Atomic Veteran Problem
The Atomic Veteran's struggles are not only with the medical problems
and resultant financial burdens, it is also a struggle to gain recognition
and acknowledgment of the Atomic Veteran.
The excruciatingly painful situation is that the country for which they have
suffered and/or died refuses to recognize their sacrifices which occurred
from military action. They have suffered, not at the hands of an enemy but
at the hands of their country's self-destructive military policies.
Except for the Japanese, no deaths have ever resulted from the use of nuclear
bombs as a weapon of war. The only deaths and injuries have been to islanders
and our own countrymen, Atomic Soldiers, Atomic Veterans and our populace.
This is true for every nation which chose to test nuclear devices. The only
casualties were their own innocent trusting citizens and islanders.
The Cold War service-members did not face combat with an enemy. There was
no combat, but unknown to them, they did have an enemy. The enemy wore the
perfect disguise. They participated in these nuclear experiments with a feeling
of pride, patriotism and trust only to have their innocence and trust betrayed.
As they developed the cancers inherent in radiation exposure, attempts were
made to deny the atomic veterans very existence. They were first threatened
with court martial if they did not keep silent. (They should not exist). As
the veteran attempted to prove that they were one of the sacrificial guinea
pigs, they were treated as unpatriotic, lying subversives, set on undermining
attempts to keep the American Holocaust a secret.
They would no longer be silenced and so political powers were forced to throw
crumbs of appeasement, if not to the veteran at least to the American public.
Politically generated programs were developed which would show recognition
of a "problem".
1. Medical disability benefit programs were developed in which a veteran
must fight, a sometimes 20 years battle for benefits and care, with a less
than 3% success rate.
2. Compensation for radiation exposure which offers a $75,000 (minus monetary
setbacks) payoff which eliminates any future griping or claims. This payoff
would be available to the same less than 3% of claimants.
3.An attempt to develop a program to honor Atomic Veterans with a medal
or certificate, which has been so politically corrupted as to make it
meaningless. Based on it's qualifying standards of proof, this would be awarded
to the same less than 3% of claimants.
It is hoped the American public would recognize all the great efforts being
made for the Atomic Veteran.
These programs may show recognition of a "problem", but not of the Atomic
Veteran. The DNA estimates that nearly 400,000 service-members participated in
radiation risk activities. After 50 plus years the participants still do not have names or faces. Why must the Atomic Veteran prove participation and sacrifices of health and lives,
when names are available but secreted?
The children believe, that after watching their Dad's life-eating struggles,
that maybe now after all these years, they can finally gain recognition of
his sacrifices. Innocence and ideology is again betrayed as the 50 year coverup
of truth and the denial continues.
More pain is experienced as this ugly, cruel and inhumane struggle passes
to the children, as they attempt to prove Dad's worthiness of a tiny medal
or a piece of paper which says, "Yes your Dad, as a nuclear test participant,
gave his life in the service of his country".
All 400,000 participants deserve this, not a paltry less than 3%.
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