Posted on Oct 4, 2015
Should the United States acknowledge its Atomic Veterans before it's too late? Most are already dead and gone
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Almost 300,000 veterans witnessed atmospheric tests of nuclear devices: Atomic Bombs and Hydrogen Bombs. They are known as Atomic Veterans. Most, if not a majority, are dead as you read this. Many died young of cancers and tuberculosis induced by their exposure to the deadly radiation emitted by these detonations. Those fortunate enough to survive such early onsets of fatal diseases are now dying of old age. Sadly, the United States has never officially acknowledged their participation as what many would characterize as guinea pigs. There is not even a ribbon to wear on their chests among the other campaign medals they may have earned.
Dick Latham is an Atomic Veteran. I am honored to call him comrade. We serve together as members of VFW Post 6024 in Mission Viejo, California. Dick shared his story with me and granted me permission to share it with you. Hopefully, it will spread until the United States Congress is inspired to complete the task of honoring these men and women.
Inasmuch as it is difficult to retain the attention of Internet readers much beyond 800 words, I had to keep Dick's story short. I couldn't include his duty as a Marine Security Guard at the American Embassy in Rio de Janeiro where he met his wife, or his service during World War II or Korea. Even so, when I stopped paring away words to reveal the final product, Dick's story included more than 1,200 words. I decided to take my chances and test my readers' patience for a good story.
Now, I've already spent almost 300 words in this preamble to warm you to the task. Sit back. Take a breath. Get something to drink. Go the the bathroom. Then dive in and learn about these Atomic Veterans. Hopefully you'll agree that they deserve recognition.
http://www.jackdurish.com/7/post/2015/10/the-atomic-veteran.html
Dick Latham is an Atomic Veteran. I am honored to call him comrade. We serve together as members of VFW Post 6024 in Mission Viejo, California. Dick shared his story with me and granted me permission to share it with you. Hopefully, it will spread until the United States Congress is inspired to complete the task of honoring these men and women.
Inasmuch as it is difficult to retain the attention of Internet readers much beyond 800 words, I had to keep Dick's story short. I couldn't include his duty as a Marine Security Guard at the American Embassy in Rio de Janeiro where he met his wife, or his service during World War II or Korea. Even so, when I stopped paring away words to reveal the final product, Dick's story included more than 1,200 words. I decided to take my chances and test my readers' patience for a good story.
Now, I've already spent almost 300 words in this preamble to warm you to the task. Sit back. Take a breath. Get something to drink. Go the the bathroom. Then dive in and learn about these Atomic Veterans. Hopefully you'll agree that they deserve recognition.
http://www.jackdurish.com/7/post/2015/10/the-atomic-veteran.html
Nuclear
Awards
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 9
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CPT Jack Durish
Fortunately, the U.S. has a history of rectifying its mistakes even if only after a lengthy battle. Many nations, especially those suffering under tyrannical and despotic regimes never see any such relief.
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Yes they should! Those test happened and all of those Veterans suffered from it!
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CPT Jack Durish Like all other Veterans if they(legislation,politicians,etc.) can put them off long enough,the problem will go away
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CPT Jack Durish
SPC (Servicemember) - I fear that disability compensation for the Atomic Veterans has been something of a battle akin to the one being waged by the victims of Agent Orange. Yes, some have been compensated but only after a fight
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Suspended Profile
The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) is responsible for estimating dosages received by atomic veterans. I've worked with a few as a DAV service officer. It always seemed to me that the DTRA assessments were way low on their calculations. Making it more difficult, it's impossible to contact DTRA to challenge them.
It's clear that legislation is needed...
It's clear that legislation is needed...
Suspended Profile
I rarely saw the results of claims, so I can't answer your question. However, having worked as a Navy Nuclear Power officer, including serving as a Radiological Controls Officer, and teaching Radiological Fundamentals at Nuclear Power School, I was convinced that their methods were flawed.
Of course there were no records available. How many people today, in this era of electronic medical records, come back from combat, lacking documentation of serious injuries and illness. All the more so in the past.
Further, I believe that we should err on the side of over rather than underestimating dosage. I come at this from the standpoint of my experience in the nuclear field.
Whether we are talking about claims or healthcare management is irrelevant - the relevant issue is the estimated exposure, because that informs medical treatment, including decisions such as whether to aggressively treat someone or put them in palliative care.
The government has always done everything it can to minimize exposure to claims (but not always to radiological exposure). As veteran advocates, we owe it to these folks to be more liberal with the numbers.
Of course there were no records available. How many people today, in this era of electronic medical records, come back from combat, lacking documentation of serious injuries and illness. All the more so in the past.
Further, I believe that we should err on the side of over rather than underestimating dosage. I come at this from the standpoint of my experience in the nuclear field.
Whether we are talking about claims or healthcare management is irrelevant - the relevant issue is the estimated exposure, because that informs medical treatment, including decisions such as whether to aggressively treat someone or put them in palliative care.
The government has always done everything it can to minimize exposure to claims (but not always to radiological exposure). As veteran advocates, we owe it to these folks to be more liberal with the numbers.
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YES! They deserve to be honored and all their medical issues covered by the V.A. Abnormal child births, diabetes and cancer are just the short list of the health problems most suffer from.
