Veterans Day
November 11, 2024
VETERANS DAY
Honoring sacrifice
According to the most recent statistics from the U.S. Census, there are around 16.2 million U.S. veterans
On and around Veterans Day, Americans take time to honor our military veterans for their patriotism, braveness, willingness to serve and the sacrifices they’ve made to ensure our freedom. Veterans Day was originally known as Armistice Day World War I — known at the time as “The Great War” — officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France.
However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month.
legal holiday — a day to be dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be thereafter celebrated and known as “Armistice Day.” Armistice Day was primarily a day set aside to honor veterans of World War I, but in 1954, after World War II had required the greatest mobilization of soldiers, sailors, Marines and airmen in the Nation’s history; after American forces had fought aggression in Korea, the 83rd Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word “Armistice” and inserting in its place the word “Veterans.” With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.
For that reason, Nov. 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” An act approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a
We’re proud to present this special “Salute to Veterans,” honoring service men and women past and present from Morgan County. We hope you will enjoy reading it, and more importantly, that you will take the time to thank the veterans you know for their service.
Sara
Steve Larsen making a difference
Brush alum volunteers with VSAP, other veterans service organizations
By Robin Northrup
The Fort Morgan Times
Steve Larsen enlisted in the United States Army one week after graduating from Brush High School His first duty station was in Germany, where he was part of the Air Defense Artillery, working with Vulcan cannons. After his tour in Germany, he decided it was time to return home Three years later, he joined the Army Reserves, stationed in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and later in Fort Collins, Colorado.
In 2003, Larsen was deployed to Iraq as an Engineer Two weeks before he was due to return home, a roadside bomb went off next to his convoy, wounding him After spending a week in a field hospital, he was sent to Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado, where he received a Purple Heart.
After his discharge, he returned to Brush to be with his family and became involved with various veteran organizations He is a member of the Purple Heart Association, the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and Veteran Suicide Awareness and Prevention of Northeastern Colorado (VSAP)
When Larsen joined the DAV, he became Chief of Staff and now serves as Sergeant in Arms. The DAV assists veterans with compensation filings, transportation for medical appointments and scholarships for veterans and their families at Morgan Community College, along with other activities throughout the year
As a member of the VFW, he participates in parades and funerals and volunteers his time for events at local schools, all of which are very important to him He also helps with maintenance around the VFW building, opens the building for events, and supports projects alongside other VFW members.
Larsen spends some of his time
with VSAP, which works alongside other supporting groups through community events and individual interaction. They work together to provide support and information about available resources for those in need
One weekly event he participates in is the veteran coffee gathering at Drovers every Tuesday morning.
“It is a time when veterans get together and talk about different things going on in the veteran community,” Larsen said.
He says the coffee group enjoys talking about what is happening
TIMES FILE PHOTO
Steve Larsen, who served 29years in the Army, is honored during the Trillion Tree Corps planting project in Brush in 2022
Melody Christensen raises awareness to help veterans
Inspired by first husband’s suicide, Christensen supports prevention programs
By Robin Northrup
The Fort Morgan Times
Born and raised in Minnesota, Melody Christensen has dedicated much of her life to serving her country and supporting fellow veterans. Her journey began when she
enlisted in the United States Navy as a Storekeeper 1st Class (SK1).
From 1978 to 1982, Christensen served on active duty, with assignments in Sigonella, Sicily, and NAVCAMSLANT in Norfolk, Virginia. In Sigonella, she worked in a warehouse, supplying everything from toothpicks to helicopter blades. She operated forklifts, stocked shelves, and issued supplies. In Norfolk, she worked in the electronics division, providing supplies to Electronic Technicians and managing a million-dollar budget at just 20 years old. Christensen continued
her service in the Navy Reserves from 1985 to 1992, with temporary active duty (TAD) assignments in San Diego, CA.
