Video: Tests to set off sonic booms near Ft. Lewis

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FORT LEWIS, Wash. - On YouTube you can see the rockets that might be headed to Fort Lewis. They're known as "HIMARS" - short for "high mobility artillery rocket system." En route to enemy targets, they break the sound barrier.

"The sonic percussion they said would come into the whole community," said Mike Arnaud, who doesn't like the idea of the weapons being tested, essentially in his back yard.

"Fort Lewis is pretty much beyond the tree line there," he said.

He complained to the base when he found out he would likely hear, and feel, a sonic boom of up to 115 decibels every time a rocket is tested.

"That's louder than a sea plane taking off in your back yard so it's a little frightening," he said.

Loud weapon exercises are nothing new for Fort Lewis' neighbors.

"As you can see, the window has started to get knocked loose from the frame," said Arnaud.

Arnaud has accepted the "collateral damage" at his retirement home, but he thinks the HIMARS will hurt his quality of life.

"You'd like to be able to go our in the afternoon or the day and not be shocked by sonic booms," he said.

Fort Lewis commanders say they want to be good neighbors. If the tests start next year, they would happen only during daylight hours and at most spread out over four weeks throughout the year.

Officials at Fort Lewis declined our request for an on-camera interview.

A base spokesman said the program is anything but a "done deal" and the fort wants to hear from and work with any neighbors concerned about it.

The U.S. Army is taking public input on the proposal for the next two weeks.

Comments can be mailed to Army Public Works at IMWE-LAW-PWE MS17 Attn: Mr. Van Hoesen, P.O. Box 339500, Fort Lewis, WA 98433-9500 or by sending an e-mail to bill.vanhoesen@us.army.mil