By Dick Clapp
After years of diligent and effective advocacy by former Marines and family members, the House voted on July 31, 2012 in favor of the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act (H.R. 1627). The House version was amended by the Senate and passed earlier in July and the final version now goes on to President Obama for signing into law. The first section of the bill is named after Janey Ensminger, the nine year-old daughter of former Marine Jerry Ensminger, who was conceived and born at Camp Lejeune and lived there until she was diagnosed with leukemia, which subsequently took her life. She was exposed to contaminated drinking water, as were hundreds of thousands of others who lived or worked on the base.
The Act, among other things, provides that the Department of Veterans Affairs will give hospital care and medical services to those veterans and families exposed during the years 1957 to 1987 for a variety of conditions that may have been caused by chemicals such as TCE, PCE, benzene and vinyl chloride in Camp Lejeune drinking water. The House members who spoke in favor of the bill noted that the health studies establishing the link between the water and various diseases are still underway, but the process of setting up medical and hospital care should not wait until those studies are completed. The details of this portion of the Act are still to be worked out by the VA and the affected parties.
The most important lessons of this long process have been captured in a documentary film that features several Camp Lejeune Marines and family members, including men diagnosed with breast cancer. Semper Fi: Always Faithful documents the relentless advocacy that was necessary to raise the consciousness of the affected Marines, the general public and the Congress. As Congressman Brad Miller (D-NC) says in the film, Jerry Ensminger’s determination and commitment was more powerful than the lobbyists who patrol the halls of Congress. He said Jerry was a “powerful advocate, and it is a righteous power.” Jerry managed to traverse what he has called the “swamps” of Washington and participated in the discussions that finally led to passage of a compromise version of the Act.
The next steps in this process, after President Obama signs the bill into law, will include hammering out the details of who is eligible for hospital and medical care and for what diseases or conditions. Undoubtedly, some of these decisions will hang on the outcome of three health studies currently underway. The first, which will report on adverse reproductive outcomes such as low birthweight births, birth defects and childhood cancer, is nearly complete and is expected to be released later this year. It will update a previously published study that was completed before full information of the extent of contamination was provided to the researchers. Approximately 1,200 subjects who were previously considered “unexposed” in this study will now be correctly re-classified as exposed by the current water models developed by the ATSDR. A second study, comparing mortality of Camp Lejeune veterans with Camp Pendleton, California veterans, is also nearing completion; this will examine the pattern among 18,818 deaths that occurred in the years 1979-2008 and will also take into account exposure to contaminated drinking water on Camp Lejeune. A third study, just getting underway, will focus on male breast cancer incidence in Marines captured in the VA central cancer registry from approximately 1995 through 2010. This study is not expected to be completed for several more years but may provide important new insights about the environmental causes of breast cancer. A voluntary survey of over 200,000 former Camp Lejeune residents is also being evaluated to see if reported conditions such as cancer can be confirmed.
After decades of activism and research, the House passage of the Honoring America’s Veterans and Caring for Camp Lejeune Families Act on July 31 was a watershed event. After President Obama signs it into law, the next phase of the process can begin and some much-needed medical care can be given to those who need and deserve it. The ATSDR health studies, when they are completed and made available to the public, will also be important additions to the scientific understanding of how chemically-contaminated drinking water affects people’s health. Stay tuned for more on that over the coming years.
Dick Clapp has been a member of the ATSDR Camp Lejeune Community Assistance Panel since 2006.
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"The House members who spoke in favor of the bill noted that the health studies establishing the link between the water and various diseases are still underway, but the process of setting up medical and hospital care should not wait until those studies are completed."
This is the right approach -- don't wait until all the studies are done (which can take years or even decades) before helping people get the care they need. I realize legislators can't hand out benefits to everyone who asks without requiring some evidence, but epi studies progress far more slowly than cancers.
I'm reminded that in countries with better health systems than ours, sick people don't need to demonstrate links between their illnesses and others' actions in order to get care.
I was born at Lejeune in 71, was in the day care in the old pesticide shop, lived at MCAS in the 80s and attended TTII, Brewster . So far, I have received an assurance that my health data, if it is used at all, will be mis-classified into the unaffected group and this is the case for each one of us that they cannot locate records for. As a consequence, my rare illness will be used in the unaffected control group rather than the exposed group and that counts against everyone in the exposed group.
I am not one of those people who were re-classified. I should have been because I also consumed Holcomb Blvd. water during the time of the leak while I was at Brewster Jr. High School. The are no available school records from the Navy for ATSDR to use so I have been overlooked again in the study. How can this be resolved?