In 1983, she married fellow sailor Mike Wiener, and they moved to Colorado in 1984. The couple welcomed their son in 1985. After her military service, Christensen worked at the Excel Beef Plant, Gibson’s Discount Store, and as the secretary to the principal at Brush High School. She later took a position at Morgan Community College, working in the Financial Aid office, became the Bookstore Man-
ager, and eventually served as the Director of Purchasing.
Later, Christensen moved to the Brush Chamber of Commerce, where she started a new career as an Administrative Assistant. Five years later, she moved into the role of Executive Director, a position she held until her retirement in 2020. She contributed to the Chamber and the community for over nine years
In October 2014, motivated by personal tragedy — her first husband’s suicide in 2006 — Chris-
TIMES FILE PHOTO
U.S. Navy veteran Melody Christensen speaks at a Veterans Day program in 2021.
Tripp Narrow goes from nuclear engineer to waste management
By Robin Northrup
The Fort Morgan Times
Tripp Narrow, co-owner of Wolf Waste Removal in Fort Morgan, has had a remarkable journey It began with his path to college, where he joined ROTC and earned his commission. At the time, few were assigned to active duty because of budget cuts, so he decided to attend grad school and join the Army Reserves.
For a few years, things were quiet, but then Narrow was called to serve in the first Gulf War. After his service, he worked at the National Labs in New Mexico while maintaining his reserve status Narrow later pursued an MBA and was called back to active duty in a conflict zone
The first half of Narrow’s military career involved working as an engineer handling heavy equipment. After graduate school, he
Profile
FROM PAGE 4
tensen started the “Any is Too Many” suicide awareness stand in downtown Brush Held on the 22nd of each month from 12 to 1 p.m., the initiative aims to raise awareness about suicide prevention.
Christensen is also a dedicated member of the American Legion and the American Legion Auxiliary. She served as the past Executive Director of Northeastern Colorado Veteran Suicide Awareness and Prevention (NECOVSAP), where she worked to prevent veteran suicides through community and individual interaction, providing available resources and support.
In 2021, Christensen brought Wreaths Across America to the Brush Cemetery, taking the lead as the Location Coordinator. 2024 marks the fourth year of placing a wreath on every veteran’s grave.
transitioned to Civil Affairs and Psychological Operations, a part of Special Operations.
Christensen’s message to veterans, “To all veterans who are suffering with mental health issues or PTSD, remember it is OK not to be OK. Battle buddies, check on each other. We will forever be family.”
Melody Christensen, veteran
Veteran Tripp Narrow, left, is pictured in Afghanistan.
COURTESY PHOTO
NARROW » PAGE 6
Narrow
FROM PAGE 5
“We weren’t the cool Green Berets,” joked Narrow.
During 9/11, he was called back to serve four years in psychological and military operations He worked under then-one-star General David Petraeus, who later served as director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Narrow’s assignments took him to Iraq, East Africa, and Yemen. After four years, he was headed home to return to reserve status but was recruited by the Embassy to work as a contractor for seven years
Narrow’s contractor work included several projects until a back injury forced him to return home for treatment. After he recovered, he was asked to return to Africa for smaller projects and later worked at the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) in Maine. However, Narrow decided it was time for a change. With his business degree and savings, he wanted to buy a business, which led him to Colorado.
“It’s more than garbage; it’s trucking and dealing with people. It has been a good business. We have built on it and expanded into five counties. ... We get out there and mingle with the people in the business. We may be small, but people in the industry are starting to notice us.”
— Tripp Narrow, U.S. Army veteran
In Colorado, Narrow met Army veteran Jeff Black The two became friends and decided to become partners. They began searching for a business in 2016 and met Jerry and Monica Wolfswinkel, who started Wolf Waste in Fort Morgan in 2004 and were ready to sell.
“We looked for months. There weren’t many solid businesses out there until we met Jerry and Monica,” said Narrow. Transitioning from a nuclear engineer to owning a garbage business was not what he thought he would be doing, but for Narrow, “It’s more than garbage; it’s trucking and dealing with people. It has been a good business. We have built on it and expanded into five counties.”
