Veterans Unaware of Contaminants & Health Effects

Target:

President Barack Obama

Sponsored by:

The Defense Department needs to notify veterans, dependents and civilian workers of the contaminants and their health effects at EPA Superfund sites. The Pentagon owns 133 EPA Superfund sites, the most of any entity. At former MCAS El Toro, veterans and dependents reported cancer and other illnesses linked to TCE/PCE and radionuclides. This EPA Superfund site was closed in July 1999 and thousands of acres sold by the Navy in 2005.

We, the undersigned, urge you to require the Defense Department to notify veterans, dependents, and civilian workers of EPA Superfund sites of the risk of exposure to contaminants and their health effects. With 133 Superfund sites, the DoD owns the most contaminated sites. (See: http://epa.gov/fedfac/documents/mynpl2008.htm#3)

Imagine for a moment that you are one of the millions of veterans who served at a base now on the EPA Superfund list. Like many veterans you now live far from your former military base, may not have access to the internet, have no contacts with former military friends, may be seriously ill, and unable to "connect the dots" of your illness to military service.

Unlike someone injured on the job, there is no workman compensation for a veteran to cover his or her medical expenses or even the possibility of filing a tort lawsuit for injuries. Based on a Supreme Court decision, veterans cannot file a lawsuit against the government. Assuming that you are aware of the connection of your illness to military service, you can file a disability claim with the VA. The VA disability process may take years to settle.

MCAS El Toro, California, is one of the 133 DoD Superfund sites and one of twenty military bases in California on the Superfund list.  A trichloroethylene (TCE) toxic plume was discovered at MCAS El Toro, California in 1985, the base closed in 1999 and most of the land sold in 2005. (See: http://www.salem-news.com/articles/august082008/tce_interview_7-8-08.php)

Congressman Bart Stupak reported that: "TCE is the most widespread water contaminant in the nation, and almost every major military base has a Superfund site with TCE contamination. Nevertheless, this obstruction of environmental prerogatives has been the modus operandi of the Defense Department for years now since at least 2001, the Pentagon has sidetracked environmental regulations, opposed EPA efforts to set stricter pollution limits, stalled and under funded cleanups, and ignored federal and state environmental regulators." (See: http://energycommerce.house.gov/Subcommittees/OI-Stupak/061207.CampLejeune.pdf)

Defense Department notification to veterans is the right thing to do. This should not require a huge expenditure of funds, only an earnest commitment to do it. For example, public service announcements, press releases, and coordination with Veteran Service Organizations can help spread the word to veterans.

In summary, there's no good reason why veterans of Superfund sites should not be notified of the risk of exposure to contaminants and their health effects. Realistically, such action will likely require legislation or an Executive Order from the President

Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from you or your designee.

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Legal Review

A legal review and evaluation of possible injuries and deaths related to exposure to TCE/PCE at former MCAS El Toro is underway by a Southern California law firm. Veterans, dependents, and civilian workers with injuries possibly related to exposure to TCE/PCE at former MCAS El Toro can contact Mr. Michael E. Gates, CARROLL, KELLY, TROTTER, FRANZEN & McKENNA, 111 W. Ocean Boulevard, 14th Floor, Long Beach, California 90802-4646, Telephone: (562) 432-5855. Facsimile: (562) 432-8785. megates@cktfmlaw.com.

Anyone interested in participating in this review should email Mr. Gates at megates@cktfmlaw.com with the following information: names, contact info, nature of injury, suspected cause of injury, suspected date of contact with contaminant, and copies (RETAIN ORIGINALS) of any and all medical records showing that cancers, deaths, or other injuries were unnatural, and likely caused by a contaminant.

Semper Fi
Robert J. ODowd
www.mwsg37.com
consults03@comcast.net

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We signed the "Veterans Unaware of Contaminants & Health Effects" petition!