John,
From your comment, it seems like you are part of the health survey, and that you lived in the New River Air Station (MCAS) in the 1980s and attended school in an area where you were exposed. This probably does mean that you would be misclassified as unexposed based on your residence, but the ATSDR will have no way of checking on this for all people in the survey. It's unfortunate, but not unusual for studies like this to have some degree of misclassification. What happens, if it goes in both directions and is random, is that it reduces the magnitude of whatever effect is found, but it doesn't render the results meaningless.
Thank you very much for responding to my previous question and for working with the Camp Lejeune Community Assistance Panel.
With the small sample size that is being used and the thousands of children who were bused to school over the many decades being misclassified, if the magnitude of an already "rare" condition is diminished in any way it might in fact actually tend to render the results of the survey with regard to a rare illness meaningless (statistically insignificant). No one will know ever know unless the ATSDR relaxes their policy on self selection to correct the classification mistakes and wrong assumptions they are making. The qualifying event was consuming the water and not following the USMC instructions to register (thereby self-selecting for the survey) The Marine Corps did not provide usable school or housing records for any children. Some effort needs to be made by ATSDR to sort this issue out or I have to conclude this survey is already worthless. If I need to start lining up Statisticians to confirm this to ATSDR, I will. One reason the ATSDR birth outcomes study is being redone is because of small sample size and misclassification in the previous study! Why make the same mistake again?
I would also Like to point out that the Camp Geiger Trailer park was one of the worst places for contamination. The Trailer Park is located right next to site 41 which was a burn pit and is still too contaminated to clean up. Given the Camp Geiger Trailer Park was on MCAS for the purposes of the ATSDR survey, are we to assume that the former residents of this trailer park are un-exposed, un-affected by the water, or both?
I was on the Nuclear Ordnance Platoon by Montford and it was a real toxic swillhole.I had foot rot for 25 yrs.The ground was rainbowed with petroleum byproducts and I now have Critical illness Polyneuropathy from wearing those cheap Korean war boots they used to issue us.They wanted to unload all the old stuff and boy,did they.5 minutes in mud and your feet were soaked.Anyway,I have 45 things on my doctors list and I was one of the first to encounter the CLCW team head on and there are some tricks to use that really help your case.I, at one time was available to guide people thru this maze but soon found out that after way too much hand holding,monstrous phone bills and inconsistenty behavior on folks,,,I can only say this:If I went by my first denial those guys sent me I never would have been able to live like I am now..But its only come after being proactive and yellowing in and getting the thousands of files off the internet and pouring over them and sure as heck I was able to make my case and retire.Fake claimants and sandbaggers should be jailed.Bogus claims are what delays this thing.Also,they have 8 guys adjudicating these cases 1 at a time.They know or think) that most military folks are of low intellect and therefore are not capable of doing what it takes to file,,,,and as much as I hate to agree,,,I do.They are playing the odds just like the rebate people.60% are too lazy to file,,20% are too stupid,,3% cant read,,6% are dead or dying,4% are out of the country or doing too well financially,on the run,or are not effected by this, and/or dont want to draw any heat.That leaves less than 10% to deal with and historically only half of those go nuts on these bastards and let them have it in the form of credible,documented military and civilian records.So,do like I did and go get your money,,,but only if you have been made ill by this heinous,tragic,
secretive and deeply ugly American tragedy,,and serious records otherwise forget it.You will only be killing others by stalling this whole process..Please,,no emails.Rick
I have had some people pick my past statements apart and take words out of context.Let me be very clear here,,,I was very ill for 37 years before I found out about the Camp Lejeune Water poisoning.I learned of it from a newspaper man who contacted me for an interview about my highly classified Cryptographic/Nuclear Ordnance duties while serving two years aboard Camp Lejeune,N.C..since both files are still classified,I could say nothing about it,but he told me EVERYTHING!! I had no idea what had happened to us but I knew we were either sick or dying.I was soulsick for 2 years knowing that the brass had lied to us about the ATSDR studies and results were hidden/altered.I will go to my grave knowing that my fellow Marines and I were poisoned and left to die when we were all in for "no man left behind".I feel that the CLCW team was efficient and prompt in handling my case but on the other hand I also feel that an 8 man team adjudicating 1 case at a time is ridiculous in this day and age.It truly smacks of foot dragging and stalling to ensure a higher body count.If you dont have valid paperwork they will stall you until Jesus comes back. In summary I must say that my military record is exemplary and that can only serve in my favor and can never be taken away or lessened.I do love the Marine corps but am so disssapointed the the Commandant and the asst Comandant said next to nothing and I wrote 17 letters to them and Biden and Obama and many others and got no reply..I guess Id forgotten that it was an election year and it seems that us vets are put on the back burner and our lives are worth a little less as a result.Hey,,the truth hurts,huh? I still cannot come to terms with the fact that for all these years I was alone in my sickness and now I have 1 million others as company who have suffered as much or more than me..Pleas look up" Water survivors.com",Camp Lejeune WATER.COM. or the other sites that will lend some info to this horrible American tragedy....
Hello Mr. Capeloto
My name is Mike Treppard, and I was with the Nuclear Ordnance Platoon at Camp LeJeune, NC. I have tried to find anyone that was stationed there, but I have never found anyone that was there when I was (1969-1971). The NOP was at a place called SH-8. Can you give me any info as to what Hazmat was there (in addition to the obvious) ? I was in the Security detail - NOP Guard. mtreppard@yahoo.com
I worked on the base at Camp Lejeune in 62-63. We lived
at the Camp Geiger trailer park at that time. Our family has
suffered so many health issues. I have agent Orange compensation, but my family need their health issues taken care of. They have a lot of joint and muscle pain and are in pain a lot of the time. I would like an update on what can be done. I am not in good health and time is running out for a lot of us. Please help my family.
I was born at Camp Lejuene in 1978 & lived in military housing. I was the last baby born to my parents & altogether my parents lost six babies out of twelve. My entire life I have suffered a host of illnesses where with one ~ scleroderma ~ I have had 21 surgeries & 2 amputations to try & correct the problem but, to date the problems still persist! Currently, I am recovering from the most recent surgery. I'm also suffering from female infertility problems as well as a host of others.
My problem with this whole issue is that I urgently need medical care as I know many others as well need & although a law has been passed to provide health care yet we still can not get the medical care we need & deserve to have ~ now! Why do we have to wait years & or decades long to get the medical care we all need right now? Waiting for the results of some studies is not any of us any justice because regardless of what is found we are the ones who will have to continue to suffer with these illnesses & no medical care! When will Uncle Sam start taking care of us here who were made ill because of Uncle Sams contaminated water?
I will write a host of two letters a week, one to President Obama & the other letterto congress until they provide us all with what we need ~ health care ~ they also needto find who all are responsible for contaminating the water & hold them all responsible!
I first heard about the bad water 10 or more years ago. I called camp Lejeune to find out about it. I was told they would get back to me. They never did return any of my calls even after repeated requests trying to get information on the subject. I wonder how many other people they ignored.
I was stationed at women marine barracks and also lived on base after marriage in 1966 67. I have broncialestis and no one knows where it came from I had shortness of breath and wasn't found out until 3 years ago also pulmonary hypertension can that happen this long ago
The lawyers in this country who refuse to handle the cases of veterans seeking justice in this matter are a disgrace to the human race. We put ourselves in harms way to protect these COWARDS and this is how they show their appreciation.
I was born on Camp Lejeune 1983, I too have infertility and other issues. My Mother was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer, & issues with her kidneys. But, we are unsure if our issues are directly related to theissues at camp Lejeune. Is there someway to be tested to verify this is where our troubles began? I really wouldn't want to take time away from verified cases, but rally don't know where to start. Any assistance would he greatly appreciated!
I have had throat Cancer left side of my neck removed lost all my feeling in my face and no taste. Two years I got denied. I'm under appeal and will have to wait two more years. But I'm fighting this all the way to the top. Semper Fi are you with me. Write emails everyday to those do nothing Congress and Senators. I send them letters every other day and will till they settle my case I served 3 years during the Nam war. They have no right to pick and choose who to settle. Two of my three years was at Lejeune. Fight !!!!!
I was a Navy Corpsman from 1974-1978 at Camp Pendleton. I have scleroderma and some other autoimmune diseases and my daughter who was in utero was born blind. Any other Camp Pendleton victims out there? Thanks.
I want to know if MCAS New River Air Station had issues with water from 1983-1986. I see some information that they did, but everything I read focuses only on camp Lejeune. I want to say that the Marines and family members who were affected by this, I hope you get all that you deserve with medical care. The reason I ask about MCAS is that I have a very strange neurological problem with muscles that Doctors can't explain....so, if anyone out there could let me know if MCAS had issues like Camp Lejeune, I would appreciate it.
