The Rest Of The Story
More than two years have passed since my last entry, and although life has been good, I’ll borrow a phrase from radio commentator Paul Harvey….”and now for the rest of the story”.
On 21 JAN 09, the Virginia law firm of Burke O’Niel, submitted a class action lawsuit in Maryland entitled Metzgar vs. KBR. In summary, the complaint states that defense contractors KBR/Halliburton failed to meet obligations under the LOGCAP contract to provide support for military operations in the Middle East. This negligence resulted in harm to U.S. soldiers. I am listed as a “member of the class of plaintiffs” in this case.
The KBR situation first came to my attention on 15 DEC 08 when I saw the following article on the CNN website;
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/12/15/burn.pits/index.html#cnnSTCText
Later that month, I encountered a similar article in the JAN/FEB 2009 issue of Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Magazine. Although I did not agree with all the claims, I realized that my personal situation supported an aspect of the medical concerns, which resulted from assignment to Balad, Iraq.
I was stationed at LSA Anaconda, in Balad, Iraq from DEC 05 thru OCT 06. My unit was assigned lodging in proximity to the open-air burn pit, I can attest that air quality issues described in media reports are legitimate. I know soldiers had voiced concerns regarding the burn pit at LSA Anaconda. Our unit was informed that an incinerator for waste disposal was the primary public works project pending for the airbase. When I left Balad, the incinerator project was still incomplete. At that time, I did not realize the extent of defense contractor support authorized thru LOGCAP contracts---including waste disposal and water purification at Balad. I assumed the military was responsible for addressing this issue; therefore, an incinerator resolution was secondary to the war effort.
Regarding my personal experience, early in my tour I encountered skin rashes that were difficult to contain. I viewed this situation as a nuisance...something that never prevented me from performing my assigned duties. Eventually, I consulted the Battalion Flight Surgeon. During this process, I was prescribed oral medications and topical ointments, while an effort was made to diagnosis the skin disorder. Due to the pace of events, I returned to the U.S. without a diagnosis or resolution for my skin disorder. Upon returning home, I followed up on my Flight Surgeon’s dermatology referral and took his advice to initiate a claim with the Veterans Administration (VA). During the winter of 2007, I completed the required procedures to submit a claim with the VA. In APR 07, the VA approved a 0% Disability for Atopic Dermatitis. Although each of my limbs and trunk have patches, the percentage authorized was based on skin agitation of less than 5% of my body. I did not appeal the VA ruling and accepted the fact that applying topical cream 2-3 times per day would be part of my existence. My goal was to obtain a diagnosis and establish a “baseline” with the VA in the event of future complications.
Upon viewing the media accounts regarding Balad in DEC 08, I debated on whether or not to come forward with my medical records. While deployed, I had flown into virtually every airfield in Iraq. I understood that living conditions at Balad were better than what 95% of the troops experienced while deployed to Iraq. I also knew that KBR provided many positive services at Balad to include; food, housing, laundry, recreation facilities, library access, call centers, etc. I was surprised to find these amenities in a war zone---we could have easily been issued a tent w/cot and lived out of a duffle bag. I deliberated over putting myself in a position to discredit KBR…recognizing that without KBR support, dining facilities, air conditioning, electrical power, furniture and privacy would not have been the norm.
Conversely, I also understood that my medical records clearly outlined a medical condition that did not exist before I deployed---something that I’ll live with for the rest of my life. In addition, I suspect there are other soldiers, who have experienced or will experience, medical challenges due to assignment at LSA Anaconda---soldiers with physical challenges much worse than mine, who may lack a detailed medical history. In January 09, I made the decision to submit my medical records to Burke-O’Neill. I based my decision on 3 criteria;
1. Is my physical health worse than when I initially deployed ...Yes
2. Since I’ll be returning to Balad within a year, has the situation been resolved…No
3. Was KBR paid Billions of dollars to provide waste disposal and water purification…Yes
In the end, my hope is that soldiers who experience medical issues, but lack historical documentation, can use this case as leverage in their quest for treatment. Secondly, that KBR be compelled to correct known health hazards…preferably, before my next rotation to Balad.
