Thom, I am sad that you lost your father this way; the pain is clearly still fresh in. your essay. Thank you for sharing your personal story.
I lost my beloved husband to hormonal cancer at 63 years old. He had lived downwind of the early nuclear tests in Las Cruces NM, and his mother, step-father, aunt, and uncle died from the same cance…
Thom, I am sad that you lost your father this way; the pain is clearly still fresh in. your essay. Thank you for sharing your personal story.
I lost my beloved husband to hormonal cancer at 63 years old. He had lived downwind of the early nuclear tests in Las Cruces NM, and his mother, step-father, aunt, and uncle died from the same cancer; The government and the industry totally ignored all of them. In the book, American Ground Zero, "Carole Gallagher has penetrated the veil of official secrecy and anonymity to document the incredible untold story of the Americans whose misfortune it was to live downwind of the nuclear detonations - those citizens described in a top-secret Atomic Energy Commission memo as "a low-use segment of the population" - and of civilian workers and military personnel exposed to radiation at the Nevada Test Site. The above ground nuclear testing was "the most prodigiously reckless program of scientific experimentation in United States history,"
Asbestos, oil, nuclear fallout, tobacco, pesticides and on and on. They poison the world for profit instead of using some of that profit to produce clean products. We're all, in a sense, "low-use segments of the population." And that money? Goes to the autocratic likes of the Koch industry and others who buy our government with it. There's a reason one of the biggest targets of the GOP (after women) is the EPA.
Hope you had a lawyer. Environmental laws may/may not cover.
It takes insiders to come forward. I heard some whistleblower cases there.
I was in Vietnam, 1966-1967. Who knew, but all of us were exposed to agent orange. The way it was handled is that long after the fact, the VA recognized it as a disease. Same with many other occupational exposures, like beryllium, asbestos, etc. Same with burn pits. Many of the complainants in my Defense Base Act and War Hazards Act cases alleged "Iraqui crud" or something similar, but this was before the burn pit legislation became law.
I was involved in similar situations in Pa in the early '70s. I represented a township downwind and down river from Shippensport, the oldest commercial reactor. This was before the EPA regs went into effect.
I did not have a lawyer. I was grief stricken and didn't even consider it. My friend's husband died from Agent Orange. She DID have a lawyer and was compensated, still getting medical care as one of the benefits. Thank you for the work you have done to help people victimized in this way.
Again the wealthiest Americans are the dirtiest Americans w no regard or care for ruining our world and our people. Selfish Greed doesn’t begin to qualify the attitude of these people . And the outraged survivors of the deaths from their policies are run through the mill by these countries. Donal Trumps ‘ drill baby drill’ is indicative of his arrogance and ignorance.
My late husband joined the Army at 17 and tested well. He was sent to work at Los Alamos regarding nuclear power . This was in 1951. After the Korean War he used the GI bill to go to college and on to medical school. He practiced as a radiologist for many years , so that too may be a factor . He had lung cancer that was treated surgically , and a year later pancreatic cancer. Six weeks from diagnosis , he died. He was 61 yo.
My father who was in the Navy in WW II , in the South Pacific , died the same week , two days before my husband .
He had suffered from lung Cancer and died from COPD. He was 68 yo .
Now to be fair , in addition to this ,
both had been smokers . Both had quit years before their diagnosis.
I never thought to look for recompense of any kind from the government . Probably because I determined with other mitigating factors , they would make it about his “poor choices”.
I know my mother, received approximately 75,000 from the government .
All of these illnesses were caused by the refusal to even consider ramifications from all these substances . Which is how America has been raised.
To not mess with the wealthiest perpetrators of these crimes. It’s time to call this profound killing corruption out .
It won’t happen quickly they allocate legal fees as part of their process.
It will require masses of people to get together to oppose these criminals .
I tested my DNA with all three main commercial companies. 23andme was the first to produce health reports that give a propensity for various diseases. In most I have no variants, and could expect to live to over 100, however I screwed he goose, by smoking. Started when I was 12, drew my last inhale at age 69.
My genetic report said that I was immune to lung cancer UNLESS I hatd smoked within the last 10 years. I quit when I was 69, 9 years, not 10, before I was diagnosed with lung cancer. Immunotherapy (Keytruda) bought me a few years, I am sweating a recurrence at the moment.
I blame myself, and being weak to succumb to peer pressure when I was 12, it was the hardest habit to quit, and only possible because of Nicorette lozenges.
I Also saw all of those ghastly anti smoking commercials, and still didn't stop, the addiction was that strong.
My wife's brother died two years ago from throat and mouth cancer, he didn't smoke but he chewed tobacco. He wasn't a red neck, grew up and spent his entire life in the Bay area of California, but was into square dancing.
I also served in Vietnam from 67-68, all over country, and to my knowledge never was sprayed or exposed to agent orange. I kept getting notices from VA, about filing a claim, but it also required that I report for a physical and annual check ups at a VA hospital, and I didn't live near one.