Clcw team..after being poisoned on CL I was sick every day for 35 yrs...then all this water fiasco was exposed and as a result 43 disorders on my doctors list are chronic. Among these are critical illness polyneuropathy..banging headaches/eyeaches..digestive disorders..and no desire to hang around other people. The tip of the toxic iceberg. I was a perfect Marine and got in no trouble..honorable discharge and much more. They rated me and pay me at the 100% rate. There's. only one problem..the meds have benzene derivatives as. preservatives (
( methylpolyparaben..sodium benzoate and many more) and Benzene is what got us the most. Holistic treatment is the only thing I can turn to and I spend all and more of the money to pay for it. I guess what I'm saying is that they gave no connection to the water and kinda threw me a bone so I'm going back at them with proof and a request for better resolution..to MY satisfaction..not theirs. It took years to get anything from them so since its a veteran friendly time get your p0roof to them..ambulance chasers and folks with no proof will find themselves screwed..
Having just learned of the Lejeune compensation and treatment program( public law 112-154) I would like to know if I am included as I was stationed at both Camp Gieger and MCAS New River from 1966-1967
Just curious as to how most people found out there was even a problem at Camp Lejeune??? My dad, mom and older sister were stationed there during the late 1950's and my father now is battling Parkinsons which we know was caused by the water issue. What if anything is the VA/government doing about medical bills or having these people seen by a doctor within the VA who is more aware of the diseases that have been caused from drinking the water and/or can answer questions that are in need of answers????
I was at Camp Geiger & Camp Lejeune from 1958 to 1962. I was assigned to the 2nd & 6th regiment....I was a grunt and drank showered and waded through my share of water. I am so grateful to be in good health so far..I asked the va to test me for agent orange and they said no but if I get cancer they will test me for it.
Well...they threw the case out of court and its like the inspector General saying that no deaths were a result of delayed care at Phoenix and other va facilities. We live in a day of lazy ass govt. and everybody can smell it. I hear that they will be shutting down the clcw team. If you haven't gone to freedom of information on your campus to get your records..if you haven't called or written then you deserve what you get..nothing. Dont expect to write one letter and get results.Im just sayin you have to press these matters. This applies to anything you do. I wrote 266 letters in 4 years and I kept copies of all...ya gotta go up their assets a mile or they're laugh in at ya...be well...r
I was stationed at Lejeune from 1-74 to 9-74 and again from 5-75 to 10-77. I'm 56yrs old now and have more medical problems than any one man should have according to my V.A. Doctors. I have carried around some guilt from having three good friends killed on KoTang Island in 1975 in support of Operation Eagle Pull. Once I found out from the Navy of the contamination problem at Lejeune, I've had to deal with the mental ordeal of my own mortality. The V.A. tells me not to worry. Other Doctors tell me of the possibilities of long term exposer. I truly wish I'd never been contacted by the Navy. I am now a total wreck. The memories of my friends has haunted me for nearly forty years. Now this. I spent over four years in the Marine Corps. I also spent another 17 years in the Illinois Air National Guard. Desert Shield/Storm caused my marriage to end in Divorce. I lost more than my marriage do to this war. I haven't slept more than three hours in one night since this nightmare began. One Doctor tells me I've got a form of PTSD. Another tells me I've got a form of separation anxiety. Either way I'm now a total wreck. I'd appreciate hearing from others who may be in my situation.
For those asking, MCAS New River marines are deemed Camp Lejeune marines for the purpose of this legislation. See the following:
17.400 Hospital care and medical services for Camp Lejeune veterans.
(a) General. In accordance with this section, VA will provide hospital care and medical services to Camp Lejeune veterans. Camp Lejeune veterans will be enrolled pursuant to § 17.36(b)(6).
(b) Definitions. For the purposes of this section:
Camp Lejeune means any area within the borders of the U.S. Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune or Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina.
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Camp Lejeune veteran means any veteran who served at Camp Lejeune on active duty, as defined in 38 U.S.C. 101(21), in the Armed Forces for at least 30 (consecutive or nonconsecutive) days during the period beginning on January 1, 1957, and ending on December 31, 1987. A veteran served at Camp Lejeune if he or she was stationed at Camp Lejeune, or traveled to Camp Lejeune as part of his or her professional duties.
If someone knowingly put these chemicals in the drinking water supply of congress or the white house they would be put on trial for terrorism and executed. We are the victims of this gov'ts terrorism. JUST FACTS
Does anyone know if Camp Geiger is considered part of Camp Lejeune for purposes of this legislation?
