I Nasion Chamoru On the US Militarization of Guam
…for the International Conference for the Abolition of Foreign Military Bases, Ecuador 2007
Today, the indigenous Chamoru people of Guam are bracing our selves against a storm of manic U.S. military buildup. Beginning this year, 2007, the U.S. will flood Guam?its colony?with 35,000 additional U.S. military personnel, half a dozen nuclear submarines, a strike and intelligence surveillance hub, fighter jets, B-2 bombers, Global Hawk aircraft, 20,000 foreign laborers on military contracts, and, inevitably, toxins to add to the array of cancerous contamination that have already claimed the lives of Chamoru people at record rates.
Guam is one of the few remaining colonies of the world. It exists today in a political nether zone as an unincorporated territory of the U.S., administered by the U.S. Interior Department. Today, we approach 500 years of colonization. Colonized by Spain for more than 300 years and the U.S. for more than a century (save a bloody three-year stint by Japan in the last world war), Guam today is the lamb tied closest to the war the white house is provoking in the Asia-Pacific region.
Two weeks ago, it was announced that the world's biggest anti-terrorism exercise will be held this year in Guam, underscoring yet again our thirty-mile island's strategic value to Empire.
Exercise TopOff4 is part of a series of large-scale maneuvers established to strengthen U.S. ability to respond to "terrorist" attacks involving weapons of mass destruction. It is being celebrated as the super-sized version of last year's Valiant Shield war games?also played in Guam waters?wherein the U.S. mobilized 22,000 U.S. military personnel, 280 aircraft, and 30 ships. Valiant Shield was already the largest joint military exercise since the Vietnam War. That weekend, water was cut off to a number of the villages on the Navy water line. The people of those villages went some thirty out of sixty days without running water.
At the center of this muscle flexing is the scheduled transfer of 8,000 U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam.
Of the 10.3 billion dollars tied to the transfer, exactly zero dollars have been allocated to development of the local community outside the U.S. bases. Meeting after meeting with the U.S. Department of Defense officials have proved empty, as senior military officers repeat only that they lack the authority to commit to anything or answer our questions.
Recent testing has revealed high levels of agent-orange and purple exposure, radiation exposure, and illegal dumping of chemicals throughout the island as manifested in PCBs found in Apra Harbor and Cocos Lagoon. The Environmental Protection Agency continues to issue public warnings to avoid eating fish caught in the southern waters of Guam due to dangerous levels of radioactive poison in the area. A renowned physician and professor at the University of Guam has recently received death threats and other harassment for publicly exposing the documented connections between U.S. dumping of radioactive waste and the extraordinarily high rates of cancers, dementia, and neurological diseases among Chamorus.
Meanwhile, the U.S. military has made clear its intention to proceed with the development of a global reconnaissance hub at Andersen Air Force Base on the northern end of Guam in direct violation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and its own national environmental laws. It also plans to proceed with the construction of a landfill over seven natural rivers in the south of Guam, which will harm if not eliminate endangered species in the area.
Guam is called the land of the rosaries. She is a land littered with cemeteries. But her people have wrestled a truth to the ground: that what we love we can save.
For more information, please feel free to contact Debbie Quinata at dquinata@gmail.com, Lisa Natividad at lisanati@yahoo.com, or Julian Aguon at julianaguon@gmail.com.
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Served at Andersen AFB from 1961 through June 1963. Have many diseases related to AO and other herbicides. Would like to have more info. about the spraying and storing of these herbicides on Guam along with radioactive contamination that infiltrated the Island.
Hello George. I’m sorry to hear this has happened to you. There are so many causes where people such as yourself were unsuspectingly exposed to such dangerous toxins–where it was (publicly) assumed that such exposure was harmless…. It’s truly frightening.
By the looks of things, information about the use of AO in Guam is pretty scarce, but bluewaternavy.org has a page dedicated to Reports on Guam Contamination. Among some recent news, there’s a map listing over a hundred dump sites. I hope this can be of use to you.
