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More than five thousand McClellan veterans have banded
together on Facebook.
Weapons training at McClellan began with ordinances in 1912
then chemicals were added in 1922. Thirty years later, biological warfare training
started when the Chemical Corps School (later known as the U.S. Army Chemical
Center and School) opened.
According to a 2001 U.S. Army Corps of Engineers report,
mustard gas was used starting in 1954 then nerve agent, a blood agent
containing cyanide and biological stimulants were added in 1969.
McClellan closed in 1999 and drums of radioactive waste were
found buried even leaking. A risk assessment in the 2001 U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers report deemed McClellan "catastrophic" given the explosives
and chemical agents on site and the proximity to educational, residential,
hospital, and shopping centers.
A 1996 U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and
Preventative Medicine report found "potential radiological health
hazards" at McClellan.
Two sick vets asked the Department of Veterans Affairs to
link their illnesses to their service at McClellan. One made the request in
2007. The other asked in 2011. The VA
granted the requests. A VA court concluded one died from thyroid cancer
following exposure to agent orange at
McClellan. Another VA court found the second got sick from his herbicide
exposure at McClellan.
Requests have been made to the DOD since August to find out
what's been done to look into the health complaints from possible
contamination. The department hasn't responded.
But Congress has taken notice. The Fort McClellan Health
Registry Act has the support of 78 co-sponsors in the House to investigate the
chemical contamination, as well as diagnose and treat veterans who served
there. No Alabamians are listed as
co-sponsors, not even Congressman Mike Rogers, (R) Anniston.
The Fort McClellan Health Registry Act was first introduced
to Congress January 2013. It still awaits action in a committee. But the bill
continues to gain support among Republicans and Democrats.
When the 113th Congressional session concluded with the end of 2014, H.R. 411 had 84 co-sponsors. Most notably absent was the elder statemen Rep Mike Rogers of Anniston, Alabama. It is no surprise to voters in District 3, or veterans, familes and children of toxic exposure at Fort McClellan, Anniston, Alabama. If he supported veterans he would have introduced the legislation. While Rep rogers deflects the harm to humans in his district caused by Ft McClellan, there may be 700,000 people who were never told their health was in harm's way. DOD never investigated whether there were military casualties from the toxic exposure in that part of Calhoun County. And Rep Rogers says health problems of these veterans,familes and children has nothing to do with the community health (Oct. 15, 2014). I always thought the Army post and the military members tat FTMC were appreciated by Alabamians. But clearly Rep Rogers does not quite comprehend, the word community or he hates veterans. But veterans and the media are now starting to uncover the secrets hidden from us for decades. It is time to save lives. ~Joan Zakrocki, Ft McClellan Toxic Exposure Right To Know on FB
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