My cancer, my fault, had an opportunity to quit, didn't, and paying the price, thankfully allopathic medicine has given me an extended lease on life, and to date, no pain at all.
However I stood death watch on an uncle who died of Hodgkins disease, contracted from Benzene doing field work in a Texaco refinery. Horrible death, 180 lb hunk down to a 90 lb skeleton that was nothing but open sores and smelled of death.
I would not have been opposed, but I just didn't think of it, to be honest. I'm not sure how I could have proved his cancer was caused by the tests. I didn't have much insight to his family, as they had all been gone long before we married.
There is a fund for the victims. I contacted Kinzinger while he was still in office, but as per his usual, I didn't get a call back. I found about the fund from the National Geographic magazine.
I assume that I am an agent orange victim but I got VA benefits long ago, I am lazy and I never applied.
I'm pretty sure that I am the lone survivor from my units. I used to be in a group but got kicked off Facebook.... I'm in a DNC veterans' discussion group and as recently as last night participated in a discussion. It's incredible how many people are unaware they are entitled to benefits.
I am so sorry for this happening to. your family. There is a segment of our society that believes money is everything and that those without it are disfavored by God. All of us are expendable to their "greater good." This is a convenient belief for generational-controlled wealth. As Bonaparte said, "Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich." The rich even believe they have scriptural backing:
"For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. — Matthew 25:29, RSV. I tell you, that to every one who has will more be given; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away." — Luke 19:26, RSV.
There is a reason this political bit was inserted by those men who determined what the biblical cannon would be. The apologists say the "have more" is about spiritual qualities, but that view is generally ignored. The prosperity gospel grifters use it as justification for their perversion of Yeshua's teachings. They will tell you it is "God's favor" that gives them their many mansions, their jets and their luxury lifestyles, ignoring what Yeshua had to say about rich people.
What happened to us long ago. I'm sorry for your loss. Your comment triggered the memories. I couldn't take the time from work to grieve at the time. Of course I had no paid time as an RN.
Thom, I am sad that you lost your father this way; the pain is clearly still fresh in. your essay. Thank you for sharing your personal story.
I lost my beloved husband to hormonal cancer at 63 years old. He had lived downwind of the early nuclear tests in Las Cruces NM, and his mother, step-father, aunt, and uncle died from the same cancer; The government and the industry totally ignored all of them. In the book, American Ground Zero, "Carole Gallagher has penetrated the veil of official secrecy and anonymity to document the incredible untold story of the Americans whose misfortune it was to live downwind of the nuclear detonations - those citizens described in a top-secret Atomic Energy Commission memo as "a low-use segment of the population" - and of civilian workers and military personnel exposed to radiation at the Nevada Test Site. The above ground nuclear testing was "the most prodigiously reckless program of scientific experimentation in United States history,"
Asbestos, oil, nuclear fallout, tobacco, pesticides and on and on. They poison the world for profit instead of using some of that profit to produce clean products. We're all, in a sense, "low-use segments of the population." And that money? Goes to the autocratic likes of the Koch industry and others who buy our government with it. There's a reason one of the biggest targets of the GOP (after women) is the EPA.
Hope you had a lawyer. Environmental laws may/may not cover.
It takes insiders to come forward. I heard some whistleblower cases there.
I was in Vietnam, 1966-1967. Who knew, but all of us were exposed to agent orange. The way it was handled is that long after the fact, the VA recognized it as a disease. Same with many other occupational exposures, like beryllium, asbestos, etc. Same with burn pits. Many of the complainants in my Defense Base Act and War Hazards Act cases alleged "Iraqui crud" or something similar, but this was before the burn pit legislation became law.
I was involved in similar situations in Pa in the early '70s. I represented a township downwind and down river from Shippensport, the oldest commercial reactor. This was before the EPA regs went into effect.
I did not have a lawyer. I was grief stricken and didn't even consider it. My friend's husband died from Agent Orange. She DID have a lawyer and was compensated, still getting medical care as one of the benefits. Thank you for the work you have done to help people victimized in this way.
Again the wealthiest Americans are the dirtiest Americans w no regard or care for ruining our world and our people. Selfish Greed doesn’t begin to qualify the attitude of these people . And the outraged survivors of the deaths from their policies are run through the mill by these countries. Donal Trumps ‘ drill baby drill’ is indicative of his arrogance and ignorance.
My late husband joined the Army at 17 and tested well. He was sent to work at Los Alamos regarding nuclear power . This was in 1951. After the Korean War he used the GI bill to go to college and on to medical school. He practiced as a radiologist for many years , so that too may be a factor . He had lung cancer that was treated surgically , and a year later pancreatic cancer. Six weeks from diagnosis , he died. He was 61 yo.
My father who was in the Navy in WW II , in the South Pacific , died the same week , two days before my husband .
He had suffered from lung Cancer and died from COPD. He was 68 yo .
