The following is a personal story submitted to Civilian Exposure and published as part of our new series: “Contamination Chronicles: Personal Stories of Exposure”. If you would like to submit your story, you may fill out our form here or send directly via email to share-@-civilianexposure.org.
I was in the Marine Corps and stationed in Okinawa at Camp foster in 1972-73. I was an auto mechanic/driver in a transportation unit while serving at Camp Foster. In addition, I was intermittently in the middle of the water contamination at Camp Lejeune from 1971-73.
All of my adulthood, I have had nagging ailments – gastrointestinal irritations, headaches, sleep disturbances, palpitating heart. Lately, I have been diagnosed with renal cysts. I have also recently had a prostatectomy because of prostate cancer. It is highly possible that these diagnoses point toward Agent Orange or Water Contamination.
I have filed claims with the VA under Agent Orange where prostate cancer is presumptive, and under Lejeune Water Contamination where it is not presumptive. I have been denied several times.
ABOUT TO GIVE UP!
- Author resides in Augusta, Georgia
Note from the Editor: The account/editorial is verbatim from the author without edit, with only the omission of their name to preserve anonymity.
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