Wolf Waste services areas from Morgan County to I-70 to the Wy-
oming border and recently purchased another garbage company in Cheyenne. They started with seven or eight employees and now have 25, with another 14 in Cheyenne.
“We get out there and mingle with the people in the business. We may be small, but people in the industry are starting to notice us,” Narrow said.
Narrow says that his military experiences have taught him valuable lessons, which are incorporated into their business. One important lesson is to take care of your equipment because your equipment will take care of you. He reinforces this with his drivers, telling them that working in remote areas could be hours before help arrives. Wolf Waste is run by what Narrow calls “big boy rules” — the owners don’t micromanage but believe in mentoring
Larsen
in town and reminiscing about the good old days.
Occasionally, guests visit their group to provide and update them about veteran-related issues Dusty Johnson, candidate for State Representative for House District 63, frequently visits the group. Johnson talks to veterans to learn about their concerns and update them on current legislation.
“That is what these coffee gatherings are all about As long as the veterans are getting together and we are working together, that is what is important,” he said.
Larsen encourages more veterans to get involved in these groups. He understands some challenges with communication and busy schedules but would like to hear their stories and help in any way he can. “Since retiring, I don’t have much to do I have always wanted to help veterans, and this is the best way I can do it,” says Larsen.
employees and providing good equipment, which the crew helps take care of.
While many of his military friends have retired or work for the government, Narrow continues to stay active in his business and sets aside time to support his community. He occasionally returns to conduct training in Africa and other areas, but makes his business number one.
Narrow belongs to an American Legion Post, helps with children’s activities, and volunteers with the ROTC program at CSU and some public schools.
He also partners with smaller community groups and speaks with veterans, no matter where he is. Narrow believes in making connections and reaching out to veterans, whether it’s through serious or casual conversations, always ready to listen.
FROM PAGE 3
Steve Larsen, veteran
VETERANS AFFAIRS
New VA program offers ‘foster health care’
Participants open their homes to vets to who need an alternative to institutional care
By Sterling Journal-Advocate journaladvocate@dfmdev.com
The Veterans Affairs Administration is offering a Medical Foster Home Program to veterans in the Sterling, Fort Collins/Loveland and Cheyenne, Wyo., areas
In the program, community members open their home to care for Veterans as an alternative to institutional long-term care. The program is new to the area, the VA is looking for caregivers that may be a good fit for the program and are interested in giving back to veterans.
Amy Windschitl, the program’s coordinator, brings a wealth of professional experience and personal understanding to her role.
Her journey at VA began in Central Iowa’s Caregiver Support Program, where she developed a deep understanding and appreciation for Veterans’ intricate needs.
“I’ve seen the challenges our older Veterans face,” Windschitl said. “They’ve sacrificed so much. It’s our turn to enhance their quality of life.”
Her commitment is deeply personal, influenced by the experiences of a veteran close to her heart. Her vision is to foster a supportive and nurturing environment for every vet.
“As you age, VA Cheyenne will be there every step of the way,” Windschitl said.
Studies on VA medical foster homes show that the homes are an effective alternative for long-term care. These studies also highlight meaningful improvements in veterans’ quality of life and well-being in a family-centric setting.
“These homes offer inclusive care, integrating veterans into the daily rhythm of family life,” Windschitl said.
The research also finds these homes to be more cost-effective than traditional nursing homes, with better health outcomes for veterans. Veterans who require nursing home-level care but prefer a non-institutional setting benefit from the personalized help in the program. VA thoroughly vets and trains caregivers.
Home-Based Primary Care is also vital benefit of the program. Veterans in the MFH program receive comprehensive care from a multidisciplinary team, including medical providers, nurses, psychologists, dietitians, pharmacists, therapists, social workers and chaplains.
This team offers health care and help directly in the comfort of each veteran’s home, ensuring a holistic approach to meet their individual needs.
With nearly 800 enrolled veterans and over 500 caregivers across 43 states, the program emphasizes a long-term commitment, matching veterans with homes that cater to their physical, social and emotional needs.