I was stationed at CAMP Lejeune from 1979 to 1981, my ex wife and I had 3 children or shall I say, we were pregnant with 3...long story short, she lost the first two in her 5th month {FETAL MISCARRIAGE} and the 3rd one was Premature induced labor, that died within the 1st hour of birth. I was contacted about the contaminated water in 2008 by the DEPT. of THE NAVY, filed a claim, given the run around over the yrs. Received a letter from VETERANS AFFAIRS around 4-21-2015 that was originally dated 2-26-15....Basically telling me they are not going to compensate me for my loss. I'll be 57 this yr and I don't have a family, the gift of being a Parent or Grand Parent will never be experienced by me...all these yrs gone past, they contact me about this shit and then tell me they are not going to compensate me...are there any ATTORNEYS working on these cases that can help me with mine? The thing is, I was told that my case had been accepted and now this. If any one can offer any advice or assistance please in box me at kenneth_washington503@comcast.net...Thank You!!
For assistance you can go to Camp Lejeune CAP@ gmail.com , or search, The few the proud the forgotten -(tftptf) web site. You will find links and also lots of advice. The CAP meeting on May 12 &13, 2015 in Greensboro N.C. had most current information and the new ASTDR health studies you can read all the past CAP meetings on line also, Mr. Brady White of the Camp Lejeune Family Member (CLFM) program has great information. Lawyer info can be found at the site of the few the proud the forgotten (tftptf).
Camp Lejeune-NUCLEAR ORDNANCE PLATOON from 1983-1986...need information about ASTDR..
need lawyer, that will handel camp Lejeune,and the department of veteran affairs, for healthcare and compersation
need a lawyer, that can take my case, for camp lejene, and va, need my healthcare and compersation
My family went to new River when I was 2 in 1967 -1971 I have a lot of health issues. Would like to know how to file a clam!
Answer to #18 David New River was lumped into Camp LeJuene from same time. I too was there 1971-1972 and have had serval different kinds of cancers and was denied but file an appeal. Two of my school mates that were there same time have died one in 2007 the other 2013.
My deceased husband was at camp laJune most of the time from1955-1959 on discharge.He got cancer at 49 yrs. old and died ai 60.....he also had training in chemical,atom and biological warfare,it's says on his DD I.......as a window would I be eligible for any compensation,does anyone know.He never knew of this situation before his death.....
I was stationed at Camp Lejene from 1973 to 1975. I contacted Hepatitis A. Did I contact this disease from the contaminated water?. I applied for VA compensation, they confirmed contacted Hep. A and treated at the NAVAL Hospital. So what happens in the long run?
I was stationed at Lejeune (Geiger) from 3/80 to 4/83, and have lived with bad dizziness, memory loss, trembling, kidney "cysts" (very painful), and respiratory problems since I've been out. Never a smoker and not overweight. I've always asked "why?" and now I'm starting to understand why.
Just at thought, many Recruits/Marines went through Camp LeJuene as part of training for deployment to Viet Nam--I did in 1968. However, judging from the posted comments, it seems one had to be assigned in some capacity at the base to be considered having used the water to drink, etc. Am I correct that recruits or those for deployment training are not considered as impacted by the contaminated water?
My god..when I filed my statement there were only a few submissions...I am so sorry for all of us and my god how it all sucks. Here's some facts in reply what I've read here and perhaps it will put this to rest or offer some resolution. They threw the case out of court as you know and yes...we were turned into an experiment as to the effects of not only benzene but all WWII experimental drugs and tons of chloroform which they found to cause kidney shutdown after 3 uses. The built a preschool/daycare on top of the very site where they dumped tons of poisons for 50 yesrs..so the sandbox is not the place to be.You will not find a lawyer who will touch this due to the time element. Geiger and Newriver are sites as well and the lead plumbing caused as much illnesses as mainside and french. creek. The Commandant and all the brass knew all about it and said nothing. Here's the deal...there was no oversight over dumping back then and all bases are toxic dumps and have been all along. Airwings were the worst because fuels don't sink they reside in the topsoil. Even civilian ground crews were dying from the wind and dust esp. in Cal. desert facilities. If you wrote less than 25 letters you won't get much attention especially now as it is a dead issue. They ran the case down south..I'm thinking Georgia..where the 10 most crooked judges in the US do their "business" and I wrote the sitting judge and asked if he would do the right thing and a couple weeks later he was replaced...with another one in his 80s who plays golf with the chemical ceo's who shut it down. I am sorry if you didn't see justice but I wrote off a settlement to just get it over with and I can now get the holistic treatment I need to remove the metal base particulates around the liver and kidneys. It is called chelation and you can do it orally or intravenously. If you get 100% like I did you are also entitled to state/fed disability. I will finish by saying that we are all entitled to VA care as well as choice/fee basis care. If you haven't even pulled your records from freedom of information (on every VA facility) and if you haven't yellowed in and pored over your records and created a doctors list you will get what you deserve...nothing. The burden of proof is on them but no matter who you are they won't care unless you get off the couch and press the issue. Folks say letters won't do anything
...that is not true and serves as a lazy (e mails) way to justify snoozing on this and lastly...Ya better hurry up before the next group rotates back cuz they will dog you till Karzai is president. Handwritten letters are best and copy and file everything you do cuz that is why 97% drop out..not following thru. VFW is the org. that has the most clout right now and you must sign a power of attorney form or you are just piss in in the wind.Good luck and I as m finally signing off this site. Be well.
