WSU to Study Iraq Toxins' Effect
Spokesman-Review
by Bert Caldwell
Research to examine how exposure might damage offspring of soldiers
Washington State University scientists will use a $1.7 million grant to study what multi-generation genetic damage might be done by toxins U.S. troops could encounter in Iraq.
The research using laboratory rats, not humans, will be the first for the military to examine the epigenetic effects of pesticides, herbicides and other compounds, said lead scientist Michael Skinner, director of the university's Center for Reproductive Biology.
Previous studies have looked at the health effects of other substances, notably the Agent Orange used to defoliate jungles in Vietnam, on the soldiers directly exposed, he said, not on their children or grandchildren.
"The science really had not caught up with the trans-generational stuff," said Skinner, one of several WSU pioneers in the field of epigenetic, or multi-generational, inheritance.
Besides herbicides and pesticides – which and in what combinations has not been determined – the study also will look at the effects of explosives residues, he said.
The four-year study will allow researchers to see how any changes in genetic chemistry that develop are passed along through two subsequent generations of rats, he said, noting that only the first two years of research have been funded.
Among the problems that might develop are kidney disease, or changes in the male and female reproductive organs, he said.
If any genetic markers are identified in rats, Skinner said, follow-up research could look at whether they might show up among members of the military as well.
That would be of particular interest to Dave Holmes, interim chief operating officer of the Institute for Systems Medicine, which was awarded the U.S. Department of Defense grant passed through to Skinner.
Holmes' son, Tim Hammond, did two tours in Iraq with the U.S. Marine Corps.
"They sprayed all kinds of stuff on them," Holmes said.
Although the grant money, the first awarded ISM, will fund work in Pullman, he said the organization's supporters hope any subsequent clinical studies will be done in Spokane.
"There's a lot of excitement about making it happen," he said.
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Setting the Record Straight-Mt KIA/MIA
Mt. KIAMIA
Not What He seems...
Anyone who has been reading The Veterans’ Voice for any length of time knows Bruce Salisbury and the role he has played in the naming of Mt. KIA/MIA. He credits his wonderful wife, Dottie, with the idea, and together, they worked tirelessly, through serious illnesses, and all manner of objections thrown at them from the various Alphabet Agencies of our government to finally achieve their long sought goal in October of 2007.
According to Lowell Forbes, who was very involved and guided Bruce through the process, the proponent for the mountain has the privilege of directing the dedication ceremony in the manner that they wish.
Recently a small dedication ceremony was held at the mountain, by a group calling themselves, “The Society For Mt. KIA/MIA.” Bruce decided to distance himself from this group after he learned they did not want his input, but only his support of the event, which was nothing like what he wished for our KIA/MIAs or the mountain, and after he made this choice he disavowed the group, and then he learned more about one of the members, which further validated his decision.
Bradley Washington Hight, the president of that group, is also in violation of the Stolen Valor Act, as you can see from the picture (left), as labeled by C. Doug Sterner, webmaster of Home of Heroes.com, ( a true hero himself). He works with Mary Schantag, of the POW Network, and the FBI on matters related to military frauds and phonies.
The POW Network pulled Brad’s DD-214, and compared his records with claims he had made in various news publications about his combat service in Vietnam, and this picture is the result of the Freedom Of Information Act data. This man who claimed to be a door gunner on a Huey , north of Saigon, was in fact a parts chaser in the Motor Pool, and had never been in Vietnam. Even his marksmanship badge is bogus.
When Bradley Hight was being interviewed by media in Colorado and claiming that he and his three friends had "named the mountain,” he boasted that he had been on the front page of The Veterans Voice in May 2004. Well he made the front page again!
It is doubtful that formal charges will be brought against Mr. Hight. The FBI simply does not have the man power to prosecute all those who are in violation of the Stolen Valor Act. In hopes of helping combat this problem and to be sure families are aware of awards, Doug Sterner is pushing for the Military Valor Roll of Honor Act of 2007 to become law. It would require that the Secretary of Defense establish a searchable online database of names and citations of all members of the armed forces, who have been awarded the medal of honor or any other medal authorized by Congress for the armed forces, the United States merchant marine, or affiliated civilians. As of June 24, 2008, the Bill is Co-Sponsored by 67 Members of Congress.
The whole dedication debacle was rather heartbreaking for Bruce, Dottie and those from coast to coast who supported their efforts. At present, Bruce and Dottie are busy on other projects. Bruce was recently named commander of the NM Chapter of Veterans of Underage Military Service, and he is in pursuit of a memorial to honor an obscure MOH recipient, Kenneth Worley. Kenneth was an orphan who spent his first 14 years in Farmington, NM, before moving to CA. His act of bravery in Vietnam cost him his life when he was 20 years old. Four decades after his death we are going to build a proper memorial to Lance Corporal Kenneth Lee Worley, USMC,CMOH
Bruce’s hopes for a proper dedication of Mount KIA/MIA are still alive, but he knows that such an event can’t be thrown together in a few months. It will problably take one or more years of planning and should represent all fifty states and all five uniformed armed services. To contact Bruce, e-mail him at bsalisbury@acrnet.com
This link: Gathering of Mustangs is a great example of something I hope will some day be part of a proper NATIONAL DEDICATION OF MT. KIA/MIA.
Call me a dreamer, but wouldn't thrilling events (like the one seen in the video) be a wonderful way to "dedicate" our mountain / memorial to all of America? It is but a small part of what a national dediction effort might include.
Five Armed Forces Flags. Flags representing All the states and Territories that are part of America should be part of the celebration too. All Services and All Wars ( and we should mention all of America) must be recognized and honored.
It is not too late to have people all over America start planning for an Epic Event, a year or two from now!
Each state should participate in the planning and help pay the cost of the event. In our first planning for the mountain we wanted to remember the Revolutionary War, The Civil War ( where we lost the most Americans KIA/MIA), but lots of other little wars, including the Indian Wars were ignored at a recent event. As I recall the "dedication" just attempted in Colorado cited wars only going back to World War One, and did not include all of America.
What happened to all the other wars? Why not emphasize the ongoing war which is sending home bodies of American heroes some of whom are our children, and grand children, and in a few case, great grandkids.
Watch the video and think on an epic scale. Let me know your thoughts about getting started on nationwide plans for a "dedication" that will thrill all of America.
Bruce Salisbury- bsalisbury@acrnet.com
