WWII howitzer found buried in backyard

BALTIMORE, Oct. 6 (UPI) -- A World War II-era cannon has been found buried in a backyard in Baltimore, a mile away from the American Legion post where it had been stolen in 1982.

"It looks pretty good for having been in the earth for 24 years," Leo Dietrich, who served in the Korean War, told the Baltimore Sun.

The howitzer disappeared overnight from its place in front of Post 180 on May 7, 1982 -- even though it was very heavy and filled with concrete to prevent it from being fired. In the 1990s, the post was given a naval gun from the same era as a replacement.

Last spring, Michelle Patrylak and Michael Hansen moved into a new home. They heard rumors from the neighbors about the theft -- which happened around the time they were born -- and that the cannon was buried in the yard. When Hansen saw what appeared to be one end of a piece of pipe in the ground he started digging.

Hansen eventually conscripted a friend with a backhoe to help and the howitzer was uncovered.

Now, the members of Post 180 are trying to decide whether to go through the effort of cleaning up the gun after its 24 years underground.