Potential caregivers must reside within 60 miles of Sterling, 40 miles of Loveland, or 30 miles of Cheyenne, Wyoming to be eligible for the program. Anyone interested in participating in the program can contact Windschitl at 970-361-5126 or learn more about the MFH program.
“Your involvement can profoundly affect our Veterans’ lives, offering them the respect and quality of life they deserve,” Windschitl said.
HONORINGALLWHOSERVED
Morgan County Veterans Roll Call
Donald Baker
Donald Baker served in the U.S. Air Force from 1950-1954.
Charlie Baughman served in
1906, during the Spanish-American War
Clinton E. Blauer Sr. served in the National Guard and U.S. Air Force from 1917-1958.
Ransom Boone served in the U.S. Army from 1945-1947.
Don Brainard served in the Kansas Army National Guard in 1980
Harry Brandt served in the U.S. Army Air Corps from 1942-1945
Austyn R. Butcher was in the U.S. Navy in2017.
Larry J. Columbia served in the U.S. Army from 1967-1969. He served in the Engineering Division in Vietnam and earned a campaign service medal. He was a lifetime member of the VFW and the first Vietnam veteran to serve as commander of the Fort Morgan VFW Post 2551. Mr. Columbia passed away in December of 2021.
Lee Eiker was drafted into the U.S. Army 92nd Airborne Division, serving from 1943-1945. He served in the truck division, hauling ammunition and fuel. He was stationed in England and participated in the invasion of France.
Paul Eiker served in the 2nd Marine Division from 1944-1946 He was stationed in Guam and China, and was a longtime commander of VFW Post 3551.
Charlie Baughman
Clinton Blauer Sr.
Ransom Boone
Don Brainard
Harry Brandt
Austyn Butcher
Larry Columbia
Lee Eiker
Paul Eiker
Veterans
PAGE 8
Richard Eiker
Richard Eiker joined the U.S. Air Force, serving from 1945-1946 with Squadron X. He was stationed in California and Mississippi
Robert Eiker
Robert Eiker enlisted and served in the U.S. Air Force Squadron X from 1945-1947. He was stationed in Guam, Hawaii and Mississippi
Matthew Gorrell
SSG Matthew Gorrell served in the U.S. Navy from 2000-2015 and the U.S. Air Force from 2015-2021.
Earl Jackson
Earl Jackson served in the U.S. Army from 1958-1989
Daryll Keeling
Daryll Keeling served eight years in the U.S. Air Force, attaining the ran of captain. He received an Air Force Commendation and an award for Air Force Overseas Long Tour. Mr. Keeling lives in Brush.
Edward Koehler
Edward Koehler served in the U.S. Army from 1943-1945, attaining the rank of SSG. He received a Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal and American Service Medal. He is buried at Riverside Cemetery in Fort Morgan.
Steve Larsen
Purple Heart recipient Steve Larsen served in the U.S. Army from 1977-1980, during which he was stationed at Fort Bliss, Texas and Ramstein Air Base in Germany, where he was a senior gunner on a Vulcan cannon. From 1985-2003, he wwas in the U.S Army Reserve 244th Engineer Battalion B Company, and was activated in 2003 for Operation Iraqi Freedom. In March 2004, he sustained wounds to his neck when explosion occurred in front of the truck he was driving.
Richard Leise
Richard Leise served in the U.S. Army in 1918.
Heath Norton
Heath Norton served in the U.S. Army from 1992-1996
10
Veterans
PAGE 9
Herb Norton
Herb Norton served in the U.S. Navy in Vietnam
Marvin Rosten
Marvin G. Rosten served in the U.S. Navy for 12 years. He served during the Team Spirit operation in 1988 in the Republic of Korea. From 1990-1993, BM2 Rosten was based at Dam Neck providing base security, serving as a fire controlman and handling explosives. Mr. Rosten is inurned in Fort Morgan.
