LugerForum Discussion Forums my profile | register | faq | search
upload photo | donate | calendar

Go Back   LugerForum Discussion Forums > General Discussion Forums > General Discussions

Reply
Thread Tools Display Modes
Unread 07-11-2020, 01:28 PM   #1
tomaustin
Lifer X5
Lifetime Forum
Patron
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: texas
Posts: 708
Thanks: 87
Thanked 522 Times in 201 Posts
Default a newsworthy article...

By STEVE BEYNON | STARS AND STRIPESPublished: July 9, 2020

WASHINGTON — Recently declassified Defense Department documents show the Pentagon knew troops were exposed to multiple toxins and hazards that have led to hundreds of cancer cases and dozens of dead veterans after deploying to Uzbekistan in the early days of the War on Terror. The Department of Veterans Affairs is denying most of them care and disability.

Karshi-Khanabad Air Base, known as K2, is a former Soviet air base in southeastern Uzbekistan that shares a border with northern Afghanistan. After the 9/11 attacks, the U.S. established Camp Stronghold Freedom at K2, which was used to support combat missions from 2001 to 2005. Veterans described a toxic environment at the post, where pond water glowed green, black sludge oozed from the ground and the government posted massive white and yellow signs warning troops to keep out of certain areas due to chemical agents.

On Thursday, the House Subcommittee on National Security released previously classified documents provided by the military in 2001, 2002 and 2004 that reveal a mountain of evidence that service members were exposed to voluminous health risks including cancer-risking toxins.

Most notably, the former Soviet base had contained chemical weapons, enriched uranium and soil saturated with fuels and other solvents that formed a “black goo.”

The documents were declassified in February, but Defense officials waited until July to alert Congress, according to a release from the House Committee on Oversight and Reform. Former service members who spent time at K2 testified before on Capitol Hill in February that they were aware of at least 400 individuals diagnosed with cancers who served at the base. They said at least 30 have died.

During a health assessment test in 2001, military analysts found the base had “elevated levels of volatile organic compounds and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) were detected at numerous locations throughout Stronghold Freedom, including tent city, eastern expansion area and adjacent to the aircraft maintenance facility.” It also found that ambient air is the “main concern for environmental contaminants.”

A 2002 assessment recommended not to dig “into soil contaminated with jet fuel,” but those areas were populated with tents soldiers slept in and aircraft hangars, according to the declassified document. In the same year, another DOD health risk assessment found “between 50% and 75% of personnel at Stronghold Freedom” would be exposed to elevated levels.”

US service members served at an Uzbekistan base contaminated with enriched uranium — and now, many have cancer

“The Department of Veterans Affairs continues to deny these illnesses are related and continue to deny benefits,” Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., said in a call with reporters Thursday. VA did agree to a study on K2 veterans, according to Lynch. “It should not have been this hard to convince VA to make this commitment. ... K2 veterans have time-sensitive needs that need to be addressed now.”

Five months after the United States invaded Afghanistan, air samples at the base found elevated levels of tetrachloroethylene. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Studies in humans suggest that exposure to tetrachloroethylene might lead to a higher risk of getting bladder cancer, multiple myeloma or non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a cancer that originates in the lymphatic system”

An estimated 7,000 troops served at K2 the first four years of the war in Afghanistan. However, the number might not include troops who served there on short, temporary assignments or certain special operators serving highly classified missions.

“K2 was a crime scene in need of an investigation, this is only the beginning of the investigation,” Mark Jackson a veteran who served at K2 said.

It can be difficult to definitively link diseases that some post-9/11 troops are suffering after exposure to military dump areas and contaminated bases.

“They [VA] consider their hands tied, they feel it’s not in their power to grant [benefits]. They feel at this point unless it’s documented, their hands are tied. They would prefer this was otherwise,” Lynch said.

It is unclear if declassified documents could move the VA faster on dishing out benefits. The Pentagon did not return a request for comment on whether they will urge the department to move on the issue.

The VA’s perceived slow movement and unclear communication on the issue after two decades of Middle East wars have had some compare it to the decades it took for veterans sickened with Agent Orange to finally get benefits.

“We were told by the VA they did not have scientific data to what conditions existed at K2 and how that was connected to conditions,” said Paul Widener, another veteran who served at K2.

“At this time, research does not show evidence of long-term health problems from exposure to burn pits. VA continues to study the health of deployed veterans,” according to the VA’s website.

Christina Noel, a VA spokeswoman, said Friday that disability claims are figured on a case-by-case basis. She said the department’s study on K2 vets is more than a year away.

“VA obtained the DOD K2 personnel roster and has started a study of the health outcomes for veterans who served there. Initial results are expected in 18 months,” Noel said.

beynon.steven@stripes.com
tomaustin is offline   Reply With Quote
The following 2 members says Thank You to tomaustin for your post:
Unread 07-11-2020, 03:17 PM   #2
hayhugh
User
 
hayhugh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Florida/Penna
Posts: 884
Thanks: 851
Thanked 507 Times in 270 Posts
Default

Sounds like an investigation of the VA is in order....
hayhugh is offline   Reply With Quote
The following member says Thank You to hayhugh for your post:
Unread 07-11-2020, 08:45 PM   #3
Edward Tinker
Super Moderator
Eternal Lifer
LugerForum
Patron
 
Edward Tinker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: North of Spokane, WA
Posts: 15,912
Thanks: 1,989
Thanked 4,502 Times in 2,077 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by hayhugh View Post
Sounds like an investigation of the VA is in order....
again
Edward Tinker is offline   Reply With Quote
The following 2 members says Thank You to Edward Tinker for your post:
Unread 07-13-2020, 09:14 AM   #4
calibrator
User
 
calibrator's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Cave Creek
Posts: 315
Thanks: 55
Thanked 242 Times in 92 Posts
Default

My accountant's son did a tour in A-stan during that time frame. He was a Shooter, and had trigger time there.

He was in the active reserves until a year ago when he was diagnosed with MLS (Lou Gherig's Disease). His condition advanced rapidly, and the prognosis is a very short life span. It's devastating to see the condition he's in these days.

I don't know if his support system knows of this situation, I'll pass it one for whatever good it will do.

Thanks Tom !
calibrator is offline   Reply With Quote
The following member says Thank You to calibrator for your post:
Unread 07-14-2020, 12:56 AM   #5
Ron Wood
Moderator
2010 LugerForum
Patron
 
Ron Wood's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso
Posts: 6,988
Thanks: 1,067
Thanked 5,096 Times in 1,676 Posts
Default

Oh my gosh Tom, my heart aches for you and your son. I know the pain that the inexorable consequences of a terminal affliction of a love one can bring. You and your son are in my thoughts and prayers.
Ron
__________________
If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction
Ron Wood is offline   Reply With Quote
The following member says Thank You to Ron Wood for your post:
Reply


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 11:07 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © 1998 - 2024, Lugerforum.com