Veterans rail against Pentagon for Gulf War illness

Traveling 'town hall' lets vets, families have their say

November 21, 1997
Web posted at: 3:46 p.m. EST (2046 GMT)

SAN FRANCISCO (CNN) -- Kevin Walker came looking for answers for the mysterious ailments suffered by many Gulf War veterans, but he and dozens of other veterans left disappointed.

They complained to Pentagon representatives Thursday during the latest in a series of "town hall" meetings set up by the military to hear accounts of their medical problems.

Gulf war vets, families, and support staff tell the government about their physical problems
	2.1MB/46 sec./320x240 1.6MB/46 sec./160x120 QuickTime movie

In the six years since the war ended, the veterans have accused the Pentagon of not doing enough to investigate their claims of illness and pin down possible causes, including the possibility that Iraqi chemical agents could be responsible.

Walker, a red-bearded Navy vet who made the trip to San Francisco from Los Angeles, said he gets angry and depressed for no reason and wants to "twist Washington's head right off." (103K/10 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)

What has angered veterans the most may be the Pentagon's long denial that the destruction of a large Iraqi chemical weapons depot could have exposed soldiers to toxic agents. The Pentagon admitted this year that up to 100,000 military personnel may have been affected.

The war, which ended in February 1991, routed Iraqi troops after their August 1990 invasion of Kuwait. Researchers are looking at several possible causes for the illnesses known as Gulf War Syndrome:

• Smoke from Kuwait's burning oil fields
  
  
• Radiation from depleted uranium used in weapons
  
  
• Toxins from Iraqi chemical weapons destroyed after the war

About 120 veterans, family members and their supporters attended the session. Bernard Rostker, head of the Pentagon's office for Gulf War illness issues, listened as some of them told their stories:

• Cynthia Brown, a civilian government worker, said she became ill after unpacking military equipment shipped back to California "full of bugs ... and sand." (110K/10 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)
  
  
• Elizabeth Pitcavhee, who must care for her ailing 25-year-old son, who is a veteran, wonders who will care for her now that she's coming down with the same symptoms. (145K/12 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)
  
  
• Veteran Cassandra Garner said she only recently learned that her unit had been exposed to deadly gases when U.S. troops blew up ammunition at the Khamisiyah storage depot in southern Iraq.
  
  
• Dan Fahey, a veterans' rights organizer, claimed "tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians may have inhaled or ingested uranium dust, because military commanders failed to inform people about the use of uranium bullets."
  
  
• Veteran Noel Stewart draw applause when he interrupted Rostker after the Pentagon official had spoken for 15 minutes. Stewart said he wanted to ask questions, not listen to a list of accomplishments.

Rostker, the military's point man on all matters relating to Gulf War illness investigations, explained that the Pentagon is "trying to understand what happened in the Gulf, as much for you as future soldiers. I wish I could provide answers. I can't."

Nevertheless, "town hall" sessions such as these may provide clues for research, Rostker aide Lt. Col. Dee Morris said.

"Just listening to people is very helpful, and, in some cases, can allow people to work through some of their anger."

Correspondent Don Knapp contributed to this report.

• Video Almanac: The Gulf War Begins

Related stories:

• Clinton announces new money for Gulf War syndrome research - November 8, 1997
• Pentagon's effort doesn't mollify critics - October 31, 1997
• Report: Panel attacks Pentagon on Gulf illness study - October 26, 1997
• Pentagon notifying 100,000 soldiers of possible nerve gas exposure - July 24, 1997
• Government study finds clue to Gulf War Syndrome - January 21, 1997

Related sites:

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

• GulfLINK - Gulf War Illnesses Home Page
• Persian Gulf War Syndrome - Chronic Illness Research Foundation

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.

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