Ahni.
GEORGE,I SERVED AT AAFB JAN 1962 THUR JULY 1963,I ALSO HAVE A DISEASE RELATED TO AO,I HAVE MULPITLE MYLEMOA,BONE CANCER,WOULD BE INSTERED IN TALKING WITH YOU.
Jim,I likewise would like to talk with you about Guam. How can we get ahold of each other?George V. Markovich
If you both agree, I could send you each other’s email.
Would really like to hear from you guys! Ahni, I have been keeping up with the bluewaternavy.org and am aware that two veterans were granted claims who have been exposed to AO and other herbicides on Guam. Unbelievable about the dumpsides on AAFB.
PLEASR GIVE GEORGE MY E-MAIL ADDRESS,THANKS JIM
George.. Yeah, the number of dumpsites surprised me too. Good to hear there’s been some resolution.
Jim.. I will send George your email in a few minutes. Take Care.
DID YOU SEND GEORGE MARKOVICH MY E-MAIL ADDRESS?THANKS,JIM VICKERS
I was on Guam in 1973 and have diabetes. VA continues to deny my claim for disability. They so far have not accepted any information from EPA or the GAO, that I have located to enforce my claim.
Has anyone anyother information that can assist me in my case.
I was on Guam in 1972 for a few months before being sent to Vietnam. While I was on Guam I was stationed at the Naval Air Station. I am also filing a claim for disability in connection with exposure to AO. I sure it”s possible I was exposed in both countries. I’m not positive but I believe that AO could have been sprayed around the air field at the Naval Air Station before I got there. Anyone out there with info on spraying there.
There has been three cases approved by the DAV for Guam, but yet they still refuse the evidence. If all roads leads to AAFB for AO they should grant disability. The DAV has turned thier heads, as well as the DOD for us and other military members stationed on Guam. The VA is now changing the wording about exposer outside of Viet Nam and its water ways. I have EPA, GOA documents to back up my claim, but yet it gets denied. Blue Water Navy is a good site for information. The Military only keeps there records for two years.
PLEASE CONTACT ME I HAVE ALL KINDS OF INFORMATION ON GUAM
I WAS ON GUAM IN 1964 1966 I ALSO HAVE CLAIM PENDING OVER 5 YRS
Please pass my email address to Doug Kelly. I have had a case pending for a very long time. I was on AAFB in 1973. I have Diabetes and also Prostate Cancer.
DEAR RAY I HAVE DOW CHEMICAL REPORT ASTAR REPORT EPS REPORTS PICTURES OF BARELLS OF AGENT ORANGE NEWS PAPER CLIPINGS MY CLAIM JUST WENT TO REVEW BOARD LAST WEEK
Would you please give my e-mail address to Doug Kelley,We would love to have any info pertaining to A O at AAFB.
Thank you.
JIM VICKERS
JIM VICKERS,
I NEVER DID GET YOUR E-MAIL AND WOULD LIKE TO TALK WITH YOU. WE BOTH SERVED ON GUAM ABOUT THE SAME DATES AND TIMES. E-MAIL george.markovich@med.va.gov
I was stationed in Guan in the Late 57 and early 58
and I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and Have been waiting about 16 moinths on my Claim.
Good Luck and God Bless you for Serving.
I would encourage all who served on Guam and other islands where AO was sprayed to contact your Federal Representatives and ask that they co-sponser upcoming legislation. The Agent Orange Equity Act. HR 6562. There are only about 5 or 6 states that have had representatives co-sponser this legislation so far. Their office can pull this HR up and tell you exactly who co-sponsered so far. This is a must for those who served outside of Vietnam where AO was sprayed. Once this is passed the VA will no longer be able to deny our claims.