Daniel R. Scalise
Dan Scalise served in the U.S. Army from 1968-1970, achieving the rank of Spec 4. He received a marksman award and a Vietnam medal. Dan lives in Brush
Wayne Small
Wayne Small served in the U.S. Army National Guard from 19481950.
Add names to the Veterans Roll Call
The Veterans Roll Call honors veterans and active duty military who live or previously lived in Morgan County. Add a veteran for the 2025 Roll Call using the online form at https://forms.gle/b3oCQJmBkry3hzH97or by scanning this QR code.
Douglas McKee Stratton
Douglas “Doug” McKee Stratton enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1943, serving as a gunners mate on the merchant ship Nancy Hanks. He was honorably discharged in 1946 at the conclusion of World War II.
Tobias Uhrig
Tobias Uhrig served in the U.S. Army from 2018-2022.
Timothy J. Wagner
Timothy Wagner served for six years in the US. Army Aviation branch, as a Chinook helicopter pilot, attaining the rank of captain. He received a Bronze Star, Army Air medal, Army Commendation medal, Army Achievement medal, Southwest Asia Service medal and Kuwait Liberation medal. Mr. Wagner resides in Windsor.
Gordon Williams
Gordon Williams served in the U.S. Army from 1941-1973.
Norbert Wilson
Norbert Wilson served in the U.S. Army in 1951.
Exposed to Agent Orange, vets face cancer without VA compensation
By Hannah Norman and Patricia Kime Tribune News Service
As a young GI at Fort Ord in Monterey County, California, Dean Osborn spent much of his time in the oceanside woodlands, training on soil and guzzling water from streams and aquifers now known to be contaminated with cancer-causing pollutants.
“They were marching the snot out of us,” he said, recalling his year and a half stationed on the base, from 1979 to 1980. He also remembers, not so fondly, the poison oak pervasive across the 28,000-acre installation that closed in 1994. He went on sick call at least three times because of the overwhelmingly itchy rash.
Mounting evidence shows that as far back as the 1950s, in an effort to kill the ubiquitous poison oak and other weeds at the Army base, the military experimented with and sprayed the powerful herbicide combination known colloquially as Agent Orange.
While the U.S. military used the herbicide to defoliate the dense jungles of Vietnam and adjoining countries, it was contaminating the land and waters of coastal California with the same chemicals, according to documents
The Defense Department has publicly acknowledged that during the Vietnam War era it stored Agent Orange at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Gulfport, Mississippi, and the former Kelly Air Force Base in Texas, and tested it at Florida’s Eglin Air Force Base.
According to the Government Accountability Office, however, the Pentagon’s list of sites where herbicides were tested went more than a decade without being updated and lacked specificity. GAO analysts described the list in 2018 as “inaccurate and incomplete.”
Fort Ord was not included. It is among about four dozen bases that the government has excluded but where Pat Elder, an environmental
activist, said he has documented the use or storage of Agent Orange.
According to a 1956 article in the journal The Military Engineer, the use of Agent Orange herbicides at Fort Ord led to a “drastic reduction in trainee dermatitis casualties.”
“In training areas, such as Fort Ord, where poison oak has been extremely troublesome to military personnel, a well-organized chemical war has been waged against this woody plant pest,” the article noted.
Other documents, including a report by an Army agronomist as well as documents related to hazardous material cleanups, point to the use of Agent Orange at the sprawling
base that 1.5 million service members cycled through from 1917 to 1994.
‘Most
toxic chemical’
Agent Orange is a 50-50 mixture of two ingredients, known as 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T. Herbicides with the same chemical structure slightly modified were available off the shelf, sold commercially in massive amounts, and used at practically every base in the U.S., said Gerson Smoger, a lawyer who argued before the Supreme Court for Vietnam veterans to have the right to sue Agent Orange manufacturers. The combo was also used by farmers, forest workers, and other
A soldier participates in the Norwegian Foot March at Fort Ord National Monument in Monterey County, Calif., on Oct. 28, 2022 Mounting evidence shows that to kill pervasive poison oak and other weeds at Fort Ord — a former Army base, which closed in 1994— the military sprayed and experimented with the powerful herbicide combination Agent Orange as far back as the 1950s
WINIFRED
civilians across the country
The chemical 2,4,5-T contains
FROM PAGE 11
the dioxin 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin or TCDD, a known carcinogen linked to several cancers, chronic conditions and birth defects. A recent Brown University study tied Agent Orange exposure to brain tissue damage similar to that caused by Alzheimer’s. Acknowledging its harm to human health, the Environmental Protection Agency banned the use of 2,4,5-T in the U.S. in 1979. Still, the other weed killer, 2,4-D is sold offthe-shelf today.
