Residue From the Burn Pits of Iraq: Soldiers with Cancer

After the inauguration, Oprah visited Walter Reed Army Medical Center. My breathing became shallow as I watched the February episode. I sat motionless while waiting for her to finally visit the Oncology Wards of soldiers stricken with cancer post Iraq. As the hour edged forward, her emotional journey into the lives of those courageous, newly amputated soldiers spilled before her. With honor and grace she highlighted their bravery, their psychological slavery to PTSD. But she never ventured up to the Wards on the 6th and 7th floor, where soldiers lay ravaged by cancer -- their fight unknown to the public and ignored by the media.

In 2007 Larry King paid tribute to the WRAMC Fisher House by visiting soldiers in disrepair. But failed to visit the Fisher House in Forrest Glen, Md. that housed soldiers, and their families, undergoing chemotherapy, radiation and surgery. Their bold attempts to cut and obliterate the cancer that found a home in their bodies while on tour in Iraq.

It was during my time there in 2006 for my sister, that I interviewed 34 yr. old Army SSG. Frank Valentin (pictured above) at WRAMC. He deployed to the Port of Kuwait City on the Iraq boarder, and spent his two-year tour at a camp surrounded by the noxious fumes from two oil refineries, a cement factory, a chlorine factory and a sulfuric acid factory. When their eyes began to burn, the skin on their face felt hot, became red, and mucous dripped from their nose -- they knew then, they were in a cesspool of toxic chemicals.

He was misdiagnosed in theatre seven times with hemorrhoids. Upon his eighth visit to the Medic he was finally diagnosed with Colon Cancer by a Reservist Oncologist.

When meeting him, the brave and angry soldier commented as he sat with a colostomy bag pressed against his body, gripped in his hand a letter from his doctors of incurable Colon/Lung cancer. "This war is cancer and the bad thing is people like us don't get benefits. The amputees qualify for the TSGLI Injury Benefits for up to $100,000 to start a new life. But because cancer is a disease and not a war wound, we don't qualify." Adding, "No one even knows we're on the Oncology Ward. The press, celebrities and politicians go to the 3rd floor when they want publicity shots with the amputee soldiers. But what about the 7th floor, ward 71, with soldiers that are coming back with cancer?" he asked. "No one cares because you can't see our injury."

After a valiant fight, SSG. Valentin died at home in January 2009 at the age of 38. Below is the story of another invisible soldier, SGT. Christopher J. Sachs. [pictured below in uniform and cap]

In the Spring of 2001, Christopher Sachs made a decision at the age of 29 to join the military. After eight months in the Delayed Entry Program, he started the New Year off as official Army personnel. The Washington, D.C. native would be assigned his first tour of duty to Wiesbaden, Germany. The new soldier couldn't fathom that within two years of his four year term -- he would go to war in Iraq.

Sgt. Sachs, with a six-foot-four 300 pound frame was the epitome of strong, healthy stock. He had minor knee problems, but otherwise was in great shape. Being an MD Ambulance E1 his tours took him to Turkey and Africa, but his skills as Medic and Ambulance driver were most valued in Iraq. And so on January 9, 2004 he deployed from Germany to Tikrit, Iraq and FOB-Speicher. Sgt. Sachs camped in some of the most toxic environments throughout the country; Balad, Mosul, Samarra, Beiji and Hadithah Dam.

The latter was an area Sgt. Sachs wrote about, "It looked like Death Valley -- just desert, rocks and heat. In the town there were many oil pipelines and valve stations, other areas were completely swamped in oil. Lagoons of oil along side the road. There was garbage, oil, smoke billowing everywhere, depleted Uranium in the water and soil."

During his tour in Iraq he had written or called his family complaining of ailments, from depression and a suspicious bacterial infection that spread itself through his battalion, to having acute reactions to the heat and sand. But more revealing was the newsletter, "Fear & Loathing In Iraq" that he wrote as a way to vent, and include others at home into his experience. He shared insight into his life as a soldier in Iraq, and his internal journey from what he witnessed as a man, and as a human being, in a land he found drenched in beautiful sunsets, and whose people he discovered were hard working and joyous. A collection of his letters has been posted at the following site: www.ForChrisSake.org.

***

In an excerpt from June 6, 2004, Sgt. Sachs writes about his guard duty at the Ammo Holding Area (AHA). They were taking turns in 24-hour shifts guarding two shipping containers filled with "boom-booms." "...Our battalion has not provided electricity, beds, heat or A/C, no radio, nothing. And the AHA is located about 100 yards from the perimeter of the small town where most of the rockets and mortars come from. We're all screaming about this trying to make it more comfortable and safe. The soldiers will be in the middle of nowhere, alone, with no communication and no comforts."

SGT. Sachs holding two other soldiers off the ground. It was taken inside a burn pit that wasn't on fire at the time, the sky clear.

Sgt. Sachs stressed, 'support the troops, not the war.' "When it comes to this country and this war, the newspapers and TV tell you what you want to hear. Don't believe what you see on CNN, the soldiers are not proud, we are pissed. We thank everyone for their support, and we need all of it, but don't think for a minute, that the majority are proud to be here. We are not. This is not Afghanistan; this war was not an eye for an eye noble event."

His impressions on Iraq and its people shows an understanding and awareness lost on Washington and the Bush administration. On July 4, 2004, Sgt. Sachs writes about himself, and his beliefs.

"These too, are good people, the Iraqi people are a strong people and always will be. They have been through so much. Saddam will not be the last bad guy in Iraq, but the people are not bad, they are just poor, and ignorant and trapped in a culture with warring factions of religious zealots. ....They want us out of here and want to rebuild the country themselves. With us here there is no work for them. We are causing their unemployment and frustration and I feel bad for them. Our very act of helping them is making them suffer."

A philosophical letter from his Uncle Jon impacted the young soldier. Explaining that he's in the midst of a historical time for our nation, and for the world. And that he is a part of this generations Vietnam. Sgt. Sachs reflects, "I see the sights, the smells, hear the noise and feel the effects. Bad or good, for the war or against -- it is a character building experience to say the least and it changes who you are."

"I think of two things, the past and the future. Being here is very cathartic, it makes you think of your life and all the bad decisions you made. If hindsight is 20/20, then this place is the Mecca. All you think about is family, friends, experiences good or bad, past loves and why the relationships didn't work, what you will do better next time. How when you meet someone you will be the best boyfriend ever. When you get married be the best husband you can be and treat your wife well. You will be a better person and suck the marrow of life."

"I have searched for meaning in life here. I think the war will have changed me for the better. I will be like a flower that blooms when the sun finally gets through. I am just waiting for my time to emerge from this cocoon. It will happen when I am safe and out of the military."

Sgt. Sachs trained as a scientist, faced a spiritual quandary when it came to science and religion. He ended his 4th of July post by admitting, "I want to live forever. Science is always looking for the answer, but religious people already have it. I want to go on after I die so badly, but I know it will not happen, and that scares me. And nothing makes you think of the debate between religion and science more than being a scientist in war."

***

When his tour ended Christmas eve 2004, Sgt. Sachs made a home for himself where he grew up in Buffalo, N.Y. With less than a year left in the Army, his restless heart and longing for love drew him to the web and Yahoo Personals. Within weeks online he met Robyn Learn, a local schoolteacher and single mother with a 3 year old son from her first marriage. Romance struck them in cyberspace that February 2005, and their instant online connection parlayed itself into a telephone chemistry. She remembered they spoke for four hours. "That's how much we had in common. I can still feel the butterflies."

One of the things that was mutual was their love for author, Nicholas Sparks. "I had confided in him that I read all of his books except his latest at the time which was, "Three Weeks With My Brother." Less than a week later I received the book in the mail with a special note from him. From that point on, I knew he was a keeper," she said with affection.

Sgt. Sachs remembered all the promises he made to himself in the deserts of Iraq and proposed. They went about planning a formal wedding for October 11, 2008 and booking an incredibly romantic 10-day honeymoon in Paris, Venice and Rome. Then by early September 2008 Sgt. Sachs became extremely fatigued, developed mouth sores, had a shortness of breath, nausea and vomiting. He thought he had an infection from dental work or perhaps food poisoning. But just as she and Sgt. Sachs were finalizing details with the florist and the cake decorator, when no longer able to withstand the physical ailments -- went to the Buffalo V.A. Hospital Emergency Room.

The ER Doctor performed a routine blood test and it showed an elevated white blood cell count and a decreased platelet count. When the ER doctor and nurse came into his room -- they closed the door behind them. Their expression looked very different Robyn Sachs recalled, "We had no idea anything life threatening was occurring during the two weeks he was sick. When the doctor gave Chris his thoughts of what the diagnosis was -- we looked at each other in complete shock. Next thing I know I'm being pulled into another room by the ER nurse who's telling me how serious this is and to start making calls. Although we were both in disbelief, we weren't worried. Both of us come from Science backgrounds and we believed in the power of medicine and current research on cancer treatments."

The ER doctor consulted with a Hematologist from Roswell Park Cancer Institute, and on September 20, 2008 Sgt. Sachs was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). "Once we found out that AML is caused by exposure to benzene's, DU and other ionizing radiation components, there was no doubt in our minds that it must have been his time in Iraq," Robyn Sachs said.

Because of AML's aggressive nature, the treatment would be aggressive. Sgt. Sachs opted to take part in a [highly controversial] Phase I Study [Arsenic trioxide, high-dose cytarabine and idarubicin induction therapy in previously untreated de novo and secondary adult AML patients <60 years old]. Which consisted of an initial dose of arsenic and a six-day course of chemotherapy twice a day. It is extremely difficult for a cancer patient to handle chemo once a day, nevermind twice, and the courageous Sgt. Sachs underwent 12 rounds of chemo in less than one week.

The doctors urged the young couple to move up their wedding date since Sgt. Sachs needed to stay hospitalized after the chemo. So two days after his diagnosis they were married at the Chapel at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Because of the circumstances almost every vendor hired for their October wedding, less than three weeks away, was kind enough to refund them. "By that time I had already received our favors (engraved chocolates), which I gave to the entire ICU staff for their hard work and dedication to Chris." Because Sgt. Sachs was suffering from a bilateral pulmonary embolism, he was forced into a coma to help control his breathing.

On November 2, 2008, six weeks after his diagnosis, Sgt. Christopher Sachs died in ICU at Roswell Park Cancer Institute at the age of 36. Both his parents and four siblings survive him, as does his 6 year-old step son, and a distraught wife.

"Chris wanted the most aggressive treatments available, although he did confide to me that if he became "brain dead" that was it," Robyn Sachs mourned. "None of us ever believed he would die from this. We didn't have an opportunity to really discuss his condition. Luckily, in 2005 we took a long road trip and discussed our wishes for when we passed. Chris wanted to be cremated and have his ashes planted into a tree." [As the family is in mourning they haven't decided where that tree will be.]

Since Sgt. Sachs diagnosis was three years post Iraq, the U.S. military refused to consider the possibility there was a relation to his tour, and an exposure to carcinogens [burn pits or water] and or radiation [DU]. But it is evident in DoD manuals that the exposure levels of depleted Uranium radiation while in theatre, can have an incubation period ranging from two months to several years. Below the Japanese Press addresses the Italian Governments decision to provide their soldiers with a DU compensation package post their tour.

----ICBUW: On Feb. 7, 2009 the Japanese press, Kyodo Press, reported on the Italian Ministry of Defense's decision to approve a Veterans' Depleted Uranium Compensation Package on Dec. 18, 2008.

The Italian Cabinet convinced the government of a link between ill health and DU exposure. The number of Italian veterans suffering from serious diseases like cancer entitled to this compensation is 1,703, in which 77 have already died. The areas where these veterans were deployed include Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Italian government is trying to make standards for compensation to the veterans and the bereaved by March 2009, when payments will commence.

The commission also stated, "That the burden of proof should be inverted. Concluding proof of service for personnel that were deployed to areas where DU had been used was sufficient evidence to support compensation when they later became ill, or when heavy metal nano-particles were found in their bodies."

This important government decision will be of great aid to the families of Italian soldiers who have died, and to military personnel diagnosed with leukemia and who are suing the state administration.

The young widow, Mrs. Robyn Sachs wept on the March 12th anniversary of what would have been her beloved's 37th birthday, "Our story is a legacy and one that I will cherish forever. I never thought it would end so tragically... I thought we'd share a lifetime together. Although it has been months since he passed away... the reality that my sweetie is never coming home finally hit me, and it's beyond painful. I can't begin to tell you how much I miss him in so many different ways. I can tell you what I miss the most... I miss my best friend."

She wept, "Chris always made life easier for me, and now he's made death easier for me. Because now I know he'll be there waiting for me."

Authors Note: Jan. 2009, the VA released new statistical health data on diseases amongst Operation Iraqi Freedom & Operation Enduring Freedom Veterans [OIF & OEF soldiers]. The categories of diseases, the numbers of military affected and the percentage of cases throughout the 4 branches of military are listed below.

VHA Office of Public Health and Environmental Hazards:
(Cumulative data since 2002. A majority of the cases of diseases have doubled from 9/07 - 9/08.)

Infectious and Parasitic Diseases 49,272 12.3 %
Malignant Neoplasms 3,988 1.0 %
Benign Neoplasms 17,274 4.3 %
Diseases of Endocrine/Nutritional/ Metabolic Systems 93,028 23.2 %
Diseases of Blood and Blood Forming Organs 9,677 2.4 %
Diseases of Nervous System/ Sense Organs 146,611 36.6 %
Diseases of Circulatory System 68,295 17.1 %
Disease of Respiratory System 83,771 20.9 %
Disease of Digestive System 129,656 32.4 %
Diseases of Genitourinary System 44,812 11.2 %
Diseases of Skin 67,384 16.8 %
Diseases of Musculoskeletal System/Connective System 197,078 49.2 %
Symptoms, Signs and Ill Defined Conditions 167,959 42.0 %
Injury/Poisonings 92,023 23.0 %


Army Times--- July 30, 2008
"Warning of Carcinogen in Soldiers Drinking Water"
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2008/07/ap_chemicalwarning_073008/

JASPER, Ind. -- Last year the Indiana National Guard notified nearly 600 soldiers who served in Iraq that they may have drunk water tainted with a carcinogen at an Iraqi treatment plant. During a U.S. Senate hearing in June 2008, senators learned that sodium dichromate -- a cancer-causing chemical that can also cause breathing problems -- was used as a corrosion inhibitor in the soldiers drinking water at the Qarmat Ali water plant near Basra, Iraq.

A fact sheet provided by the Guard states that exposure to sodium dichromate can cause; sores in the nose, sores on the skin that tend not to heal. Other symptoms include skin irritation, tearing and eye irritation, runny or bleeding nose as well as sneezing, coughing, wheezing and pain in the chest when breathing. Fever, nausea, vomiting and upset stomach are other symptoms. Long-term exposure to the chemical can cause lung cancer.

Army Times--- July 16, 2008
"Report: 8,763 Vets Died Awaiting Benefits"

Comments

[nanfer]

Mrs. Sachs,
So distressing that our government is still misusing the brave young souls that comprise this nations active military. Unfortunately,this is nothing new. Similar denials were used for Tuuskegee's syphilis and Viet Nam's spinalbiffita babies. I find comfort only in that we, as a people, are able to bring these cruel abuses into the light with more hast than ever before!
Robyn, take comfort in the knowledge that the man you love has not left you alone in this life because he wanted to. It is certain, he is waiting for you to spend eternaty with him.
You have my heart felt sympathy, and I will keep you and all those who loved your Chris in my prayers.
Nancy FER

[Strunk]

Hello,
First of all I would like to say how I pray that God comforts each person that has been affected by any war. Being a citizen of the US I know how blessed I am to have been born and raised in a country that was established on the Oracles of God. I esteem each person that has dedicated their life to the military so I can be free.
It is very disburbing to hear of so many soldiers that were exposed to the burn pits in Iraq that have been diagnosed with Cancer. My friend Joanne Och's son served in Iraq and was exposed to the burn pits and he actually passed away with Cancer. Jo and her family's life will never be the same.
I hope all burn pits across the world are shut down.
I hope the families find a little comfort knowing that others care.
Sincerely, Mary

[JessG]

My heart goes out to this family who has lost a dear loved one. I had a close friend who also became ill with cancer after being exposed to the burn pits in Iraq. He too gave the ultimate sacrifice. It is so discouraging when these families have lived in anxiety the entire time their loved ones have been overseas- they feel like when our soldiers come home that they are now safe- but this silent killer is taking precious lives. Something needs to be done. Again my sincere condolences to this family.

[R. B. Stuart - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear JessG,

Thank you for writing, and for your heartfelt words for the family. Your support is needed.

Yours ---R. B.

[saddenedheart]

i want to yell form the roof tops to the goverment to do what we elected them to do....take care of our own! if we do not have a solid home base..we don't have a solid military base. to me it is really simple,take care of the troops we are sending overseas that are there to protect us.. the Ochs and the Sacs story is heart breaking..­..........­isn't anyone listening?

[R. B. Stuart - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Saddenedheart,

Thank you for writing. What we need is the outrage that you posess as Washington IS NOT listening. Through these stories of loss and grief we are trying to reach those in Washington that can help change things. Till then, more soldiers stories will follow---as well as more families heartache....

Yours ---R. B.

[Tj11]

Hello,

I am a student of Mrs.Sachs. I am extremly sorry for your loss and I hope you can get more evidence for your case to fight the burn pits in Iraq and every other country that has victims of the same, less, or more severe cases of diseaes that you are trying to prove happened during there time in the service.
It sounds to me like what you guys are saying is true.

Sincerly,
T.J. Hayes

[R. B. Stuart - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear T. J. Hayes,

Thank you for writing. And for supporting your teacher. You will learn that sometimes the truth is ugly. The truth behind this war and what's happening to the soldiers and Iraqie civilans---is a hellish nightmare the military is keeping in the dark. It's up to you students to help change the future of the military that your generation will undoubtedly serve in one day.

Yours ---R. B.

[DianaC]

Hello, I'm a current student of Mrs. Sachs.

I'm so sorry for the loss of your husband. I think that its wrong how the government isn't doing anything about it and the other "silent killers". I'm trying to get everybody that I know to read this article and post a comment. I wish that there is more I can do about it... But I'm really trying.

Love, Diana Cheng

[R. B. Stuart - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear DianaC,

Thank you for writing. And especially for your support of your teacher and this story. The more people that read this and write---the more others will take notice. So you are right as it will make a difference. And maybe help another soldier and his family who will come back home with cancer too.

Yours ---R. B.

[midnitekitten13]

This was a very powerful article, and I'm glad it was heard. We need to realize that ALL soliders need attention after they return home from the war. Not just those that have physical wounds. I truly belive that our boys are getting cancer and other aliments from all the horrible pollution and chemicals they're being exposed to. I knew Chris personaly and it makes me so sad to know that this could be the reason he's no longer with us. I hope one day we'll have a cure for this awful desease. Working at a cancer center reminds me everyday of these people here fighting for their lives. Our soliders who risked their lives everyday to be iraq and and other areas of risk are getting sick with cancer and they're not being recognized. Hopefully this article will bring us one step closer to raising that awareness. And getting our soilders and their families the assistance they deserve.

[R. B. Stuart - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear MidnightKitten13,

Thank you for writing, And for your understanding and support. Please share this story.

Yours ---R. B.

[MariaB8]

Hello, I am a student of Mrs. Sachs,...
I am very sorry for your loss. I have read the whole article twice and it breaks my heart to know that the government is not doing anything to help prevent the disease. I had my mom read the article too and she couldnt believe it. How can the government let something like this continue?! In my opinion, they should have already at least tried to prevent this from happening to our soldiers. I am trying my best to get this message around for all the soldiers families including you.

Sincerely;
Maria Braughler

[zachdressler7]

Hey, im a student of Mrs. Sachs, and after everything she told me and the stuff that i read about Sgt. Sachs he was a really good person. He was one of the few people to stand up and fight for our freedom and for our country. My heart goes out to Mrs. Sachs and her son for having to go through this very tough time.

There was a little girl that lived down the street from me and her father past away while fighting in iraq. She was so young to lose a parent at her age. Not to long ago her mother has also passed away from breast cancer, so the girl now is not even ten years old and she had lost both of her parents. I believe she currently lives with her aunt.

But back to the Sachs family, i think people in the government should start looking up diseases like this one and start looking on symptoms and how long it can take to occur to that person.Because what i have heard about that disease is it can take up to several months, even up to several years, and think that about three years after Chris was out of iraq he started feeling the symptoms and then not long after, he started getting worse and worse and then unfortunately he passed away. So hopefully these comments get accross to the government and start helping the families that are affected.
sincerely,
Zach Dressler

[R. B. Stuart - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Zach Dressler,

Thank you for writing. And for sharing the story of the girl down the street. If you still see her around I bet she could use someone like you to talk to about the loss of her parents. We don't realize how valuable and loved the people around us are until they're gone. It is up to us to make them feel loved and important in our lives....incase one day we should unexpectedly lose them. Atleast we'll know we gave and did all we could while they were alive.

Yours R. B.

[tbrill11]

i know i have already posted a commemt but i have some more to say . i think some one should really do something about this because every day soliders die in iraq and families have to go through the same thing mrs sachs had to go through . my friends father died and he was in iraq ,she was only 2 yrs old when her father died . Chris had a step son and now was a step father to an amazing kid. i cant even amagine how that kid felt when his new step father died .

All i am trying to say is someone needs to step up and do something before other families get hurt
mrs sachs i am so glad you are doing this because my cousin is in iraq now and i dont want him to catch any kind of disease . PEOPLE STEP IT UP HELP US OUT . !!!!!!!


Sincerly, -Tiffany Brill

[R. B. Stuart - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Tiffany Brill,

Thank you for writing again. And it's good that you have been moved to say more. With your help bringing awareness to Mrs. Sachs loss---maybe we can prevent any more soldiers from this suffering. If we are angry enough to unite over this cause then as a united voice we may be able to change the way Washington works. All the families are looking for is for their loved ones who are in Iraq to be informed of the carcinogens in their environment and given the proper tools to protect themselves. Mrs. Sachs husband wasn't informed nor given the tools [memo's, masks, gloves, protective gear] to live amid the toxic water, air and soil----especially for 12 months.

So you students must take this information home to your parents, share it with other students in school, and help build the voice that will change the future of the military and how it treats its people.

Yours ---R. B.

[tayloromg14]

hello, i am a student of mrs. sachs. in this past year of 2008 mrs.sachs would talk of chris and how he was her best friend and also like a big teddy bear. when she announced that she was getting married of course everybody was happy for her. but little did anyone know that she wasnt on her honeymoon but instead in hell. when our sub had told us what was really goin on my heart went out to her and her family.

when i read this article and seen some of mrs. sachs comments i began to cry. im not very emotional but it really broke my heart to see that her new life with chris would be cut short because of his cancer. i cant even imagine how hard this must be for you. well like my tells me , we take it one day at a time. at times when it gets hard think of your son and how much he needs his mommy. people say that time heals everything, i hope thier right
sincerely,
taylor ruggiero

[R. B. Stuart - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Taylor Ruggiero,

Thank you for writing. And for your eloquent ability to communicate your heartfelt grief for your teacher. The wealth of support she is recieving from her students I'm sure will bring her comfort in these early days of her loss.

Yours ---R. B.

[wowilu13]

Hi i am a student of Mrs. Sachs.
First I want to say I am very sorry for your lose. It Must Be very hard what you are goign threw.
I Believe that none of this should have happened in the first place. They know whats over there and they should have done the job right the first time. They know that all these same deases and problems all have some of the same things to blame for, but somone is just trying to cover for themselves. Each day familys suffer loses due to what goes on over there and should never happen.
My grandma past away last year from leukemia. The area she used to live in had chemicals in the ground and the city told her it was all gone and ok to live there and here we are years later morning deaths of loved ones due to careless mistakes. I think someone should have to step up for all that is happening to these people who refuses to recognize whats really going on and im glad your doing it!


Sincerely,
-Ashley Hamm

[R. B. Stuart - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Asshley Hamm,

Thank you for writing. I am sorry for the loss of your grandmother. You have experienced first hand the way our country likes to "cover up the truth" about things. Being outspoken about these injustices is the only way to bring attention to the issues that are effecting you. It is good that you are lending your voice in support of this story, your teacher, and your grandmothers plight.

Yours ---R. B.

[Kimmeh]

I am one of Mrs. Sachs students since she was away in that period of time, we as students though she was in France roaming around town; we never though this was going to happen.
After I heard about this news it just torn my heart open, having this happen to one of my loves one must be very devastating.
I know bombs back then have radiation but i though that they would improve bombs today much safer. But i guess i was wrong. In my opinion there shouldn't be any war at all; killing people and then effecting them, which cause them to be very ill. I'm very sorry for the lost but the people that create this war should be even more sorry, they made many people the killed in this war. I feel so ashame for these people that causes this war they killed so many lives if they just think, and a war over oil, seriously?

-Kim Tran

[R. B. Stuart - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Kim Tram,.

Thank you for writing. I think your teacher wishes she had been in France roaming around with her husband by her sde.....but that wasn't the case. You are so bright, and compassionate. You are the future of this country so you must stand up and fight for the rights of the boys and girls who will one day be soldiers.

Yours ---R. B.

[tbrill11]

hi i am a student of mrs sachs. i am sorry for your loss . after reding this i knew the pain you were feeling .it has got to be so hard to go through with this and what has happened i am so sorry. the thing that i can not believe is that the military or the government will not give you and your son what you deserve for all of this that you have been going through. this situation is so serious. i mean my cousin was in the war for 4 yrs (Chad mcCabe) and he did not here anything as far and bad that this goes . I think the military should really do something about this because if chris died of this type of condition any other soilder could too . If no one does any thing about it they may lose all of them and that is not what chris would of wanted . STEP IT UP PEOPLE mrs sachs needs your help



sincerly , Tiffany Brill

[R. B. Stuart - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Tiffany Brill,

Thank you for writing.

[ericaissoblue]

Dear Mrs. Sachs,

I am truely sorry for your loss. You are one of my favorite teachers, even though... really hate biology. But it sucked having you gone during those months. I didn't know what was going on. But now i realized how bad this situation was after reading this. Hearing all this made me cry and able to feel your pain. That is really unfair that the government or military doesn't believe that the chemicals caused cancer, and you dont recieve any kind of sympathy from them or money you deserve.

Sincerely,
Erica Greene.

[R. B. Stuart - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Erica Greene,

Thank you for writing. And for your thoughtful and kind words of support for your teacher. It will help with the loss of her beloved husband.

Yours ---R. B.