If you have your records in order and have been denied...don't appeal it, file an NOD. A notice of disagreemental puts another set of eyes on your case. The squeaky wheel gets the grease and so if you've written less than 5 letters in your case you can forget it. I wanted to beat the herd of new troops coming back so I poured it on. They must respond to your letters.
I would like to know if Camp Geiger a part of Camp LeJuene? I spent over 3 mo. their in1957.
No more studies it's time to get a portion of our live in order, My wife has cancer and we are struggling tio stay alive as I can not take me lead as a husband and pay my bills and the VA is just sit on their buts making poor excuses about solving claims' 3 years at Camp Lejuene , 3 yeras at El Toro and it seems as they think me having cancer will just go away if I die. They give 100% medical and 0% compensation. Where is the logic. VA give us our benefits...
O.M.G!!! I just started research on Camp LeJuene water issue at the encouragement of a friend who is a former Marine Vet. I had heard some rumors before but had no idea the serious impact this has had on our vets.and families. My husband at the time was stationed there ( my daughter and I as well) we have both had unusual illness and she suffers some unknown condition that has altered her life drastically. I am moving forward now! My prayers to everyone who has served this country...and also to all who are affected by the contaminated water issue. P.S. don't know the name of Trailer Park, but location sounds right.
My spouse was stationed at Camp Lejeune from October 1983 until February 1986. I was diagnosed with breast cancer in January of 1986, I underwent a modified radical mastectomy after having been misdiagnosed for the previous five months (August thru' December 1985).
Please send me the forms that I need to complete for the compensation.
P.S. After receiving six months of chemotherapy(January thru July 1986. The lump came back in September 1986, on the chest wall after have completed chemo for about two months. I had to complete another six months of chemo and seven months of radiation
I have had several reconstruction surgeries as a result .
We lived at Geiger Tr. PK. from 1959 to 1961. My daughter was born at Camp Le. Naval Hosp. in 1960. My son was 10 mo old at the time. Both children suffered with suffer diarrhoia. Were given a lot of test to find out what was causing the problem. Even a board of Drs. could not give me an answer. They were put on special diets nothing helped. My daughter weighed 8#1Oz at birth at one year she weighed 13# Upon returning to Balto. in 1961 they both stopped the diarrhoia and gained weight. Both are suffering with Bi-Polar. Daughter has had cancer removed.
My parents visited in 1960 and could not get over how their grandchildren were suffering. Is there a lawyer handling this problem If so I would like to talk to them.
My EMail address is sszekely4775@comcast.net
I'm a Camp Lejeune Marine stationed there from 1979 to 1981.
I was diagnosed 10 years ago with stage 4 head/neck cancer that started in my tonsils. I have tried to get service connected disability for this but it has been denied and appealed over and over.
I am wondering if anyone has dealt with head/neck cancer and if you have successfully been approved by the VA for disability. If so, please email me at pastorjrr@gmail.com
I appreciated reading the posts, especially Rick Capeloto's forthright comments and advice.
Jeff
I was stationed at Camp Pendleton May 1984-Sep 1986. I started having migraines after a year and in the years since they have progressed into a worsening auto-immune disease that my doctors are still trying to figure out. I've had VA doctors try to suppress my claim that TCEs at Camp Pendleton were to blame. One VA doctor even threatened to take away my existing VA medical benefits. I think the problem at Camp Pendleton is far closer to what those at Camp Lejeune are suffering but there is an effort to dismiss it. Keep fighting.