VeTALKX: Karshi-Khanabad (K-2) Military Exposures Q&A and 2nd Community Forum

Will these forums be recorded? I am still working full time as a civilian and will probably not be available at the time listed for the forum. I would like to be able to hear what was said and respond later if possible. Thanks

I have also been able to verify using open-source documents recently declassified that state that there was a Soviet tactical nuclear weapons storage site at Karshi-Khanabad until 1992. So we known that there were indeed nukes kept there before US forces arrived.

Have there been any confirmed cases of illness directly related to toxic exposure at K2

Did anyone encounter problems accessing Coordinators? I tried to connect with two listed coordinators via email, one email address was wrong and the other coordinator is out of the country. Can anyone point to a DU/Toxic Exposure lab in the Northern Virginia area? Thanks.

1.Can evaluations at the war related Illness and Injury Study Center be made available for all K2 vets with chronic, undiagnosed illnesses?

2.How would these chemicals affect our kids genetics and could these chemicals play a part in mental health/personality disorders? What kind of testing would determine this could be a root cause to these issues? Could any of these chemicals play a part in testosterone, hormone and testicular issues in Men?

3.Is there a timeline for neurological issues to be added to the list and covered?

I did the NBC duties at K2 in 2003. 20 years later I have had two TIAs, an ischemic stroke which led to the discovery of widespread atrophy which is now vascular dementia at age 59. How many others are dealing with neurocognitive disorders that are labeled PTSD? I know what showed up in the testing at K2. My two boys have multiple issues. One has ADHD and dyspraxia the other AdHD, autism and dyslexia. Will there be a study into issues our children have due to exposure?

Hello, I served at K2 in 2002-2003. Years after I started to develop serious sinusitis and headaches. Are we covered under the most recent congressional legislation?

How long would Toxic Exposures still be detectable by any test?

I and my unit, 351st OD CO DET, were deployed to K2 and operated and improved the K2 Ammunition Supply Point (ASP) for 8 consecutive months from Sep 2002 thru Apr 2003. The ASP was located at the SW corner of the base past the PT track and immediately adjacent to the southern end of the cluster of Hardened Aircraft Structures (HAS) area that was fenced off and signed “Danger Keep Out- Chemical Agents and Unexploded Ordnance Area”. The ASP contained the southern most 2 HAS structures, of the 8 total HAS structures, in that area- 6 of which were contained in the fenced off ‘danger’ area. Evidently, the contamination stopped in between the 6th and 7th HAS structures and everything south of the 6th HAS was safe for ASP operations. Additionally, the ASP was located less than 200 yards from the continuously operated Burn Pit on the other side of the west wall from the ASP.

However, on the contrary, once our unit arrived at K2 our secondary mission was to get the ASP up to DDESB standards which involved continuous excavation of the entire ASP site for almost he entirety of our deployment to K2. Additionally, unit personnel where directly involved with excavation, hand digging, and construction improvements to one of the dilapidated/destroyed HAS structures to be able to enclose the structure to enable the storage of sensitive ammo/items.
During the ASP excavation, countless, suspicious items and/or vials containing unknown liquids were discovered and turned into safety and we were never told what those items were or what they contained (see photos provided). Not to mention the unknown and inconceivable amount of these items that were destroyed, crushed, and strewn throughout the ASP site during excavation operations for 8 consecutive months. The 351st OD CO personnel where exposed to these toxic exposures in the ASP vicinity on a daily basis not to mention toxic exposures in the remainder of K2 and Tent City.

The list of toxins at K2 continues to grow and after spending 8 consecutive months there operating a part of K2 that was under ‘excavation’ almost that entire time; immediately adjacent to a ‘known K2 contaminated site’; constantly unearthing vials of unknowns; and barely 200 yards from the ‘burn-pit’; I am convinced that the health conditions of myself and other unit personnel that I know of are directly contributable to the site conditions and toxic exposures of K2.

I want to share my personal health conditions and diagnoses, since K2 deployment, to increase the awareness of what those of us deployed to K2 are experiencing, as well as, let others that were there know the symptoms and illnesses that are being developed in others. Personally, I went from a totally super-healthy condition prior to K2 deployment (never had a primary physician) to developing allergies almost immediately after deployment to the point that we had a cat prior to deployment to having to give up the cat very shortly after deployment. Then developing asthma. Then developing psoriatic arthritis to the point that I had psoriasis from my ankles to my forehead covering approximately 40 of my body as well as arthritis with fingers and toes that no longer bend. Then developing cataracts at 48. Then, most recently, developing years of experience with severe ulcerative colitis / diverticulitis / and IBD symptoms which just resulted in a colostomy that likely won’t be reversed. Most of my illnesses seem to be autoimmune system related and characterized by the VA as “Known Clinical Diagnoses”.

I have not been able to be in contact with many of the personnel from our detachment that was deployed to K2 but, I am aware of one individual that has survived testicular cancer.

Summarizing here: The VA’s view of illnesses ‘basically’ fall into 2 categories
1- ‘Known Clinical Diagnoses’: must fall under PACT ACT illnesses and occur a max. of 365 days from date of discharge, OR;

2- - “Unknown, undiagnosed, or medically unexplained”: The Gulf War Syndrome illnesses fall under the ‘medically unexplained chronic multisymptom illness’ which is basically a bunch of ‘syndromes’, ‘disorders’, etc. that can’t be a conclusive diagnosis or a “Known Clinical Diagnosis” and has a NLT development date of 31 DEC 2026.

Just to name a few toxins on the VA’s list of known toxins above acceptable levels:
- Benzene: changes levels of blood antibodies and white blood cells.
- Copper: reduced antibodies.
- Naphthalene: to my knowledge, known to cause cataracts.
Among many things, Naphthalene is a biproduct of spent fuels (gas, diesel, jet fuel, etc. all of which were used in burn pits as accelerants)
- Radioactive Depleted Uranium… the list goes on…

Questions:
1. Wouldn’t or couldn’t these toxic exposures cause “Known Clinical Diagnoses”?

2. When will the VA add or expand more ‘Known Clinical Diagnoses’ to the PACT ACT presumptive illnesses list to include “known” serious autoimmune system illnesses in addition to the existing cancers and respiratory illnesses currently on the presumptive list?
Example. Gastro Cancer is on the list. But, it will be very difficult to develop Gastro Cancer when you no longer have a colon?!

3. Regarding the soldier I mentioned above that survived testicular cancer. VA told him it ‘was’ service-connected, zero disability, and thank you for your service. When will the VA own this and support it’s veteran’s so that they can have meaningful discussions with their medical providers about what they were exposed to as well as assist with financial support to help relieve the very heavy burden of future medical expenses OR more importantly the tens of thousands in medical fees already incurred?

In my appeal to the VA, I / we may have numerous ‘known clinical diagnoses’ but collectively something that we were exposed to, in our case- for 8 consecutive months, or a collection of toxic exposures, may have altered or effected our immune systems to contribute to the development of these “Known Clinical Diagnoses / Illnesses”. Additionally, we are all different and react differently to toxic exposures and other various illness exposures and to have a 365 day max. limit after discharge is absurd for non-presumptive illnesses.

As study results and evaluation findings, one after another, are being debunked- Now is the time to stop hiding behind smoke and mirrors, own up to this, and take care of your veterans!

Seven weeks ago
The VA Secretary was directly given irrefutable proof by first person account that enriched uranium was found in the soil at K2. Why has the VA not updated the K2 data with that information. You do NOT have to wait for any admission from the DoD to that. Your standard of care is “More likely than not”. It’s time to live up to that and give ALL K2 vet the care they need.