Hi all, I was stationed on AAFB from 1978 to 1980. I have Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Follicular Cancer I was in stage 3 back in 2006 when I was diagnosed. I have had a weird rash that comes and goes since I got home from the service. I have a nervous condition which they claim is restless leg but not typical restless leg. I also have asthma that is not asthma but I respond to asthma medications. I suffer from pain in my bones and have had this since I was in the military. I get awful pains in my abdomen. I have had many test with no results to get me answers. I have even had my appendix removed twice!! There is no doubt in my mind that this is all from Agent Orange. I am on a quest to prove it. Though right now I am at a VA hospital in NJ waiting to go to New York for neurosurgery surgery to remove a tumor on my lumbar spine. VA hospital care dehumanizes you. But that is another story! There was a claim that someone won for compensation. He had diabetes and said it was from AO on Anderson. This is the web site with this info. I hope it works. Any and all info from anyone is always welcome here. Good luck to you. Please say a prayer for me. I need all I can get right now!
http://www.va.gov/vetapp05/files4/0527748.txt
Everyone, My late husband ran the El Greco & Fiddlers Green clubs on Guam from 11-30-1979 to 6-01-1981 Anyone remember him please contact me. Have been fighting for my DIC since he died from Lung Cancer 11-01-2002. I need help & may have some info to help you too. Ahni, please give out my address!!!! Thanks to all for any help. My husband was at NAS Agana as SH1 James Paul Long, sometimes known as JP. Also can check out Navy Vets sight for more info about where & when he was stationed.
Janeen..I ran across your post while doing my own search. My father managed the Fiddler’s Green on Guam in 1952-53. At that time it was located in a quonset hut at the south end of the NAS runway. It was later rebuilt as a concrete structure and relocated elsewhere. I don’t suppose you would know which Fiddler’s Green your husband managed? I’ve been looking for a photo of the original quonset Fiddler’s Green for years. Thanks if you can help!
dhavens94606 at yahoo dot com.
i was stationed on guam at ncs…from jan.1966 thru july 1967…i have had cronic broncittis since i was 26 yrs old and am now on ssd with copd…i have had malignate malanoma(skin cancer on my ear)..i contracted infectous mononeucleosis while stationed on guam. i also have prostrate problems get infections quite a bit..i never suspected being on guam in 66-67 had anything to do with my health untill today as i came across Vancil Sanderson’s story about the pestacides on guam….what do i do? help…am i entitled at any VA disability ?
Doug…i havent filed any claims yet thats due to the fact that i dident know about AO on Guam or all the other chemicals known to have been their especially in the water???? i dont know what to do
Dear Paul,
If you can, please send me an email. I have had a disability claim pending at the VA for 7 years. They don’t get in any hurry to pay claims, especially Guam claims. There have been 6 claims paid.
Douglas Kelley
First off Ahni you have my permission to give my email out to anyone seeking it.
Charles please contact me or Doug for info.
I was on NCS in the 1966 to 67 timeframe, a radioman and I worked in relay.
Six cases have now been won for AO exposure on Guam. Although there were many contaminants, AO is how we have to fight these cases. The drinking water on Guam was severely contaminated and is still to this day. You can still find 2,4-D, 2,4,5-T, 2,4,5-TPsilvex, ddt, arsenic, dieldrin and a host of these pesticides used during Viet Nam in the environment of this island. It was the staging area for the herbs bound for Viet Nam.
Bluewaternavy.org is a good site to get the info about all the contamination. John Rossi has been very gracious in helping to post this stuff. I have a cd that is growing in size and has a lot of info on the contamination.
Anyone needing any assistance can contact me anytime.
Van……..today i applied for disability thru the VA.. I have had many health problems ever since i left that damn island…..i was there in relay same time you were…i was unclass and operated the cw key and sent out weather to the fleet also sent out teletype. i remember a few names…less,larry marching,flynn
charlie
Charles, here’s my email address”rubvan@nvbell.net”. Please contact me.
Hi there may I reference some of the insight found in this blog if I link back to you?
By all means, Leslie. Please do!
Wow! I was reading through all the comments and it makes me really sad that so many other people were so irresponsibly exposed to such horrible toxins.
