My dad worked at the Rocky mountain arsenal when he was 18 years old. I believe they were neutralizing Sarin Gas and Mustard Gas. They didn’t wear much in the way of hazardous materials protective gear way back then (1967). They had crates of rabbits, and my dad said if the rabbits started acting strange they’d put their gas masks on.
He worked there for a little less than a year before shipping out when he joined the Navy. My reason for writing is that he has a chronic lung disease. They call it idiopathic interstitial lung disease. He is leaning towards end stage, on oxygen 24/7, and on multiple meds. He has coughed for as long as I can remember, and has had a facial tick and tremors since I was little.
I am wondering if you’ve ever done any stories on the Arsenal? I can’t prove it, but I feel that his health issues started not long after he worked there. Now he’s spending his retirement going to multiple doctors, incurring large medical bills, and knows that his life will be cut short.
If you have any information, I would be interested in reading it.
Note from the Editor: The account/editorial is verbatim from the author without edit, with only the omission of their name to preserve anonymity.
Supplemental: We’re researching this base now, but here are a couple of links that may be helpful to those interested in RMA:
- https://www.civilianexposure.org/open-burns-ill-winds-bombs-in-our-backyard/
- https://www.civilianexposure.org/i-was-exposed-at-rocky-mountain-arsenal/
Click to Subscribe to the Civilian Exposure Newsletter for Latest News & Updates Today!
2 comments
I was born in 1950 in Commerce City Co. My family and I have been exposed to the poison at RMA for over 70 years. Is there any class action lawsuit I can participate in for compensation. My daughter and son have suffered with health issues and my wife died of three separate cancers twenty years ago. Please help me get relief for this horrible act committed by the government against us.
I am helping my husband seek damages against the RMA Us Army, Shell Oil and others for the contamination scourge put upon us all these years. Please let me know where I can join a class action suit against this atrocity.