Comments on: Balad burn pit concerns refuse to go away: Congress reviews problem

By: Paul Wright

Paul Wright — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 03:11:35 +0000

I was a DoD Civillian working on the MRAP program at FOB Kalsu. I was a triathlete and Masters swimmer and fully checked out by Army doctors before deploying. We lived and worked right next to the Kalsu burn pit plus exposed to concrete/smoke dust kicked up from the poorly poured concrete floor. Within a couple of months I began coughing real bad. The Army docs said I probably had an allergy. By 6 months I was x-rayed and my lungs showed problems. I was finally sent to and diagnosed at Landstuhl with Pulmonary Sarcoidosis. It’s incurable scar tissue in the lungs. I’ve lost 1/3 of my lung capacity and I can’t walk up a flight of stairs without breathing hard. Rescue workers at the World Trade Center site developed similar respiratory problems and the exposure is similar. Burning jet fuel and debris, smoke inhalation, fine concrete dust etc.

I’m trying to get help but so far have gotten nowhere. Because I was a Federal civilian employee I don’t have many options. I may some day need a lung transplant! I don’t have a job and not sure about future medical bills.

I hope someday somebody takes responsibility instead of passing the buck around.

I have video evidence of burn pit smoke problem at Kalsu and the Taxpayer’s expensive incinerators standing there unused. It’s ludicrous that they claim the smoke doesn’t have long term effects.
When your body automatically tries to cough something out you know it’s not good for you.

By: Jenna

Jenna — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 13:37:00 +0000

I was at Balad 2007-2008 I lived and worked right next to the pit. Now I have daily headaches, difficulty breathing, joint pain, and seizures. The military is working on kicking me out for this problem and not a single military doctor will admit that the pit could have caused this or any other health hazard for that matter. I ask you all to write your congressman and keep writing them. We have to get them to pay attention and the only way to do that is to refuse to shut up and color. 2 other people I was deployed with have developed the same symptoms that I have. I used to be so healthy and in such good shape. Now I dont know if I will ever be ok again.

By: SGT Schaef

SGT Schaef — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:39:11 +0000

I am currently trying to find the link, VA published an article on the burn pits, the things burned in them. All of which, we all put there and they burned it, the one thing I had no idea they were burning was the medical waste.
I was at Balad in 2006, the C-23 Sherpa unit, housed with the Air Force. We were by far the closest living quarters to the pit. I have pics of the smoke so heavy in our pods, you’d swear it was on fire.
I am like most, having breathing problems, sinus issues, tired, cant sleep, ringing in the ear. Downside, VA the ones that published the above document, says I need more documentation that my symptoms are connected to Iraq.
Kinda makes me feel better to know the are others out there with the same issues, I am having. Hell, I can t drink milk anymore. Used to drink it by the gallons before 2006, now if I drink it, bad things happen.
The bright side hopefully we will all live long enough for them to get their heads out and realize. This war is no different from the others, with the Agent Orange, and all…..

Good luck ya’ll, if I find that memo from VA, I’ll post it or the link.

By: JO

JO — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 20:44:49 +0000

Michelle

I lost my son last year to AML – we believe because of the burn pits and other chemical exposures from his tour in Iraq.

There is a website called gulfwarchemicals that is just being set up. We are hoping to establish an organization to help vets and their families, espcially ones affected like this.

If you feel up to sharing your story, the lady who is setting it up is great to talk to and can use all the help she can get in bringing this issue before the public and the government.

By: Tammy

Tammy — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 15:37:51 +0000

I was stationed @ Balad/Anaconda from 05 to 06. I as well was very healthy prior to going there. Since I was stationed there I have had severe headaches daily, my joints are constantly sore – I am always tired – I cant remember the last day I woke up and actually felt good. Some days I dont feel terrible – but rarely do I feel good at all anymore. I have had to take so much time off from work that it has relected negatively on me. There is no way any good can come from living next door to the huge burn pit they had at Anaconda and regardless of what the investigation determines I know myself and thousands of other veterans/civilians will continue to suffer from the effects. And Jeffrey – I feel you on the “next mortar might have your name on it” comment – At least I am not afraid to go to bed anymore.

By: jeffery n arnett

jeffery n arnett — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 01:50:57 +0000

I have been in the country of Iraq 3 times, and each time was to a different base. The first time I was in theatre I was stationed at Tallil air base in 2003 which is now called Ali air base. I worked as a vehicle maintenance mechanic for the air force. Everyday I could see the burn pit smoke covering the landscape during the night the smell is something I will never forget. The next place I went to was Balad air base in 2005-2006. Knowing I was going to a larger base and thought that a burn pit would not be there and that there would be a better trash disposal system. I was wrong. There was a burn pit many times larger than the last one I encountered in Tallil. All I could think about is what it was going to be like living even closer this time to an even bigger burn pit. Needless to say it was a horrible experience. Coughing, headaches, sore throat, all of it. I couldn’t believe that I had to be there for 4 months inhaling this smoke again. It was bad enough I had to worry if the next mortar had my name on it, verse the toxic smoke coming from the burn pit torturing me at night and in the morning time. There seemed to be no escape from it. When I slept I kept the covers over my head to try and filter the smell, but most of the time it just didn’t work. The next place I went too was Baghdad in 2007 there I encountered another burn pit, but this time I rarely had any encounters with the smoke, so for once I was lucky. Every time I came home from Iraq I went to the hospital for all of the symptoms I had from being over there. Except this last time when I went in to see the doctor again for a sore throat I found out I had thyroid cancer. I’m not sure if I got this because of the burn pits but I can tell you that my thyroid has been removed and now I am on meds for the rest of my life because of this. Ever since I have came home either of the three times I have had many headaches and to this day have never had a clear throat, constantly having to clear my throat just to talk. My quality of health is nothing near what it was before I went to Iraq the first time. I hope to God the DOD does not try to cover this up and really fix the problem and acknowledge that there are many troops like myself who have the same issues because of the burn pit smoke.

By: airforcewife

airforcewife — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 09:56:20 +0000

My husband is doing his second tour in Balad right now. He's complaining of constant, severe headaches. He is going to see the doc but says most likely, they will do what the military does for everything….give him Motrin and tell him he's fine. He has always been very healthy and is usually not concerned with a few aches and pains. But if something is bothering him enough that he mentions it to me, it's REALLY bothering him. So, you all can understand my concern.

By: TIM

TIM — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:26:48 +0000

I was there in 2005-2006. I have severe sleep apnea now and can barely breathe while walking and cannot talk to anyone when doing this easy task. I have also been prescribed oxygen while sleeping with my CPAP since my blood oxygen saturation level drops to 50 while I sleep. I hope I can make it to 45, I am only 39. (had to update mis spelling of SPAP to CPAP

By: TIM

TIM — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 01:25:19 +0000

I was there in 2005-2006. I have sever sleep apnea now and can barely breathe while walking and cannot talk to anyone when doing this easy task. I have also been prescribed oxygen while sleeping with my SPAP since my blood oxygen saturation level drops to 50 while I sleep. I hope I can make it to 45, I am only 39.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Thu, 21 May 2009 03:20:18 +0000

My beautiful sister just died a month ago. She got AML, Leukemia In Iraq from those fucking burning pits. Someone needs to be held accountable. Also her care was delayed, because her superior told her she was a wimp and was just trying to get out of Iraq. Yeah, Addy you know who you are and I hope to meet you face to face someday!