# 154:

10:35 pm PST, Feb 22, Debbi Mynatt, California
I am so sorry about your exposure and resulting illnesses. I will glady sign your petition (as a former Marine wife and mother. Not to depress anyone any more than they already may be; but to make more people aware, check out rocketdynewatch.org and scroll down to watch "Rocket's Red Glare" or acmela.org and click on "Rocketdyne to find out the facts about "the worst nuclear accident on U.S. soil". Hundreds of times worse than Three Mile Island (plus TCE and other chemical exposure). There is also rocketdynemeltdown@yahoogroups.com. This happened in So. California also. 1949 through today (the laboratory is still operating). The first meltdown occurred in 1959, the next in 1964). I lived there 1960-1973. Please pass the word on this also. Many who live or have lived in the area still do not know. We're done being used, abused and deceived. Use your voice and speak out about what is wrong! Thank you.

# 153:

9:31 pm PST, Feb 20, Benjamin D Rios, California
Hopefully, we veterans who were exposed to the contaminated water at Camp Lejune, as well as agent orange in Vietnam will get the compensation we deserve. When we enlist in the military, we know the risks we are taking. We know that we will possibly give our lives in the service to our country. Dying an honorable death is exceptable...it is for a cause. Dying of diseases caused by contaminated water or agent orange is not an honorable death...it's an insult!! We should not be neglected merely because we are older now. We veterans, no matter our age, deserve whats rightfully ours. Compensation and an apology, not Excuses!!!

# 152:

6:17 pm PST, Feb 20, Barry Marsh, Pennsylvania
It's time for the govt to do what's right and take of all veterans impacted due to this contamination.

# 151:

1:33 pm PST, Feb 20, Michael Jacques, Arizona
I served at El Toro from 1987 to 1990. Since then, I have been diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. How many others will suffer because of this?

# 150:

8:40 am PST, Feb 19, Donna Fago, New York

# 149:

8:30 am PST, Feb 18, Ed Fremer, New York

# 148:

12:09 pm PST, Feb 17, Lynda Harding, United Kingdom

# 147:

8:07 am PST, Feb 15, Eric Jaeger, Indiana

# 146:

1:54 pm PST, Feb 14, Fern Wilt, California

# 145:

6:18 am PST, Feb 14, William Montgomery, Pennsylvania
I would like to know on a personal level as I was stationed at MCAS El Toro Jan68 till Aug69. Why should it take a petition to be notified that there is a prolem? What ever happened to "Semper Fidelis"?! CMC should be pro-active when its troops are concerned.

# 144:

2:11 am PST, Feb 13, Matthew Bonura, Florida
On going heath issues that there are no answers to.

# 143:

11:22 pm PST, Feb 12, Jolene Shields, California
Soon after I started working at El Toro Elementary School on the El Toro Marine Base in 1997, I had swallon feet and hands that put me into the emergency room. The doctors thought I had Lupus but testing showed it was not. They never figured out the cause. I have since had stomach issues for years. Not sure if any of these health concerns were from the base or not. Please support out vets who had to work on the base with this toxic chemical.

# 142:

11:13 am PST, Feb 12, Andrew Zelenski, Ohio
I was stationed at some of these bases. I have multiple illnesses that I attribute to the toxins found at the MCB Camp LeJeune NC. I am only 48 years old and have to take 23 different medications daily. I also lost two daughters at birth from anecephaly and spina bifida. When I signed up to serve my country, I did not sign up to live the rest of my life with illnesses that no one else can explain. There is no family history of any of the illnesses that I have.

# 141:

11:06 am PST, Feb 12, Michael Parr, Wisconsin
Stationed @ MCAS El Toro CA from 1981-1984 with H&MS-11 & VMFA-323, MAG-11 & spent 2 years as an instructor with NAMTD-1023 located immediately southwest of the hangers of VMGR-352/MWSG-37. Students, instructors & others would take their breaks outside our building. We would perform our PT there also. The ground on the northeast side of building reeked of chemicals, etc. Our building was originally the engine test building for the F-4U engines (WWII/Korea era). Was on temporary duty or transient several times in 1966, 1967, 1972, and 1974-1977.