On 21 JAN 09, the Virginia law firm of Burke O’Niel, submitted a class action lawsuit in Maryland entitled Metzgar vs. KBR. In summary, the complaint states that defense contractors KBR/Halliburton failed to meet obligations under the LOGCAP contract to provide support for military operations in the Middle East. This negligence resulted in harm to U.S. soldiers. I am listed as a “member of the class of plaintiffs” in this case.
The KBR situation first came to my attention on 15 DEC 08 when I saw the following article on the CNN website;
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/12/15/burn.pits/index.html#cnnSTCText
Later that month, I encountered a similar article in the JAN/FEB 2009 issue of Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Magazine. Although I did not agree with all the claims, I realized that my personal situation supported an aspect of the medical concerns, which resulted from assignment to Balad, Iraq.
I was stationed at LSA Anaconda, in Balad, Iraq from DEC 05 thru OCT 06. My unit was assigned lodging in proximity to the open-air burn pit, I can attest that air quality issues described in media reports are legitimate. I know soldiers had voiced concerns regarding the burn pit at LSA Anaconda. Our unit was informed that an incinerator for waste disposal was the primary public works project pending for the airbase. When I left Balad, the incinerator project was still incomplete. At that time, I did not realize the extent of defense contractor support authorized thru LOGCAP contracts---including waste disposal and water purification at Balad. I assumed the military was responsible for addressing this issue; therefore, an incinerator resolution was secondary to the war effort.
Regarding my personal experience, early in my tour I encountered skin rashes that were difficult to contain. I viewed this situation as a nuisance...something that never prevented me from performing my assigned duties. Eventually, I consulted the Battalion Flight Surgeon. During this process, I was prescribed oral medications and topical ointments, while an effort was made to diagnosis the skin disorder. Due to the pace of events, I returned to the U.S. without a diagnosis or resolution for my skin disorder. Upon returning home, I followed up on my Flight Surgeon’s dermatology referral and took his advice to initiate a claim with the Veterans Administration (VA). During the winter of 2007, I completed the required procedures to submit a claim with the VA. In APR 07, the VA approved a 0% Disability for Atopic Dermatitis. Although each of my limbs and trunk have patches, the percentage authorized was based on skin agitation of less than 5% of my body. I did not appeal the VA ruling and accepted the fact that applying topical cream 2-3 times per day would be part of my existence. My goal was to obtain a diagnosis and establish a “baseline” with the VA in the event of future complications.
Upon viewing the media accounts regarding Balad in DEC 08, I debated on whether or not to come forward with my medical records. While deployed, I had flown into virtually every airfield in Iraq. I understood that living conditions at Balad were better than what 95% of the troops experienced while deployed to Iraq. I also knew that KBR provided many positive services at Balad to include; food, housing, laundry, recreation facilities, library access, call centers, etc. I was surprised to find these amenities in a war zone---we could have easily been issued a tent w/cot and lived out of a duffle bag. I deliberated over putting myself in a position to discredit KBR…recognizing that without KBR support, dining facilities, air conditioning, electrical power, furniture and privacy would not have been the norm.
Conversely, I also understood that my medical records clearly outlined a medical condition that did not exist before I deployed---something that I’ll live with for the rest of my life. In addition, I suspect there are other soldiers, who have experienced or will experience, medical challenges due to assignment at LSA Anaconda---soldiers with physical challenges much worse than mine, who may lack a detailed medical history. In January 09, I made the decision to submit my medical records to Burke-O’Neill. I based my decision on 3 criteria;
1. Is my physical health worse than when I initially deployed ...Yes
2. Since I’ll be returning to Balad within a year, has the situation been resolved…No
3. Was KBR paid Billions of dollars to provide waste disposal and water purification…Yes
In the end, my hope is that soldiers who experience medical issues, but lack historical documentation, can use this case as leverage in their quest for treatment. Secondly, that KBR be compelled to correct known health hazards…preferably, before my next rotation to Balad.
posted by Mission First at 5:45 PM