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Ignorance at the time of nuclear radiation, not knowing the results of the fallout, and showing the world what we can do if attacked was paramount during the “Cold War”. Agent Orange is another example. Now, do we, the present generation, “feel guilty” and want to give them a medal or lobby Congress and the VA for a “one time offer of $5000” to “settle our guilt”? The test and the results are a footnote in history. Due to incompetence, they people were “allegedly” exposed to cancer causing agents during their military duty. For me, I have mixed emotions on this subject and leaning more negative than positive.
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We Wait!
Maynard, George Robert, Sr.
http://d.library.unlv.edu/digital/collection/nts/id/1117/rec/8
==================================================================================
DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY MAR 0 9 2017
8725 JOHN J. KINGMAN ROAD, STOP 6201
FORT BELVOIR, VA 22060-6201
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office
ATTN: Director (21 - Radiation)
1600 East Woodrow Wilson Avenue
Jackson. Mississippi 39216-5102
Dear Sir / Madam:
MAR 0 9 2017
This is a follow'-up to our letter of January 26, 2017. Concerning Mr. George R.
Maynard. File Number: xxx xx xxx, a confirmed participant of Operation PLUMBBOB,
a U.S. atmospheric nuclear test series conducted at the Nevada Test Site in 1957. This
verification satisfies the requirements of 38 CFR 3.309 for his small B-cell lymphoma.
Revision 3.1 of the Nuclear Test Personnel Review Program’s RA02 - Expedited
Processing of Radiation Dose Assignment describes the methodology for expedited
processing of radiation dose assessments to tissues or organs in response to requests from
the Department of Veterans Affairs. The expedited process established conservative
maximum doses utilizing actual radiation level measurements and technical calculations,
previous!) Established doses, bounding assumptions about exposure scenarios, and
radiation science fundamentals. These maximum doses are much higher than doses that
were estimated in previous radiation dose assessments, thus providing maximum benefit
of the doubt to the veteran and ensuring that the reported doses are not less than actual
doses. The reported doses are based on worst-case parameters and assumptions, not all of which the veteran may have encountered. These parameters and assumptions are
intended to adequately encompass an)' activities performed by the veteran. Input from the
veteran or his surrogate has been carefully reviewed to ensure that no activities in his
actual exposure scenario would result in a higher dose than that generated via the
expedited process.
Doses which Mr. Maynard could have received during his participation in
Operation PLUMBBOB are not more than:
- External gamma dose: 16 rem
- External neutron dose: 0.5 rein
- Internal committed dose to the blood and blood forming organs (alpha):
1.5 rem
- Internal committed dose to the blood and blood forming organs
( beta + gamma ): 8 rem
- Internal committed dose to the thyroid (alpha): 0.1 rem
- Internal committed dose to the thyroid (beta + gamma): 7 rem
If we can be of any further assistance in this matter, please do not hesitate to
contact us. Sincerely.
L. A. Alleman
Lieutenant. U.S. Navy
Nuclear Test Personnel Review
Nuclear Technologies Department
cc:
Mr. Maynard
Maynard, George Robert, Sr.
http://d.library.unlv.edu/digital/collection/nts/id/1117/rec/8
==================================================================================
DEFENSE THREAT REDUCTION AGENCY MAR 0 9 2017
8725 JOHN J. KINGMAN ROAD, STOP 6201
FORT BELVOIR, VA 22060-6201
Department of Veterans Affairs Regional Office
ATTN: Director (21 - Radiation)
1600 East Woodrow Wilson Avenue
Jackson. Mississippi 39216-5102
Dear Sir / Madam:
MAR 0 9 2017
This is a follow'-up to our letter of January 26, 2017. Concerning Mr. George R.
Maynard. File Number: xxx xx xxx, a confirmed participant of Operation PLUMBBOB,
a U.S. atmospheric nuclear test series conducted at the Nevada Test Site in 1957. This
verification satisfies the requirements of 38 CFR 3.309 for his small B-cell lymphoma.
Revision 3.1 of the Nuclear Test Personnel Review Program’s RA02 - Expedited
Processing of Radiation Dose Assignment describes the methodology for expedited
processing of radiation dose assessments to tissues or organs in response to requests from
the Department of Veterans Affairs. The expedited process established conservative
maximum doses utilizing actual radiation level measurements and technical calculations,
previous!) Established doses, bounding assumptions about exposure scenarios, and
radiation science fundamentals. These maximum doses are much higher than doses that
were estimated in previous radiation dose assessments, thus providing maximum benefit
of the doubt to the veteran and ensuring that the reported doses are not less than actual
doses. The reported doses are based on worst-case parameters and assumptions, not all of which the veteran may have encountered. These parameters and assumptions are
intended to adequately encompass an)' activities performed by the veteran. Input from the
veteran or his surrogate has been carefully reviewed to ensure that no activities in his
actual exposure scenario would result in a higher dose than that generated via the
expedited process.
Doses which Mr. Maynard could have received during his participation in
Operation PLUMBBOB are not more than:
- External gamma dose: 16 rem
- External neutron dose: 0.5 rein
- Internal committed dose to the blood and blood forming organs (alpha):
1.5 rem
- Internal committed dose to the blood and blood forming organs
( beta + gamma ): 8 rem
- Internal committed dose to the thyroid (alpha): 0.1 rem
- Internal committed dose to the thyroid (beta + gamma): 7 rem
If we can be of any further assistance in this matter, please do not hesitate to
contact us. Sincerely.
L. A. Alleman
Lieutenant. U.S. Navy
Nuclear Test Personnel Review
Nuclear Technologies Department
cc:
Mr. Maynard
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Of course these troops should be acknowledge and made whole if necessary.
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