# 140:

10:22 am PST, Feb 12, PEDRO CASTILLO, California

# 139:

8:27 am PST, Feb 12, TRACY TAYLOR, West Virginia

# 138:

8:46 pm PST, Feb 11, Erin Mills, California
I taught at EL Toro for ten years. I had many respiratory infections, skin problems, and two years ago, breast cancer.I wish I had known the risks of working at El Toro.

# 137:

6:16 pm PST, Feb 11, Josette Macaluso, California
I taught at El Toro Marine School from 1985-1994.

# 136:

3:58 pm PST, Feb 11, Heather Garner, California
I was a teacher at El Toro Elementary School for 20 years and have developed diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and intestional problems! Could this be the fault of the contaminants from the base?!

# 135:

1:42 pm PST, Feb 11, Patricia Sp[encer, California
In the years I spent teaching at the El Toro Marine Base I experienced repeated upper respiratory infections.

# 134:

11:53 am PST, Feb 11, Patricia Hommeland, California

# 133:

11:22 am PST, Feb 11, Katy Rose, California

# 132:

11:14 am PST, Feb 11, Candy Little, Massachusetts
I LOST MY DAUGHTER MICHELLE IN 1972 AND MY HUSBAND GEORGE IN 1977 TO THE CONTAMINATED WATER AT CAMP. LEJEUNE N.C. MARINES, NAVY AND CIVILIAN PERSONNEL WHO WERE ABOARD MCB CAMP LEJEUNE HAVE THE RIGHT TO KNOW WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THEM.

# 131:

8:34 am PST, Feb 11, Carol Anderson, California

# 130:

1:41 pm PST, Feb 10, James Wallaqce, South Carolina
was at 4 installations where tce and herbicides was used reguarly 65/68.i have same illnesses and symtems as any one with boots on the ground in vn.but we are not offered any help by va.loring afb,homsteadafb(hm59) ft sill,white sands msle range.

# 129:

5:11 pm PST, Feb 8, Craig Ballard, California
I served in the USMCR,VMFA-134, Bldg. 296 at El Toro from 1984 to 1992. I degreased the engines and engine bays for aircraft while only wearing a dust mask. I do not remember what chemical is was.

# 128:

3:52 pm PST, Feb 8, Name not displayed, Georgia
We were stationed at NAS So. Weymouth, MA., EL Toro Marine Air Station, Parris Island, S.C., and Camp Lejeune.

# 127:

8:54 pm PST, Feb 7, John Peinert, Hawaii
I was stationed at areq 21 Camp Del Mar CA. back in 1969-70 worked as an amtrak mechanic serviced amtraks returniong from Nam on a weekly basis. at age 30 got diagnosed with type II diabetes no family history, at age 52 got diagnosed with prostate cancer no family history, I also suffer from neuropathy again no prior history.In 2005 I was contacted by NAVFAC who were working with the E.P.A. they said they had reports that Camp Del Mar was a possible storage and disposal site for agent orange and picloram. they sent me ariel maps of the base and i pin pointed certain areas of the base i worked around or frequented. here report was final in 2008 I was sent 3 copies 1, to keep the others went to my State appointed V.A. rep the other to the NOVA attorneys who are working on my claim. agent orange and at least a dozen othe toxic chemicals were found at area 21 (Del Mar) and also Camp Del Luz. you may contact NAVAL FACILITIES ENGINEERING COMMAND-SOUTHWEST DIVISION AT 1220 Pacific Highway San Diego CA.92132-5190 or the people who actually did the testing. PARSONS 100 West Walnut St. Pasadena CA. 91124 CONTRACT NO. N62470-05-D-0004 DELIVERY ORDER FZN6 DOCUMENT CONTROL NUMBER PARP-0004-FZN6-0011 OR CONTACT MARTIN HAUSLADEN U.S. E.P.A. REGION IX, CODE SFD-8-B 75 HAWTHORNE STREET SAN FRANCISCO, CA. 94105-3901

