Does it surprise you to learn that troops were used for human experiments?

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 09:01:46 -0400

Veterans used as test subjects for chemical and biological tests during the Cold War won a small victory in court recently when appellate judges ruled the Army must keep them apprised of developments related to their health.

In its June 30 decision, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals also said the Army, not the Veterans Affairs Department, should provide medical care to those vets.

The ruling came on a class-action lawsuit filed by Vietnam Veterans of America, Swords to Plowshares and individual veterans over medical care for troops who participated in research programs at Edgewood Arsenal and Fort Detrick, Maryland, from the early 1950s through the mid-1970s.

The judges ruled the Army is obligated to provide the vets updated information on issues pertaining to their health. They also rejected a district court's earlier argument that even though the Army should have furnished medical care for the veterans under its own regulations, it didn't have to to because the VA provides care to some of the affected personnel.

The judges sent the case back to the Northern California District Court Judge Claudia Wilken to reconsider.

"The district court could not ... categorically deny injunctive relief to former volunteer subjects seeking necessary medical care because some former subjects may be entitled to receive medical care from another government agency," the judges wrote.

Nearly 7,000 troops took part in chemical research programs at Edgewood from 1950 to 1975 and in biological research at Fort Detrick from 1946 to 1977, testing substances such as mescaline, ketamine, LSD, and nerve agents like sarin.

In earlier eras, World War I and World War II troops numbering in the tens of thousands were used for human experiments to test chemicals and protective equipment, exposes to mustard gas and "Lewisite," a blister agent with bodily consequences similar to mustard gas.

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/benefits/health-care/2015/07/11/court-finds-in-favor-of-veterans-used-in-secret-experiments/29873199/

Vets used in secret tests make progress in court

Veterans used as test subjects for chemical and biological tests following World War II won a small victory in court last month when appellate judges

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Jul 11 at 2015 9:09 AM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 09:09:26 -0400

Not at all.
It was during the great "fear" war and fear makes us do crazy things.

Response by SPC Jeffrey Bly made Jul 11 at 2015 9:44 AM

SPC Jeffrey Bly — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 09:44:24 -0400

Were there not enough incarcerated felons to use as test subjects? Why use our necessary brave and strong young men to undergo experiments? And most definitely the Army should be held responsible and accountable to those men and their families.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Jul 11 at 2015 9:50 AM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 09:50:50 -0400

Not surprised at all. But in the end the Army should pony up and take care of the vets health, or pay for the VA to take care of it. And I don't think it's been limited to just the cold war. Do we really know?

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Jul 11 at 2015 10:22 AM

CPT Pedro Meza — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 10:22:48 -0400

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad, good question but a minor mistake given that those that participated were volunteers it was no secrete to them, because they knew, but those that did not know is a different matter, because we have always suspected. Thank You.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Jul 11 at 2015 10:27 AM

CPT Pedro Meza — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 10:27:08 -0400

Remember the movie Jacob's Ladder?

Response by PO3 Steven Sherrill made Jul 11 at 2015 10:55 AM

PO3 Steven Sherrill — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 10:55:34 -0400

Surprise? No. Disheartened? Yes.

Response by LTC Stephen C. made Jul 11 at 2015 11:33 AM

LTC Stephen C. — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 11:33:33 -0400

Not surprised in the least, GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad. I think there are hundreds of photos of soldiers "observing" atomic bomb tests at close range and totally unprotected.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 11 at 2015 11:37 AM

PO1 John Miller — Sat, 11 Jul 2015 11:37:49 -0400

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad, I've heard this before. And no, I'm not surprised one bit. The government's mentality, especially back then, was "Hey, these guys volunteered and don't question orders. They would make a perfect test subject!"

Response by PFC Scott Ballor made Jul 13 at 2015 2:18 PM

PFC Scott Ballor — Mon, 13 Jul 2015 14:18:20 -0400

no does not surprise me at all.