at Lamb Road.
Those wishing to attend should meet at a staging area off the Lamb Road and Westland Road military entrance at 10 a.m. They will be escorted to the tribute site.
The ceremony will include military honors performed by the Oregon National Guard Color Guard, a Tribal blessing from members of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, a wreath-laying vigil by the American Legion, and a blessing from a chaplain from the Oregon Military Department.
Among those scheduled to attend are Sen. Bill Hansell (R-Athena), Columbia Development Authority Executive Director Greg Smith, CDA Board Chair Kim Puzey, CDA board member and Umatilla County Commissioner John Shafer and leaders from CTUIR.
When the ceremony ends, a procession will be led by the Oregon Military Department Wildland Fire team back to the site of the memorial plaque marking the explosion. A moment of silence will be led by ONG Chaplain Jacob Scott and Toby Patrick of the CTUIR Board of Trustees.
The event will end with remarks from guest speakers. A complimentary lunch will be served in the barrack’s great room.
For more information about the ceremony that begins at 10 a.m. March 21, call the Columbia Development Authority at 541-481-3693.
Photo: Workers examine the remains of Igloo 1014 at the Umatilla Ordnance Depot after it was leveled in an explosion on March 21, 1944. Photo courtesy the U.S. Army