# 126:

4:42 pm PST, Feb 7, Krista (Lang) Heard, California

# 125:

8:42 pm PST, Feb 6, LouAnn (Wolfson) Silva, California
Former El Toro Marine School teacher from 1991-1998. We at ETMS, experienced the deaths of several colleagues and students as well as suffered through many recurring and debilitating illnesses. I was continually ill during my tenure at ETMS with most ailments centering in my lungs, finally resulting in a life-threatening case of lobar pnuemonia, for which I was hospitalized in 1995. It is our right to be notified officially so that we know exactly what we were exposed to, and what health risks we possibly have to face in our futures because of it. Please value, 'Honor, Commitment and Courage', and make the right decision.

# 124:

9:09 pm PST, Feb 5, Nan Pelayo, California
I was a teacher at El Toro Marine School from 1970 - 1999. Over the years I have watched 6 of my fellow teachers die from cancer. I was diagnosed with uterine cancer and had a hysterectomy. I also suffer from nerve damage and other illnesses. I have just recently become aware of the TCE and other toxins I have inhaled, ingested and come in contact with over those 29 years! Nan

# 123:

9:48 am PST, Feb 2, Name not displayed, Oregon
I was stationed at MCAS El Toro from 1986 to 1991. I have a right to know what I have been exposed to and should be notified officially of the risks. I should not have to learn about this from a blog site.

# 122:

8:10 am PST, Jan 30, Richard Motko, Missouri
Please do something that is right.

# 121:

12:42 pm PST, Jan 28, Kimberly Bixler Leeds, California
I was a teacher at El Toro Marine for five years. Many of the veteran teachers who had worked on the base over the years had been chronically sick and some had various types of cancer. I am not sick now that I am aware of, but I fear what I may have been exposed to.

# 120:

3:32 pm PST, Jan 26, Laura Hammons, Texas
I represent a group of Daughters of Vietnam Veterans. We are interested in your plight. Please email us.

# 119:

12:35 pm PST, Jan 25, Douglas Burgess Jr., Georgia

# 118:

7:38 am PST, Jan 25, Johann Gessler, Wisconsin
I was stationed at El Toro and also at Camp Lejuene NC. I have had un treatable skin rashes and blisters digestive disorders and tumors in the intestinal tract that required surgery removing part of the colon and small intestines

# 117:

1:20 pm PST, Jan 24, Lisa Germain, North Carolina
Ill suprot you if you suport me. in signing my petition on bring the troops home sooner. and here it is. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/mens-holiday so get your friends and family members to sign as well,

# 116:

9:58 am PST, Jan 22, Glenn Hawkins, Ohio
I was a Marine and worked at hanger 296 from 1971 thru 1973. I saw jp-4 jet fuel being washed down the drains. I saw drums of chemicals being dumped into a pit and lite, so the crash crew could practice putting it out.

# 115:

10:55 am PST, Jan 17, Julia Tawyea', Pennsylvania

# 114:

7:57 pm PST, Jan 16, Heather Grant, California
My grandmother purchased her townhouse in Irvine�s Woodbridge community when it was first built in the early eighties. She passed away in 1991 of Pancreatic cancer. She was in her early sixties at the time. I had lived with her for six years in her townhouse. As a result of her death we were unable to afford the mortgage payments so we sold the townhouse and moved to the near by city of Lake Forest. Many marines from the near by El Toro Marine base also lived in Lake Forest. After living out of the area for the last few years I have recently moved back to Woodbridge and am currently renting an apartment. A concerned neighbor stop me yesterday to inform me of the toxic plum under our community. I couldn�t believe it when she told me. It is the first I have heard of it in all these years. I question now what roll this played in my grandmothers early death and what could be lurking in my own body as a result of living in this area most of my life.