“The bottom line is TCDD is the most toxic chemical that man has ever made,” Smoger said.
For years, the Department of Veteran Affairs has provided vets who served in Vietnam disability compensation for diseases considered to be connected to exposure to Agent Orange for military use from 1962 to 1975.
Decades after Osborn’s military service, the 68-year-old veteran, who never served in Vietnam, has battled one health crisis after another: a spot on his left lung and kidney, hypothyroidism, and prostate cancer, an illness that has been tied to Agent Orange exposure.
He says many of his old buddies from Fort Ord are sick as well.
“Now we have cancers that we didn’t deserve,” Osborn said.
The VA considers prostate cancer a “presumptive condition” for Agent Orange disability compensation, acknowledging that those who served in specific locations were likely exposed and that their illnesses are tied to their military service. The designation expedites affected vet-
erans’ claims.
But when Osborn requested his benefits, he was denied. The letter said the cancer was “more likely due to your age,” not military service
“This didn’t happen because of my age This is happening because we were stationed in the places that were being sprayed and contaminated,” he said.
Studies show that diseases caused by environmental factors can take years to emerge. And to make things more perplexing for veterans stationed at Fort Ord, contamination from other harmful chemicals, like the industrial cleaner trichloroethylene, have been well documented on the former base, landing it on the EPA’s Superfund site list in 1990.
“We typically expect to see the effect years down the line,” said Lawrence Liu, a doctor at City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center who has studied Agent Orange. “Carcinogens have additive effects.”
In February, the VA proposed a rule that for the first time would allow compensation to veterans for Agent Orange exposure at 17 U.S. bases in a dozen states where the herbicide was tested, used, or stored.
Fort Ord is not on that list either, because the VA’s list is based on the Defense Department’s 2019 update.
“It’s a very tricky question,” Smoger said, emphasizing how widely the herbicides were used both at military bases and by civilians for similar purposes. “On one hand, we were service. We were exposed. On the other hand, why are you different from the people across the road that are privately using it?”
The VA says that it based its proposed rule on information provided by the Defense Department.
“DoD’s review found no documentation of herbicide use, testing
or storage at Fort Ord. Therefore, VA does not have sufficient evidence to extend a presumption of exposure to herbicides based on service at Fort Ord at this time,” VA press secretary Terrence Hayes said in an email.
Documentation
Yet environmental activist Elder, with help from toxic and remediation specialist Denise Trabbic-Pointer and former VA physician Kyle Horton, compiled seven documents showing otherwise. They include a journal article, the agronomist report, and cleanup-related documents as recent as 1995 — all pointing to widespread herbicide use and experimentation as well as lasting contamination at the base.
Though the documents do not call the herbicide by its colorful nickname, they routinely cite the combination of 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T.
A “hazardous waste minimization assessment” dated 1991 reported 80,000 pounds of herbicides used annually at Fort Ord. It separately lists 2,4,5-T as a product for which “substitutions are necessary to minimize the environmental impacts.”
The poison oak “control program” started in 1951, according to a report by Army agronomist Floyd Otter, four years before the U.S. deepened its involvement in Vietnam. Otter detailed the use of these chemicals alone and in combination with diesel oil or other compounds, at rates generally between “one to two gallons of liquid herbicide” per acre.
“In conclusion, we are fairly well satisfied with the methods,” Otter wrote, noting he was interested in “any way in which costs can be lowered or quicker kill obtained.”
tiple myeloma.
