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Proposed Resolution - Approved UNANIMOUSLY at the POST 1/7/2008

Approved UNANIMOUSLY at the KS 5TH District Conference 4/20/2008

Approved UNANIMOUSLY at the Dept. of Kansas Convention 5/18/2008

Next stop: The American Legion National Executive Committee

RESOLUTION NO. 1:

SUBJECT:                    The American Legion Policy on Atomic and Radiated Veterans Recognition

Submitted by:                American Legion Post 136, Mulvane, Kansas

WHEREAS,      Approximately 235 atmospheric and underwater atomic tests conducted from July 16, 1945 to 1963 utilized 225,000 American service personnel of every branch of the military  as test subjects in providing answers for scientists, researchers and government policy makers on the unknowns and effects of ionizing radiation; and

WHEREAS,      Site participants were placed in very hazardous and extremely dangerous areas exposing them to unknown factors of Alpha, Beta and Gamma radiation in the performance of their duties without formal training, advance knowledge of the hazards involved and with little or no protective gear; and

WHEREAS,      Public and personal acknowledgement of site participation was severely restricted until 1996 and remains classified in many areas related to individual exposure rates under National Security Acts, individual service jackets and many medical records remain mute with regard to historical facts normally available; and

WHEREAS,      The technical data, construction concepts, systems development, training and ultimate deployment of today's Nuclear Fleet and weapons systems would not have been realized without the service and sacrifice of the atomic veteran; and

WHEREAS,      The study of their human exposure provided the foundations for advancements in nuclear medicine, power generation and many other areas of true significant benefit for all humanity; and

WHEREAS,      Exposure to radiation caused many to be wounded by an enemy that cannot be seen, felt, heard or in time healed and has doomed those service members so afflicted to a lifetime battle for their very survival and current estimates indicate 75% of the original participants are deceased; and

WHEREAS,      It was from 1945 to 1988 before the Federal Government acknowledged the sick and pleading atomic veterans in Senate Committee hearings and began to slowly provide cancer treatment under presumptive causes and with no service connection entitlement for these veterans (PL100-321); and

 

WHEREAS,      Helen Malaskiewicz, senior environmental health coordinator of the Department of Veterans Affairs stated, “I regret this group of veterans has been overlooked (hopefully this will be only in the past and not in the future) but we are trying our best to make certain they are remembered for their service”; and

WHEREAS,      In 2002 President George W. Bush in a nationwide statement said, the atomic veteran's exposure to nuclear radiation was as grave as any war veteran who was wounded in action, where in both cases the veteran stood in harm's way, did their duty and protected the United States of America;  and

 

WHEREAS,      In 2003 Secretary of Veterans Affairs Anthony Principi stated in a speech delivered to the National Association of Atomic Veterans, "On July 16, 1945, a new light burst upon the face of the earth at 5:30 a.m."... "The burden was placed on your shoulders - soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines on duty from 1945 to 1963 - to take on the role of living test subjects in order for scientist and researchers and government policymakers to gain answers to the questions posed by ionizing radiation"…"that would leave you vulnerable to hidden wounds not from bullets and shrapnel, but from neutrons and gamma rays"…"What you didn't know was that you were risking a dear price for every lesson that was learned. You battled an invisible enemy - ionizing radiation - and that enemy can leave physical and emotional scares just as real as the scars borne by veterans wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, or hit by fire during the battle of Pork Chop Hill, or injured during the Battle of the Coral Sea or shot down during the air battles over Vietnam. Their battles were real and so are yours. Their wound's were real and so is the damage inflicted by ionizing radiation;” and

 

WHEREAS,      The allied countries of Great Britain, New Zealand and Australia have been presented a Queen-authorized special medal to honor their nation’s Atomic Veterans who served with the United States during atomic tests by this nation; and

 

WHEREAS,      The cost of freedom is purchased and paid for through the service and sacrifice of every uniformed service member and recorded as part of our national and military histories, so too, must it include and acknowledge the service and sacrifice of the atomic test participants, radiated veterans and those exposed to the ill effects of depleted uranium; now therefore be it

RESOLVED,     That Paul Stewart Irwin Post 136 of Mulvane, Kansas urges The American Legion to support passage of the listed bills currently in the United States Congress related to congressionally recognized Atomic Veterans and Radiated Veterans.

HR 3471 cited as the "Atomic Veterans Medal Act of 2007"

S 2218 Senate companion bill cited as the "Atomic Veterans Medal Act of 2007"

HR 3794 cited as the "Recognition of Forgotten Atomic Veterans and their Surviving Spouses Act of 2007"

HR 4052 cited as the "Atomic Veterans Relief Act"

RESOLVED,      That the American Legion urge the President of the United States sign and enact the legislation described when favorably reported and forwarded by the United States Congress and be it

FINALLY RESOLVED,   That The American Legion forward a copy of this resolution to each Department of the American Legion,  the President of the United States, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the United States Senate and the United States Department of Defense.

Attachments: Copies of US House and Senate bills cited

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