Interesting Study
Summary Report, April 2000.
“The Tribunal also found that on Runit, the fifth largest island in the atoll, the residual Plutonium 239 from the tests exceeds the established limit and the island remains quarantined from use. Stating that, “Techniques now exist to clean up this plutonium, utilizing soil sorting methods applied at Johnston Atoll,” the Tribunal awarded $10 million for that activity. The Tribunal also awarded $4.51 million for characterization surveys to provide information as to the exact location and nature of the contaminated soil to be removed and to ensure compliance with the prescribed cleanup standard.”
(Please see link in column at right for complete summary.)
I thought it was interesting that this study, done April 2000, shows that the Island of Runit, the one many of us worked on, ten to twelve hours a day, six days a week, is still uninhabitable 25 YEARS LATER!!!
This means that, for six months at a time, we military guinea pigs were virtually living on that island from 1977-1980, completely unaware of the danger and the high levels of radiation we were exposed to daily. Has any U.S. military serviceperson been awarded even a minor compensation, much less $14.51 million?
I know I haven’t.
Also check the link to the right—a wonderful person has written about our plight.
Link -- Local Newspaper Column
“The Tribunal also found that on Runit, the fifth largest island in the atoll, the residual Plutonium 239 from the tests exceeds the established limit and the island remains quarantined from use. Stating that, “Techniques now exist to clean up this plutonium, utilizing soil sorting methods applied at Johnston Atoll,” the Tribunal awarded $10 million for that activity. The Tribunal also awarded $4.51 million for characterization surveys to provide information as to the exact location and nature of the contaminated soil to be removed and to ensure compliance with the prescribed cleanup standard.”
(Please see link in column at right for complete summary.)
I thought it was interesting that this study, done April 2000, shows that the Island of Runit, the one many of us worked on, ten to twelve hours a day, six days a week, is still uninhabitable 25 YEARS LATER!!!
This means that, for six months at a time, we military guinea pigs were virtually living on that island from 1977-1980, completely unaware of the danger and the high levels of radiation we were exposed to daily. Has any U.S. military serviceperson been awarded even a minor compensation, much less $14.51 million?
I know I haven’t.
Also check the link to the right—a wonderful person has written about our plight.
Link -- Local Newspaper Column
posted by Debagger at 7:28 PM
6 Comments:
If your readers can't find the link to my column about Atomic Vets, they can e-mail me at wendy@gorgeousandbrilliant.com and I will e-mail them the text.
Love you, honey. You're my hero.
It is amazaing that the nuclear soldier is nothing more than a statistic. I have gone to the VA however try getting proof that you were there. Fortunitly, I received a performance apprasial while assigned to the Atoll, and have a APR from there.
Be aware, unless it is on your DD-214 or you have proof other than pictures, you will not be recognized as a nuclear veteran.
Tj toad
I stumbled across this blog while researching cancer causes as I was a Lojwa Animal fro Jan --Jun 79--
Worked on Runit-- Enjebi and other islands-- wanted to hear more from other vets
Not sure how old these post are, but anyway; some proof of being on the island are: copy of TDY orders, copy of the orders awarding the Humanitarian Service Medal or other award citation for service on the islands, the is a form in your 201 file, which I can't remember the name, but it list all your assignments. Request a copy of your 201 file and hopefully there is some proof there. Good Luck.
The Defense Threat Reduction Agency, at it office at Kirtland AFB, has all the radiation dosimetry and urine bioassay results. Each service's dosimetry center also has them. It is your right to receive a copy of your radiation exposure records. All you have to do is ask. Also check out http://www.vbdr.org/
Those radiation expsosure records are proof you were there.
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