Whistle-blower details exposure - Supports soldier's claim about Iraq toxin

[kpete]

Source: Evansville Courier Press

NEW ALBANY, Ind. — Indiana National Guardsman Lt. Col. Jim Gentry has been given the dubious distinction of being the first American soldier known to die from exposure to a cancer-causing toxin while serving in Iraq.

Gentry, 52, of Williams, just north of the Hoosier National Forest, died of lung cancer more than a week ago. He was buried Tuesday in New Albany.

The carcinogen was hexavalent chromium. It has been linked to leukemia and several kinds of cancers, as well as to liver and kidney damage. The Iraqis had used it to prevent corrosion in pipes used to pump water into the ground at an oil-pumping site.

I understand and accept there's danger with my line of service, in my line of service. What's very difficult for me to accept is if I'm working for KBR and they have knowledge of hazardous chemicals on the ground that can cause cancer and (they don't) share that knowledge, then that is putting my men at risk that is unnecessary." The late Lt. Col. Jim Gentry, in a December 2008 deposition



Read more: http://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/dec/06/whistle-blower-details-exposure/

[NYC_SKP]

1. That is the toxin that formed the basis of the Erin Brockovich story.

The Army gets to slip past all kinds of regulations.

[Hekate]

4. I knew that sounded familiar. We have a lot of sick vets now -- and families of vets, too.

Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld-Rove... the Asses of Evil, the war criminals without conscience. Never forget who got our soldiers into this hell.

Hekate

[UP_4012]

2. Rec'd

[defendandprotect]

3. k i c k