Akey, who also worked with Elder, runs a Facebook group and keeps a list of people stationed on the base who later were diagnosed with cancer and other illnesses. So far, she has tallied more than 1,400 former Fort Ord residents who became sick.
Elder’s findings have galvanized the group to speak up during a public comment period for the VA’s proposed rule Of 546 comments, 67 are from veterans and others urging the inclusion of Fort Ord. Hundreds of others have written in regarding the use of Agent Orange and other chemicals at their bases
While the herbicide itself sticks around for only a short time, the contaminant TCDD can linger in sediment for decades, said Kenneth Olson, a professor emeritus of soil science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
A 1995 report from the Army’s Sacramento Corps of Engineers, which documented chemicals detected in the soil at Fort Ord, found levels of TCDD at 3.5 parts per trillion, more than double the remediation goal at the time of 1.2 ppt. Olson calls the evidence convincing.
“It clearly supports the fact that 2,4,5-T with unknown amounts of dioxin TCDD was applied on the Fort Ord grounds and border fences,” Olson said.
The Department of Defense has described the Agent Orange used in Vietnam as a “tactical herbicide,” more concentrated than what was commercially available in the U.S. But Olson said his research suggests that even if the grounds maintenance crew used commercial versions of 2,4,5-T, which was available in the federal supply catalog, the soldiers would have been exposed to the dioxin TCDD.
An article published in California Agriculture more than a decade later includes before and after photos showing the effectiveness of chemical brush control used in a live-oak woodland at Fort Ord, again citing both chemicals in Agent Orange The Defense Department did not respond to questions sent April 10 about the contamination or say when the Army stopped using 2,4,5-T at Fort Ord.
“What’s most compelling about Fort Ord is it was actually used for the same purpose it was used for in Vietnam — to kill plants — not just storing it,” said Julie Akey, a former Army linguist who worked at the base in the 1990s and later developed the rare blood cancer mul-
The half dozen veterans who spoke with KFF Health News said they want the military to take responsibility.
In the meantime, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry is studying potential chemical exposure among people who worked and lived on Fort Ord between 1985 and 1994. However, the agency is evaluating drinking water for contaminants such as trichloroethylene and not contamination or pollution from other chemicals such as Agent Orange or those found in firefighting foams.
©2024 KFF Health News
VETERANS HEALTH
Study looks to sand as possible explanation for breathing problems
Silica is a common element in sand, soil
By Meg Wingerter mwingerter@denverpost.com
A new study at Denver’s National Jewish Health found an unexpected potential culprit for lung disease in some combat veterans: silica, which is one of the most common elements in dust, soil and sand.
The study, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, examined lung tissue from 65 people with unexplained shortness of breath and other respiratory symptoms after deploying to Afghanistan or Iraq. Deployed veterans were more likely to have silica in their lungs than people who weren’t in the armed forces, with combat veterans showing more damage than service members who worked in other jobs.
People with combat roles tended to have a variety of unhealthy respiratory exposures, including burn pits, sandstorms, diesel exhaust, tiny particles generated by explosions, dust from heavy equipment on dry soil, and pollution from local industries or trash burning, said Dr Cecile Rose, an occupational and environmental pulmonologist at National Jewish Health.
She and the other researchers didn’t think silica would be the primary contaminant they’d find in veterans’ lungs
“That was unexpected, but not surprising” when considering their exposure to dust, she said.
People who inhale large amounts of silica over a prolonged period can develop silicosis, a disease in which inflammation in the lungs causes scarring and difficulty breathing, Rose said. Silica inhalation is one factor in the increase in cases of black lung disease among coal miners in recent decades, because the miners have to cut through other rock types to reach narrow coal seams, she said.
National Jewish Health at 1400Jackson St. on
“Silica dust is a powerful stimulant of lung inflammation,” she said.