# 113:

11:52 am PST, Jan 16, Danny Saavedra, Texas
I was stationed there from 1974 thru 1975 and again in 1978and was not aware of any TCE/PCE exposure.

# 112:

2:06 pm PST, Jan 15, Roger Butow, California
I am a Marine who served at this base in the mid-60's. I am also a local resident, In a unique position I am an outraged water quality activist who attended the reuse sub-committee regarding soil and water contamination plus the early Great Park committee meetings. None of my complaints about thorough remediation was ever addressed to my satisfaction. Instead, most of my concerns about costs or questionably effective remediation technologies only resulted in being shunned or marginalized. Thank God someone isn't allowing this cover-up farce to be swept under the carpet. It needs transparency----As Marines we always got the oldest equipment, always asked to be the first to fight, first to die while using the poorest tools and fewest men.

# 111:

3:52 pm PST, Jan 14, John Bodell, Indiana
I was a SSGT stationed at MCAS El Toro 1981-1985 with H & HS PMO Military Police and as a supervisor, I was all over the base for training and duties. I was also in charge of security of the Ammo Dump. I don't know how much exposure to the TCE and radiation that I might have received. I believe that I should have received full disclosure to my expoaure to these toxins.

# 110:

12:15 pm PST, Jan 14, Name not displayed, California
I wasn't aware of this issue until I read the article that I found on CNN (local news). It's especially frightening because my family and I live in Irvine!

# 109:

4:16 pm PST, Jan 13, Susan Paquin, Michigan
When my Marine veteran husband developed brain cancer, his neurosurgeon asked if he had ever been exposed to toxic chemicals. He was stationed at El Toro and Camp LeJune in the 1960's but we knew nothing of the TCE/PCE exposure. My husband died March 24 2008.

# 108:

8:05 pm PST, Jan 12, Mark Kitchen, Ohio
I was stationed at MCAS El TORO MWSG 37 81-85 and I have had serious health problems and I should be entitled to something don't we all agree?

# 107:

6:04 pm PST, Jan 11, Erin Matuz, Michigan
In memory of my father, Tom Paquin, who died 3/24/2008 of glioblastoma, a brain cancer caused by the chemicals he was exposed to on a U.S. base while serving our country during the Vietnam War.

# 106:

6:16 am PST, Jan 9, John Hartung, Wisconsin
I hope someone @ the DoD and/or EPA get some BALLS and HELP US!!!

# 105:

9:43 am PST, Jan 8, Name not displayed, New Jersey
you owe it to the people who help protect our country to advise them of any possible danger to themselves or their families.

# 104:

2:49 pm PST, Jan 7, Steve Hernandez, Colorado
I am concearned about this whole tce ordeal, us former marines an current marines need answers, we have protected this country from every thing that our country has asked of us with honor an intergity,no questions asked I was also stationed at el toro 1987-1989 we are a very much loyal an commited people, an we marines were taught never to give up,through it all we all endured many hardships for our convictions, an commitments to this great nation, may we all come together an stand for this cause semper fidelis.

# 103:

6:36 am PST, Jan 2, Name not displayed, Minnesota

# 102:

4:34 pm PST, Jan 1, Name not displayed, California
I`am A Prior/Veteran USMC 1969-1973.Though I Was Never Stationed At El Toro,I Visited Quite Often With Other Marines And Fellow Mechanics.My Duty Stations Started With Parris Island,Camp Lejeune,Camp Pendleton(Area 21),Okinawa,Phillippines,& Vietnam.I Have Quite Extensive List Of Medical Problems (ie;Hodgkins Stage IV 1989) Additionally,I Have Pending Claims For: Hypertension,Cardiac Arrythmias,PTSD,Depression, And More.

# 101:

10:29 am PST, Dec 31, Ed Harpel, Pennsylvania

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