Series on Gulf War Continues…..

What does Gulf War Veterans and Super Bowl Have in Common?

Twenty years ago our military active duty and reservists placed on active duty and many reserve units working on mandays/active duty time for reserve manning stateside, in route flying missions, overseas in Europe and other middle east countries, and at home bases were all doing their sworn duty for the United States Military.  They remember where they were and the Super Bowl in 1991, the question is does the American Public at large remember them? 

The veterans remember the scud alarms going off on that day vividly.  When they came home they were reporting in ill but America did not hear much and if they did it was just because they happenned to hear something on the news on television occassionally or occassionally saw something in the newspaper.  America was busy and may have missed one of the largest stories of the need for veterans in its modern history.

In the background Vietnam Veterans that had sent their offspring off to war were hard at work networking to find out what the returning health status of these veterans really was in reality!   We mean a real Reality Show before there were any of those that multiple today on cable television.  Two Vietnam veterans from Texas were working hard to make connections to the returning Operation Desert Storm Veterans/ Gulf War 1990-91.  Their names Victor Sylvester and Coy Overstreet from far Southwest Texas.  They used the new tools of the internet that were just beginning in 1991-1993.  It was posting on electronic bulletin boards on old internet providers like Prodigy and AOL that was the beginning.

Similar to stories you will hear on news today of how the Egyptian and Tunisia revolutions are right now happenning.  This data was some of the first data that was collected independently on the state of health of the returning troops.  And surprise Victor Sylvester is still out there helping the current returning troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.

This data gives one a small snapshot of what was known early on in regards to Gulf War Illness.  This is what was called GROUND TRUTH on Gulf War Veterans of 1990-91.  Coy Overstreet, USMC, Vietnam Veteran, Agent Orange Veteran, Atomic Veteran died many years ago but he was one Marine that never ever left his troops on the field injuried.  It is past time for the officers and Non commissioned officers and senior enlisted that served in 1990-91 to stand tall and remember their duty to care for the ill gulf war veterans 1990-91 that have been left ill and suffering in the field but it is never too late.

Today as everyone is busy watching Super Bowl 2011, Gulf War Veterans of 1990-91 are asking America to remember 20 years ago and ask how many families have now lost a member of their family, a fellow veteran, a former employee/employer, or a neighbor that was a Gulf War Veteran 1990-1991 to strange illnesses, cancers, early heart attacks, or a host of illnesses that took them from you prematurely in life. 

If I had it in my power, I would open the Super Bowl with a salute to the Gulf War Veterans 1990-91 and ask if any in attendance are these veterans and have them stand and then I would ask if any citizen in the Dallas Stadium has lost a member of their family or a friend or associate that was a Gulf War Veteran 1990-91 and have those survivors stand!  But alas I do not think that will happen, it is sad!

Here is the initial status reports that came in on Gulf War Veterans that were ill early after the war. 

Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm Survey Results from October 1, 1995

Percentages based on total number of calls received and Survey’s completed at group meetings during 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995. 10,051 calls or Surveys were receive…d. 4,611 calls or Surveys were verified sickness calls, which reflects some 45.87% of the total calls received. Calls from Active Duty personnel were not verifiable due to military policies. Verification was performed by calling medical entities providing the treatment and requesting verification that subject was being treated by that entity or examination of hand-carried medical records at group meetings.

SECTION 1

• Gas Alarms, Your Unit Went Into Mopp Status………. 84 %.
• Dead Animals in Operations Area………………… 65 %.
• Came under Iraqi Artillery Fire………………… 67 %.
• Entered Captured Enemy Vehicles………………… 82 %.
• Operations Area Under Scud Attack………………. 78 %.
• Entered Captured Enemy Bunkers…………………. 64 %.
• Entered Area or Building With Radiation Warning….. 09 %.
• Entered Captured Enemy Ammunition Dump………….. 62 %.
• Entered or Worked in Landfill / Garbage Dump……. 76 %.
• Within Clear / Visual Area Of Oil Fires…………. 90 %.
• Breathing or Enveloped In Oil Fire Smoke………… 96 %.
  SECTION I.
• Gas Alarms, Your Unit Went Into Mopp Status……… 93.54%.
• Dead Animals in Operational Area……………….. 54.83%.
• Came Under Iraqi Artillery Fire………………… 70.96%.
• Entered Captured Enemy Vehicles………………… 77.41%.
• Operations Area Under Scud Attack………………. 80.64%.
• Entered Captured Enemy Bunkers…………………. 80.64%.
• Entered Area or Building With Radiation Warning….. 3.22%.
• Entered Captured Enemy Ammunition Dump………….. 41.93%.
• Entered or Worked in Landfill / Garbage Dump…….. 67.74%.
• Within Clear / Visual Area of Oil Fires…………. 90.32%.
• Breathing or Enveloped in Oil Field Fire Smoke…… 96.77%.
• Worked In / Lived In / Numerous Travel Through Oil.. 67.74%.
• Oily Taste To Food……………………………. 54.83%.
• Oily Taste To Drinking Water…………………… 58.06%.
• Washed Body in Water With Oily Sheen……………. 77.41%.
• Ate Local Economy Food………………………… 77.41%.
• Drank Local Water…………………………….. 61.29%.
• Bathed in Local Water…………………………. 70.96%.

SECTION II

• Received Investigational Drugs and/or Vaccines…… 96.77%.

SYMPTOMS

• Chronic Fatigue………………………………. 90.32%.
• Headaches……………………………………. 80.64%.
• Eyes Sensative To Bright Light…………………. 80.64%.
• Blurred Vision,Lose Focus for no Apparent Reason…. 77.41%.
• Rashes – Spots to Water Blister’s………………. 74.19%.
• Bleeding Gums………………………………… 61.29%.
• Aching Joints………………………………… 83.87%.
• Rectal Bleeding………………………………. 29.03%.
• Constant Diarrhea…………………………….. 90.32%.
• Hair Loss……………………………………. 64.51%.
• Blood In Urine……………………………….. 16.12%.
• Blood In Stool……………………………….. 58.06%.
• Loose Teeth………………………………….. 45.16%.
• Sleep Problems……………………………….. 87.09%.
• Skin Lumps…………………………………… 58.06%.
• Abdominal Pains………………………………. 90.32%.
• Dark or Off-Colored Sputum…………………….. 61.29%.
• Skin Changes, Color or Texture…………………. 70.96%.
• Short Term Memory Loss………………………… 93.54%.
• Mood Swings, Out Of Normal Range……………….. 90.32%.
• Married……………………………………… 77.41%.
• Spouse Problems………………………………. 48.38%.
• Children Have Uncommon Problems………………… 18.29%.

Operation Desert Shield / Desert Storm
Hafar al Batin / KKMC Region Survey.
October 1, 1995.

Percentages based on total number of calls received and survey’s completed at group meetings during 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, and 1995. 10,051 surveys were completed through telephonic or physical application, of which 4,611 were verified sickness survey’s. Of the 4,611 verified surveys, 2,001 were identified as having served in the Hafar al Batin / KKMC region of the operational theater which reflects 43.39 % of the verified surveys. The following percentages are based on the 43.39 % completed surveys: