"The Harley to Heaven:" Soldier Dies From Cancer Before Tour Ends

As a young boy, from first to sixth grade, Travis Bromfield rode to school on the back of his father's motorcycle. Wedged between his Dad's back and the sissy bar, the wind caressed his innocent cheeks and his taste for the road was born. He developed a passion for not only motorcycles but cars, too, learning mechanics throughout high school. After graduating, he decided to continue his education and become a certified mechanic, setting his sights on the United Technical Institute in Arizona. Except the tuition at the high ranking school was out of reach for his humble family.

His mother Esther Bromfield commented, "Even though I did not give birth to my son Travis I helped give him life. My husband had custody of Travis when we married. Travis was six years old, a very happy, loving child. As a mother raising five children they are all very special. They make you proud that you have steered them in the right direction."

So in 1999, the Anaheim, California native hoped the GI Bill would give him the funds, after a three-year enlistment, to attend. The 18 year-old Bromfield followed in his grandfather's footsteps and joined the Army. The middle child of five was the only son of Terry Bromfields's to step out of his civilian life, leaving his other three brothers and sister marveling at his courage. His grandfather, Sgt. 1st Class Leo Carroll, a 73 year-old WWII and Korean Veteran with a Purple Heart and Bronze Star, with admiration watched his grandson honor his country the way he did from 1944 - 1966, and don a camouflage uniform.

His mother gushed, "Travis grew up to be such a handsome, respectable man. When he decided to join the Army I was so very proud of him. He was proud of himself as he should be for his accomplishments."

Young Bromfield made his home at the National Training Center, Fort Irwin Army base in California, where he became a Military Mechanic and served with the 10th Mountain Division and later the 11th Armored Calvary Division Regiment after he opted to re-enlist another term and forfeit his dream of UTI in Arizona. Without foresight the war in Iraq was looming just a year ahead in 2003. Then, in February 2005, nearing 24, the strapping six-foot-four 250-pounder in excellent health prepared for a one-year deployment to Kuwait, then onto Baghdad, Iraq. Before leaving he told his father, "Dad, when I return (from Iraq) I'm going to buy a Harley Davidson motorcycle." Terry replied, "Go ahead, son, you deserve it."

Skirting the bitter sand-laced winds and suffocating heat, the E-4 Specialist made a home at Camp Taji. The unpredictable nature of California fires, tremors, mudslides, throbbing heat and winds wouldn't be enough to prepare him for the unforgiving landscape of Baghdad.

Two months into his tour bumps erupted on top of his head which he assumed were bug bites. He later informed his parents of the pain he was experiencing with his shoulder, certain he strained it. The discomfort gravitated to his lower back, at which time he developed a cough that the medics diagnosed as a respiratory infection.

By September 2005, after seven months in Iraq, his two-week leave couldn't come fast enough, and Spc. Travis Bromfield departed Camp Liberty for a respite on the Pacific coast of California. His family's loving hearts and arms opened wide welcoming the undoubtedly changed soldier home. But it was his Dad that insisted he see doctors at the Long Beach, California Veterans Hospital. His grandfather sat idle as he witnessed his grandson undergo a battery of tests, and after inspection of the bites atop his head, the 25 year-old soldier would discover that they were cancer tumors all along. And the shoulder pain he experienced in Iraq were tumors; the lower back pain, tumors in his lower spine; and his respiratory infection -- misdiagnosed -- was a large tumor in the center of his chest obstructing his breathing.

Those initial days home would be more life changing than the tour in Iraq itself, as a trio of VA Doctors diagnosed Spc. Bromfield on September 15, 2005 with a terminal, stage IV Poorly Differentiated Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of unknown primary, of the liver, bones, lungs, kidneys, brain and spine. With a two-month expectancy, this particular cancer only occurs in patients age 55 or older. So it was unpredictably rare that a 25-year-old be diagnosed with it.

The dire prognosis didn't deter Spc. Bromfield as he remained unfettered and extremely strong throughout his ordeal. "Travis never felt pity for himself. He was determined to beat the cancer and prove his doctors wrong," his father Terry Bromfield remembered. "I thought from the beginning that Travis must have been exposed to something in Iraq. I just couldn't comprehend how our son left here healthy and returned full of cancer. I questioned the doctors about his possible exposure, but the replies I got were, 'It's too early to tell.' Or 'The cancer wouldn't have shown up this fast even if he was exposed to something,' said another. While one commented, 'Your son has so much cancer in him it's the same as someone who smoked cigarettes for 40 years,'" his father recollected. "Convinced, we stood by our son without thinking about it again."

His mother Esther added, "After we started putting things together I remembered a staff nurse making a comment that the soldiers were coming back from this war worse than the soldiers from Vietnam."

After his diagnosis, several of Spc. Bromfield's Army Sergeants and Officers came to visit him. His father reported that his son's Army Commanders were extremely upset with the medical staff in Iraq for not diagnosing him in the field sooner.

Spc. Bromfield, unable to complete his tour in Iraq, went to battle for his own life, as his health was under siege by an internal enemy: cancer. It had found a breeding ground of organs in which to multiply, and it would take an insurgency of chemotherapy to eradicate its occupation. Promising to extend his life expectancy to one year.

Beyond surgery, he endured chemo treatments of three different drugs administered intravenously for nearly seven hours a day. Additionally, a pill form of chemo was administered for 10 days, followed by self-injections for bone marrow for another five days. "This was one cycle of treatment," his father exclaimed. "Travis underwent this every three weeks for a total of four cycles." Following that, he took two drugs intravenously once a week for 26 weeks. "After 20 weeks of the second round of treatment the tumors on his head ate through to his skull and cancer tumors exploded in his brain," he recounted in horror. The doctors removed him from the chemo and ordered radiation for 20 days and then back onto chemo. "Although Travis' cancer was pretty well advanced when diagnosed, it was one year before the cancer took over his body."

Seventeen months from when his battle first began, The Long Beach Veterans Hospital used their assault of chemo, radiation, and palliative care (pain management), then finally hospice care, before all that remained was fulfilling the final wishes of Spc. Bromfield.

A portion of his requests were granted; that monies be donated to cancer research, and to have his family by his side at the end (as they were, except for one). His grandfather, who silently paved the way for his beloved and courageous grandson, had passed away five months earlier. Enabling him to wait with a flock of angels at the gates of Heaven for his grandson.

Then on February 20, 2007 at 105 pounds, the young 25 year-old hero melted into a golden blanket of bravery and love that his grandfather was holding. They both walked arm and arm into where the selfless alone are permitted -- the courageous, heroic protectors of our wars, the soldiers -- into an Eden bathed in peace. For Spc. Travis Bromfield's journey had ended, and finally, he along with his grandfather were going home.

The medical review board discharged Spc. Bromfield from the Army before the review was over, claiming they couldn't reach him. His case manager at the VA hospital was able to have the specialist re-enlisted until review was complete, at which time he was medically retired. After nearly seven years of service with his last unit, the 11th Armored Calvary, his wish for full military honors were granted and he was buried at the National Cemetery of Riverside, California, where he remains close to his parents and four siblings. In remembrance for his service, seven medals hang framed on the wall, including the Iraq Campaign medal, the Army Accommodation medal, the Army Achievement medal, the Global War on Terrorism medal and National Defense medal.

"To be diagnosed with terminal cancer days after he came home for leave was devastating for our family, but we were all there for him from day one until the Lord took him into his hands. To watch my son go through this cancer and not complain made him a hero in my eyes," said his mother as she choked back tears. "Through all his treatments, set backs and disappointments, Travis stayed positive."

Since he didn't have the chance to buy his Harley Davidson, his father said, "After he had passed away and all his affairs were settled, I was sitting in our garage thinking of Travis and thought, I want to do something for him. So I had an idea to buy a Harley Davidson and make it a memorial to him." He painted the entire bike with portraits of his son, a montage of years from his happy but brief life. His parents ride it to all charity events, including "Rides for Cancer" and rides that help injured soldiers. "The interest and comments we receive are great as we are able to share with others our discoveries after Travis' death. It prompts people to ask questions about what happened, in which we gladly oblige," informed Terry Bromfield. He purchased a 1999 Ultra Classic of the same year his son joined the military.

"After much research we're convinced Travis was exposed to depleted uranium. We don't believe the troops are being trained properly, let alone told what they are dealing with. Especially the mechanics that handle the DU contaminated vehicles that have been damaged (by roadside bombs)," his father admitted.

"We would visit my son at the Long Beach VA almost everyday. Even while he lay flat in bed all day for five months, unable to sit up, we spent as much time as possible, even if we sat and watched him sleep. It never entered my mind that my own government poisoned my son," his mother said in disbelief. "But I know now from all the research both my husband and I have done, along with other parents we have spoken to, that is exactly what happened. The media won't touch this for fear of our government. There's an old saying, 'everything comes out in the wash' and I think the washing machine has started."

"I just can't believe that our government is treating our soldiers as if they are expendable," his father reeled. "It's one thing to lose a child in war by acts of war but to be actually poisoning our soldiers with exposure to depleted uranium and burn pits that the government has been told by their experts not to is another. Maybe if this happens to one of our top officials' child (and God forbid), then maybe they will do something about it, and believe the parents who have lost a child this way."

He added, "We parents need to join forces about this travesty to our soldiers. I tell as many people as possible and most respond with, 'I have never heard about this and why hasn't it been in the news?' I tell them the government does not want the public to know. As one high ranking military officer put it, 'this is the modern day Agent Orange.'"

"Are we as a country going to wait as many years as Vietnam Vets did before our government acknowledges this? I hope not," he said, stressing, "It really hurts that our son went to war for this country, willfully gave his life, and our government won't even acknowledge Travis as a "casualty of war." Travis was proud to be a soldier and proud to serve his country. And we as a family are extremely proud of him."

"It is very difficult to know that Travis will never be coming home," Terry Bromfield mourned. "Tears still fill my eyes when I think of our son and all he had to go through. It was extremely difficult to watch our son deteriorate day after day and there wasn't a damn thing we could do. We felt completely helpless. His Mom and I continue to visit his grave each week even though it's been nearly three years since he passed away, it does not get any easier. But going to his grave is the closest we feel to Travis now. It somewhat brings us comfort to be with him there. Our whole week revolves around going to the cemetery on the weekend. This is our life now. We must remain strong for our child in this battle with the government."

"Our government needs to stop looking at these brave casualty of war soldiers as a small percentage for the "greater good." My son Travis, along with the thousands of other soldiers beginning with Desert Storm, who have come down with and died from cancers from their exposure to DU, in my eyes died directly connected to the war and should be recognized as such," Esther Bromfield argued.

"DU is harming not only our American loved one's but the people in Iraq too," she fumed. "This will be another Vietnam. Our government knows what's going on, as they did then. And I'll be dammed if it takes 20 years for the government to take responsibility for this. They downplay the use of DU but they know very well what it's doing."

"At Travis' gravesite, we sit sometimes in silence, sometimes in tears but always with our memories, which no one can take from us. Travis loved this country and was very patriotic -- he served his country bravely. Our country needs to stop this. We need to join forces and let people know what's happening to our sons, daughters, fathers, uncles, aunts, mothers, and sisters," his mother grieved.

"Everyday there is something that reminds me of my son -- he is with me at all times. I miss his smile, his laughter, his touch, his scent. I want my son back and I know that won't happen," she wept. "But I don't want another parent to go through what we did."

Comments

[saddenedheart]

My heart goes out to you and your family as I read through tears of another story by R.B.Stuart­. What does it take to get the goverment to respond to this issue? Why aren't they asking why so many troops are coming home after 2-3 tours and get diagnosed with cancer? I also tell our story to strangers as this issue has to be out there. I hope one of these times when we tell SSG Och's and other stories like this one it will fall onto open ears of someone who can help this tradegy from continuing. I am afraid our family and yours will have a blanket of sorrow around us forever. God Bless you and your loved ones. Thank you R.B. Stuart for keeping this up front as much as you have.

[R. B. Stuart - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear SaddenedHeart,

Thank you for writing, and for your support of the families and my work.

Yours ---R. B..

[Sisoffallensoldier]

There is an ever growing number of families who have something tragic in common. We have lost family members upon their immediate return from the war over in Iraq and/or Afgahnistan to cancer. Rare cancers, some even common cancers that experts say should not have taken our young and healthy to Heaven's gate...but it has. After the many hours of research that I have put into this topic, I am a firm believer that our troops are being exposed to the toxic poisons plunged into the air by the open burn pits that are sprinkled across Iraq and Afgahnistan. Installled there no less than by an American contracted firm, KBR/Halliburton My little brother, SSG Steven Ochs, died on 07/12/08. The pain and torment that something like this leaves behind is torcherous and tears families apart. Cpt. Ryan Anderson, succomend to this same fate just yeaterday afternoon (please pray for his family), Mat Bumpus, 8/3/08, Chris Sachs 11/2/08, Andy Rounds 10/07, and countless others. We all need to become one voice for the fallen and pledge to do what we can to help families like ours.

Peace be with you all, Stacy Penninton

[Sarah Dunn]

Stacy, thank you for being a voice for these fallen hero & thank you to all the families of those soldiers, you have given & suffered more than anyone should. You have had your loved ones come home "safe" just to be taken away from you. I hope and pray everyday that you are comforted and that this country will come to the defense of those to keep us safe and free. The poor medical care and denial by our government & private contractors is inexcusable!

[R. B. Stuart - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Stacy,

Thank you for writing and for your heartfelt condolances for the families. As well as your support in keeping these stories alive---when the soldiers themselves have died.

Yours ---R. B.

[R. B. Stuart - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Sarah Dunn,

Thank you for writing. The message below was meant for you!

Yours ---R. B.

[R. B. Stuart - Huffpost Blogger]

I mean the message from me above marked Stacy.@ 4:07 pm

[R. B. Stuart - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear SisterOf Fallen,

Thank you for writing, and for supporting the families who have faced what you have---the tragic loss of your brother. As we know whether burn pits or DU---it's a carcinogen---and it's the military's doing. Whether those believe it or not---their is no denying the faces and the names of those that were healthy, and became severely sick in a short time from a rare cancer---either while deployed or shortly after.

Either way it is being ignored---by the DoD, the media and others who attempt to pull a "FOX" (News) on us---and state there is "no problem" and the soldiers were "predisposed to cancer." Just try to "demand or request" military medical records---they're intentionally lost or destroyed---and those tactics have been used by the military since WWII. It prevents them from being sued, and for paying out 100% in benefits. How can you file a claim, or claim to be in perfect health pre-deployment if no records exist? So their reasoning is motivated by money---greed.

Yours ---R. B.

[Rhotel1]

I apologize for calling Ms Stuart a "he", but not for accusing her of biased sloppy research. She is on a mission, but she does not make any real effort to understand that depleted uranium is not a cause of the cancer cases that she has showcased. The basic reasons are that uranium has been studied for over a century and has not been found to cause cancer and mainly that the soldiers have not been exposed to depleted uranium.

yahoogroups.comahoogroups.com

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/DUStory/message/88
also recommend www.depletedcranium.com

[R. B. Stuart - Huffpost Blogger]

Rhotel1,

Please don't apoligize as it is apparent you're reading without thought and preconcieved bias notions. Had you been paying attention to what you were reading instead of yourself --- you would have seen that I am a woman just by the thumbnail photo. But you were too blinded by your own views and promotion of DU to see it.

----R. B.

[Rhotel1]

here is the remainder

The first thing that anyone researching claimed deaths due to DU should do is demand a copy of the soldier's DU Questionairre. Then you can establish if there was any exposure. The next thing is to demand the medical records. Sure, they are protected by privacy laws, but you are being asked to verify the claim, not just cheerlead false hopes from the sidelines. Journalists should do their job. They should ferret out facts and present them in an understandable fashion to their reader, not just take what is given to them at face value and make no effort to determine if the story is true or false. The VA tested over 1700 veterans and found that three had DU contamination and none of them were sick. The UN Environment Programme tested a large number of sites including back yard cabbage patches next to areas that had been heavily attacked by DU and found no cancer clusters and no sickness due to DU. That's the basic science. Soldiers have died excrutiating deaths due to mysterious causes, but the cause was not likely to be depleted uranium. yahoogroups.comahoogroups.com

http://postconflict.unep.ch/publications/BiH_DU_report.pdf - read pages 125 on - Appendix A Risk Assessment - they explain the risks and likelyhood - RB Stuart should read this, but since it disagrees with his predrawn conclusions, he is not likely to do so -

[Rhotel1]

Niether of these cases, the one written about by R B Stuart, who is not known for careful research when he gets on his anti-DU kick or Dustin Brim, whose family has been victimized by the anti-DU crusaders who tried to convince them to exhume him so that the quack Asaf Durakovic could test him, has any likely connection to depleted uranium. Uranium has been studied for about 150 years and it has not been found to cause cancer. Neither of these claimed victims has any clear connection to having been exposed to DU and neither of them had any form of classic uranium heavy metal poisoning, which requires a high level of uranium contamination. The claims about cancer and other horrid medical effects began with Saddam Hussein's propaganda campaign in about 1992 and are still going thanks to poor research and political axe grinding instead of finding the scientific fact.

[R. B. Stuart - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Rhotel1,

Thank you for writing from the Pentagon..­..as you are part of the reason for a cover-up. If DU is so safe....ho­w about I send you some DU dust from spent munitions --- to inhale and injest --- for let's say 24 hrs a day for 60 days---then see how you're feeling. Would you be open to that? I' really would like you to prove "scientifically" that it's safe to eat and breath. How about being my little guine pig---since the soldiers death's aren't proof enough.

Yours ---R. B.

[cmssyb]

I received a call Sept 2 years ago, the voice said to me you don't know me but we have something in common. It was Terry Bromfield. I will never forget that call. After losing Dustin 2004 it was laid on my heart to try to make public what happen to Dustin & his exposure to DU in hopes of making difference. Dustin's suffering was horrific & we could only watch helpless day & night hoping for the best & fearing the worst. We lost Dustin Sept 24th at Walter Reed. After I thought if we could keep one soldier & his parents from walking in our shoes it would be worthwhile to challenge the powers that be with our efforts of Dustin's story & DU. Then that phone call from Terry. How heartbreaking to know that Travis & his parents have done so, they know that unspeakable pain that has been inflicted by a chemical the government thinks the benefit of using far outweighs risks. How many more like Travis, Dustin etc is it going to take before their voices are heard loud enough to halt the use of the chemical & bring accountibility to those that have served their country proudly. One of the nurses at Walter Reed said to me when asked about DU- Dustin wasn't the first & won't be the last, this was in 2004. Sadly she was correct. Thank you so much Robyn for once again speaking for our soldiers whom can no longer

[R. B. Stuart - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Lori,

Thank you for writing and for briefly sharing your son's story and the connection to the Bromfield's.
As the years roll by and the soldiers stories---their lives and painful deaths from DU & burn pits come forward---I too am stunned that there seems to be no end in sight. And that the only thing the DoD is concerned with is how to recruit more unsuspecting soldiers of war.

Still---where is the public outrage??? Where is the outrage of our public officials who know? As I have informed---over the past two years---Hillary Clinton, the late Ted Kennedy, Obama (as a senator), and a handful of others. Their commuications directors thoughfully take notes and my contact info. but never follow-up. WHO is telling them to shut-up????

Yours ---R. B.

[cmssyb]

I received a phone call September a year ago, the voice said to me you don't know me but we have something in common. It was Terry Bromfield. I will never forget that call. After losing my Dustin 2004 it was laid on my heart to try to make public what happen to Dustin and his exposure to DU in hopes of making difference. Dustin's suffering was horrific and we could only watch helpless each day and night hoping for the best and fearing the worst. We lost Dustin Sept 24th at Walter Reed. After I thought if we could keep one soldier and his parents from walking in our shoes a minute it would be worthwhile to challenge the powers that be with our efforts of Dustin's story and DU. Then that phone call from Terry. It was so heartbreaking to know that Travis and his parents have walked in our shoes, they know that unspeakable pain that has been inflicted by a chemical that the government thinks the benefit of using far outweighs the costs. How many more like Travis, Dustin etc is it going to take before their voices are heard loud enough to

[Lonniestory]

Robyn. As always, thank you for keeping this issue in the forefront of the public, as best as you are able. I first met the Bromfields through their research of my work for Lori Brim on behalf of her deceased son, U.S. Army Veteran Spc. Dustin Brim. These stories are far too eerily similiar to be coincidence as some would suggest. The hard, cold facts speak for themselves. These men and women are have died, are dying or may die because our government continues to deny the truth. As Terry said, we say as writers, Lori has stated and many, many of my brother veterans state: We will be damned if we will let the issue of the use of Depleted Uranium in the U.S. military arsenal go the way of radiation soldiers of WWII and the Agent Orange soldiers of Vietnam. Press on, Press ON!! Be at peace Travis, you are not forgotten.

[R. B. Stuart - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Lonnie,

Thank you for writing and for your endless support of the soldiers and my work.

Yours ---R. B.

[Schneb]

Thank you for your service, and rest in peace.

[R. B. Stuart - Huffpost Blogger]

Dear Schneb,

Thank you for your words of comfort for the family.

Yours ---R. B.