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From the 40s to the 70s, GIs Used as Guinea Pigs

By VVAW

When the U.S. began to develop nuclear weapons, only a few of the effects were known; Hiroshima and Nagasaki were the first two major tests of the bomb's destructive capabilities. To determine more precisely how nuclear weapons could be most effectively used, a series of tests were conducted during the period from the late 1940's to early 1960's in Nevada and in South Pacific islands.

In Nevada smaller bombs were tested to discover their destructive power and radiation effects. While Ban the Bomb protestors assembled at the gates of the Nevadad test site, dozens of bombs were detonated inside. In some tests, small cities were built, complete with homes that we would be happy to be able to live in, and manikins equipped with measuring devices to record the effects of both the blast and the subsequent radiation.

But the government wasn't satisfied with dummies or measuring devices--they had to have some live guinea pigs and GIs were the logical choice (just like GIs were the choice to test the experimental drug dapsone in Vietnam. (accompanying story)

Fifteen hundred feet from ground zero observers watched the shock waves roll toward them across the desert floor. Equipped with thick dark glasses as their primary means of protection, they were supposed to collect all kinds of data. In some tests, a company of soldiers were put in deep trenches 1000 feet from the point of detonation. They were plain and simple guinea pigs. If they survived the explosion, that meant nuclear devices had a tactical use and that troops could be sent in shortly after the blast from nearby. Long range effects didn't make much difference.

Although the GIs radiation badges registered below the danger level, it's now coming out that various things have happened to the men involved: hair falling out or turning gray, all the way to a high rate of leukemia. In typical government double-talk and double-act, it turns out the VA has awarded medical disability benefits to some of the men involved, but no one has admitted that soldiers were used as guinea pigs or that those involved should be given care of benefits.

With the recent publicity the government has been forced to acknowledge the situation. Anyone involved in the experiments is being urged to call the Defense Nuclear Agency at 800-638-8300 (toll free). It isn't clear yet whether they are trying to collect more data or will really do something for the vets who got screwed.

REMEMBER THAT LITTLE WHITE PILL?

Remember the line-ups in Vietnam when the 1st Sergeant would go around giving us our malaria pills? Or the Psy-war choppers flying over a firebase telling us all the terrible things that would happen to us if we didn't take those nasty-tasting things? Most Vietnam vets remembering resisting the pill, coming up with all kinds of reasons why we couldn't or wouldn't down the foul pills.

Once again the GI has been proved right. The National Cancer Institute, experimenting with dapsone (the little white pill, not to be confused with the large orange pill) has found that it produces cancer in rats. Troops in Vietnam, according to the Institute, were not told that the drug was being used experimentally.

Apparently the military, which makes such a big thing of taking care of its own, wasn't satisfied with just killing us off for the profits of those rich bastards who run this country--they had to use us for medical experiments at the same time. Of course now they state that they "haven't the foggiest idea" of how many troops actually took dapsone, but they think they should follow our shortened lives to find out about the incidence of spleen cancer.

Ain't it great to contribute to medical science? Or to be a guinea pig along with cannon fodder? Just one more item to add to the list of charges against those bastards and to underline who, in fact, was the enemy in Vietnam--not the Vietnamese but the scum who sent us there.