Now to be fair , in addition to this ,
both had been smokers . Both had quit years before their diagnosis.
I never thought to look for recompense of any kind from the government . Probably because I determined with other mitigating factors , they would make it about his “poor choices”.
I know my mother, received approximately 75,000 from the government .
All of these illnesses were caused by the refusal to even consider ramifications from all these substances . Which is how America has been raised.
To not mess with the wealthiest perpetrators of these crimes. It’s time to call this profound killing corruption out .
It won’t happen quickly they allocate legal fees as part of their process.
It will require masses of people to get together to oppose these criminals .
But it must be done.
Trump will get right on that, /s, right after Garland.
I tested my DNA with all three main commercial companies. 23andme was the first to produce health reports that give a propensity for various diseases. In most I have no variants, and could expect to live to over 100, however I screwed he goose, by smoking. Started when I was 12, drew my last inhale at age 69.
My genetic report said that I was immune to lung cancer UNLESS I hatd smoked within the last 10 years. I quit when I was 69, 9 years, not 10, before I was diagnosed with lung cancer. Immunotherapy (Keytruda) bought me a few years, I am sweating a recurrence at the moment.
I blame myself, and being weak to succumb to peer pressure when I was 12, it was the hardest habit to quit, and only possible because of Nicorette lozenges.
I Also saw all of those ghastly anti smoking commercials, and still didn't stop, the addiction was that strong.
My wife's brother died two years ago from throat and mouth cancer, he didn't smoke but he chewed tobacco. He wasn't a red neck, grew up and spent his entire life in the Bay area of California, but was into square dancing.
I also served in Vietnam from 67-68, all over country, and to my knowledge never was sprayed or exposed to agent orange. I kept getting notices from VA, about filing a claim, but it also required that I report for a physical and annual check ups at a VA hospital, and I didn't live near one.
My cancer, my fault, had an opportunity to quit, didn't, and paying the price, thankfully allopathic medicine has given me an extended lease on life, and to date, no pain at all.
However I stood death watch on an uncle who died of Hodgkins disease, contracted from Benzene doing field work in a Texaco refinery. Horrible death, 180 lb hunk down to a 90 lb skeleton that was nothing but open sores and smelled of death.
I was impartial for 30 years. Called balls and strikes. Took 'em as I found them.
My home town is 20 miles from East Palestine, Ohio. Can't believe that victims oppose representation. 80% are MAGATs.
Ideology "Trumps" common sense and self interest. Just look at the billions of believers in the world, be it secular or sectarian.
I would not have been opposed, but I just didn't think of it, to be honest. I'm not sure how I could have proved his cancer was caused by the tests. I didn't have much insight to his family, as they had all been gone long before we married.
Not only did they have the train wreck but are down wind and river from the same nuclear reactor. https://www.wfmj.com/story/28828503/firstenergy-shuts-down-nuclear-reactor-near-east-liverpool
Fools, you can't save people from themselves, can you?
Wow. Sounds like you are on top of this stuff.
There is a fund for the victims. I contacted Kinzinger while he was still in office, but as per his usual, I didn't get a call back. I found about the fund from the National Geographic magazine.
I assume that I am an agent orange victim but I got VA benefits long ago, I am lazy and I never applied.
I'm pretty sure that I am the lone survivor from my units. I used to be in a group but got kicked off Facebook.... I'm in a DNC veterans' discussion group and as recently as last night participated in a discussion. It's incredible how many people are unaware they are entitled to benefits.
Whistle blowers have the life expectancy a little better than a machine gunner in combat.
Very dangerous, they always "commit Suicide" like the recent John Barnett, Boeing's whistle blower, almost as dangerous as going against Putin.
I don't think that he is representative.
Check out the SEC payments, https://www.sec.gov/whistleblower/pressreleases
I know Daniel, I was just mentioning the latest whistleblower "suicide" about as dangerous as a cell tower repairman.
Are you aware that the US Gov't carried out nearly 1,000 such above ground nuclear tests over a decade or more and in NV?
I am so sorry for this happening to. your family. There is a segment of our society that believes money is everything and that those without it are disfavored by God. All of us are expendable to their "greater good." This is a convenient belief for generational-controlled wealth. As Bonaparte said, "Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich." The rich even believe they have scriptural backing:
"For to every one who has will more be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away. — Matthew 25:29, RSV. I tell you, that to every one who has will more be given; but from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away." — Luke 19:26, RSV.
There is a reason this political bit was inserted by those men who determined what the biblical cannon would be. The apologists say the "have more" is about spiritual qualities, but that view is generally ignored. The prosperity gospel grifters use it as justification for their perversion of Yeshua's teachings. They will tell you it is "God's favor" that gives them their many mansions, their jets and their luxury lifestyles, ignoring what Yeshua had to say about rich people.
What happened to us long ago. I'm sorry for your loss. Your comment triggered the memories. I couldn't take the time from work to grieve at the time. Of course I had no paid time as an RN.