Department of Defense Mustard Gas Testing; Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Compensation, Pension, and Insurance of the Committee on Veterans' Affai (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1993-01-01 edition. Excerpt: ...MR. FRANK HELD IN HIS ADMINISTRATIVE LAW AND GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS SUBCOMMITTEE, THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS RELATED THE SPECIAL OBSTACLES INVOLVED IN COMPENSATING VETERANS WHO PARTICIPATED IN CLASSIFIED TESTS, FIFTY YEARS AGO, OF WHICH ONLY FAULTY, INCOMPLETE AND GROSSLY MISMANAGED RECORDS NOW REMAIN. WHILE THE D.V.A. STRESSED THAT THE BENEFIT OF DOUBT IN THIS CASE WOULD BE GRANTED TO THE VETERAN--THE BURDEN WAS ON THE VETERAN TO PROVE SOMETHING AGAINST A STANDARD THAT SO FAR DID NOT EXIST. ADD TO THIS UNCERTAINTY THE LACK OF PROPER MEDICAL FOLLOW-UP AND ATTENTION FOR THESE GAS TEST VICTIMS AND THE RESULT IS THAT THE LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO MUSTARD AND LEWISITE GASES WERE FAR FROM ESTABLISHED. I WAS RELIEVED WHEN THE DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS CONTRACTED WITH THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES TO FILL IN THE GAPS AND STUDY THESE LONG-TERM EFFECTS AND I JOINED HUNDREDS OF VETERANS IN ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THE RESULTS. THE STUDY WAS COMPLETED EARLY THIS YEAR, AND IN MY VIEW, IT DEMONSTRATED WITHOUT A DOUBT THAT THESE VETERANS HAVE A LEGITIMATE AND SERIOUS GRIEVANCE AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. THE PREFACE TO THE STUDY ENTITLED "VETERANS AT RISK--THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF MUSTARD GAS AND LEWISITE" WAS UNUSUAL IN THAT IT WAS SIGNED BY EVERY MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE. THE PREFACE EXPLAINS THAT "THE REPORT ITSELF IS UNUSUAL BECAUSE IT TELLS A STORY ABOUT VETERANS INVOLVED IN A LONG-SECRET WARTIME RESEARCH PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES--A STORY THAT THE COMMITTEE AND ITS STAFF HOPE WILL NEVER HAVE TO BE TOLD AGAIN." I THINK IT IS CRITICAL FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THESE INDIVIDUALS FOR THE SPECIAL SERVICE THEY PROVIDED TO OUR COUNTRY. THEY EXHIBITED SPECIAL KINDS OF LOYALTY. THEY MADE A SACRIFICE THAT MOST AMERICANS CANNOT EVEN IMAGINE, SO...