I’m constantly urging my coworkers to stop fishing in Cocos Lagoon, where there are still traces of PCBs left from when the DOD had occupied our Cocos Island. And now that the DOD has returned some of my family’s land, I wonder if the fruit trees and vegetables we will plant will poison our children.
I wish you all the best and hope you have fonder memories of Guahan, than just the health problems DOD’s negligence has caused you all. Our veterans should be taken care of better and so should our people and environment.
Stationed at Andersen AFB twice, 1963-1963 and 1966 – 1967. Eighteen months each time. In 3960th CAMS, Airborne RADAR/ NAV AIDS. Worked the same AO sprayed flight line that the Airman with Diabetes II won is appeal. I worked transet Aircraft. Suffered severe Cystic acne IV, have diabetes II, CAD (quintuple by-pass), Non- Hodgkins lymphoma and many secondary disabilities. I also spent TDY in Okinawa (Kedena,AB). Yes, I was exposed to AO on Andersen AFB. Spent a lot of time at Naval Hospital for acne. Good luck to us all. Lots of Prayers to all. Get on Facebook and ask to be MSGT. Foster’s friend. He actually sore that he mixed and sprayed AO.
claude my name is doug kelley i was on guam 64 and 65 i have the same problems you do i have had a claim pending 8yrs it is now at the cavc in washington that is as high as it gets should get answer in about 2months there has been 6 cases won so far doug
claude i live in fort worth texas E-MAIL OurRose2002@sbcglobal.net
I don’t know if you ever saw this message so I’m reposting it as a reply to your message..
Janeen..I ran across your post while doing my own search. My father managed the Fiddler’s Green on Guam in 1952-53. At that time it was located in a quonset hut at the south end of the NAS runway. It was later rebuilt as a concrete structure and relocated elsewhere. I don’t suppose you would know which Fiddler’s Green your husband managed? I’ve been looking for a photo of the original quonset Fiddler’s Green for years. Thanks if you can help!
dhavens94606 at yahoo dot com.
Thanks everyone for your service and I am sorry to hear of all your illnesses also. I have some addresses from here and will be in contact. I am usnneversail at hotmail dot com ( my late husbands old address). You can contact me at any time. I have my hearing with the VA February 14 (go figure!) in St. Petersburg.
They have fought me every step of the way since 11-1-02 for one thing or another. Through the evidence I submitted, they have conceeded to everything so far, but yet deny me as Jim was never “in country” in Vietnam. I cant get it through their heads that I know that and am talking about his over two years on Guam. Sure wish I had some pix of him there then, but I didnt meet him until after he was put on TDRL. Wish me luck in St. Pete. I will keep all posted. I am also on Facebook. Freind Janeen Long
see http://www.guamagentorange.info/home also my email is RETAIRFORCEMAN@AOL.COM ALSO, CONTACT eric.shinseki@va.gov and tell him to add GUAM TO THE AO PRESUMPTIVE LIST..ALSO CALL YOUR SENATORS OFFICES AND HAVE THEM CONTACT KEVIN FINK AT SENATOR GILLIBRAND’S D.C. OFFICE AND MARINE COLONEL PAUL STEWART, LIAISON OFFICER FOR SENATOR SCHUMER ‘S D.C. OFFICE. ALSO CALL YOUR CONGRESSMAN AND HAVE THEM CONTACT WALT KOCH OF CONGRESSEMAN HIGGINS OFFICE IN BUFFALO NY. DO THIS QUICKLY SO THEY MAY BRING PRESSURE ON SECRETARY SHINSEKI TO ADD GUAM TO THE AGENT ORANGE PRESUMPTIVE LIST. NOW. PLEASE.
I just found this site. I was on Guam 9-65 to 3-67. Also did TDYs to Okinawa. I have multiple health problems that reflects the above emails. I was around AO in barrels being sent to Nam. I was on the flight line at first and then spent the last thirteen months as a dog handler. Started having problems a few months before returning home. I progressively got worse with time and am now almost useless. God help us all!