Like A Fool

In 1953, like a fool, I joined the U.S. Marine Corps. Then I was sent to Camp Lejeune to train (this was near the end of fighting in Korea). While training, I was chosen to train as a Scout Sniper. While training, I drank the water. I learned in 1987 that it was loaded with death, including cleaning fluids as well as other poisons.

Today I have a problem with my urinary tract. I was operated on for colon cancer and surgery for prostate cancer. When I filed my claim at the VA, I was given a list of maladies that they would pay for that included none of my problems. Instead it contained one grave stone and a plot in the VA cemetery. Every day, I have to take 3 pills and use a catheter to urinate.

I don’t know how they came up with a list that precluded my problems. I don’t know how they could fail me and all of my brothers and sisters that trained at Lejeune and are now in some way sick. This is not right and not fair to have kept that water problem a secret for so many years without any care for the cream of our military.

Wise-up VA! Wise-up Washington! Don’t wait another 34 years to help those that are suffering today. Please don’t wait until we are all dead to save money. Rewrite that list to include the sicknesses that we have now.

• Author resides in Coconut Creek, Florida

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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