Lung samples taken from people who died in accidents and hadn’t deployed overseas during their lifetimes showed small amounts of silica, but not comparable to what the combat veterans had, Rose said Because the veterans were younger and less likely to have smoked, if anything, their lungs should have looked healthier, she said.
People who inhale significant amounts of silica can reduce their likelihood of disease by limiting further exposures, but that may not be feasible for career soldiers, Rose said. They also would want to avoid civilian jobs that would increase their risks, like mining, stone cutting and certain construction trades, she said.
Not everyone who served in combat experienced the same hazards, and the country needs more research to determine who needs careful lung monitoring, Rose said Combat veterans shouldn’t ignore lung symptoms, though, and might consider joining the Airborne Hazards and Open Burn Pit Registry to help with research, she said.
“We don’t really know how many people are at risk,” she said.
In Loving Memory
of Kenny Bath and Bryan Bath United States Navy
Thank you for your service to our country. We are forever grateful
Kenny Bath Served 6 years
Bryan Bath Navy SEAL
“Eternal Father,strong to save, Whosearm hath bound the restless wave, Who bidd’stthe mightyocean deep, Itsown appointed limitskeep. Oh hearuswhen we crytoThee, Forthose in peril on the sea!Amen.” -OEternal Father -NavyHymn
Respectfully submittedbyKeith Bath Farms
KATHRYN SCOTT — SPECIAL TO THE DENVER POST
April 23, 2020, in Denver
Veterans were treated to cookies, coffee and other snacks brought over from Hawaii. Deborah Funai-Brown brought snacks that were
the veterans at the Coffee with the Vet’s at Drovers Cafe on Wednesday.
Special guest shares information and ideas at the Veterans Coffee
Deborah Funai-Brown heads Hawaii Vet2Vet program
By Robin Northrup
The Fort Morgan Times
Deborah Funai-Brown, Executive Director for Hawaii Vet2Vet Inc, in Hilo, Hawaii made a special visit to Drovers Cafe on Wednesday, March 20 to share information with the NECO VSAP coffee group
She shared information about their programs and activities through their Vet2Vet organization. Many of the events they hold are similar to the NECO VSAP (Northeastern Colorado Veterans Suicide Awareness and Prevention) in Morgan County and surrounding areas
Vet2Vet is located in a rural community and struggles with many of the same things that veterans in Northeast Colorado do. To be effec-
tive in providing veteran services, you have to partner with other organizations. Vet2Vet is working to be that organization for veterans to reach out to when they need information. NECO VSAP is also working to do the same.
“If you can provide information about the resources available in one location, veterans know that they can go to that one place to find everything they need,” said Funai-Brown. “We also need to bridge the gap between younger and older veterans and find ways to involve more of the younger veterans.”
One problem identified by both groups is transportation for veterans to medical appointments. Because the closest VA facilities are located in Denver and Fort Collins, many vets who are not able to drive face the problem of getting to their appointments. There are other organizations in Morgan County that do provide transportation. Now it is a matter of rounding up all of the
information to have on hand when this service is needed.
Jeremy Kilpatrick from VSAP attended the event and said that Funai-Brown was invited to be on the Board of Directors for NECO VSAP. She will be spending time in Colorado and Hawaii throughout the year and will serve as the organization’s grant facilitator
“She will be gathering information, pulling together data and writing our grants,” said Kilpatrick. “She is fantastic. We will benefit from all of her knowledge and grant writing experience which in turn will benefit our veterans.”
Funai-Brown presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Veteran Chet McCoy for his dedication, unwavering commitment, and contribution to veterans and for serving as an exemplary figure in the community. A second certificate was presented to Drovers Cafe for their outstanding service and contributions to veterans.
— THE
Deborah Funai-Brown from Vet2 Vet in Hilo, Hawaii presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Drovers Cafe for their outstanding service and contributions to veterans at the Coffee with the Vet’s at Drovers Cafe on Wednesday.
ROBIN NORTHRUP — THE FORT MORGAN TIMES
gifted to
ROBIN NORTHRUP
FORT MORGAN TIMES
