In a quiet corner of Memphis, Eddie Peterson, a 76-year-old former assistant district attorney, fights a relentless battle against Parkinson’s disease. A man who once commanded the courtroom, Peterson now struggles to convey his thoughts due to slurred speech and stuttering. His story, though deeply personal, is just one chapter in a larger narrative of suffering that spans decades. The source of his affliction? Contaminated water at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, a military base where he once served as a judge advocate. This article delves into the tragic saga of US Marines slowly dying from contaminated camp water, uncovering the shocking truth and the long-overdue efforts to seek justice for the victims.
Key Points:
- Marines, civilian staff, and their families unknowingly consumed, bathed in, and washed with water tainted by trichloroethylene (TCE) and other harmful contaminants.
- The Marine Corps internally acknowledged the presence of dangerous chemicals in the water as early as the 1980s but failed to alert former residents about potential exposure until 1999.
- Extensive research has linked exposure to TCE and other contaminants to a slew of devastating health conditions, including bladder cancer, breast cancer, female infertility, miscarriage, kidney cancer, leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and neurobehavioral disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease.
- President Joe Biden signed the PACT Act into law a year ago. While the bill primarily aimed to provide benefits for post-9/11 veterans and surviving family members exposed to burn pits, it also extended an olive branch to Lejeune water victims.
- Lawsuits stemming from the PACT Act have been advancing at a glacial pace, and distressingly, many have evolved into wrongful death claims.
As originally reported on CNN, Peterson’s journey began at Camp Lejeune, where he pursued his dreams of both legal service and military duty from 1975 to 1977. Little did he know that this seemingly ordinary chapter in his life would cast a shadow of despair for years to come. Like countless others, Peterson and his fellow Marines, civilian staff, and their families unknowingly consumed, bathed in, and washed with water tainted by trichloroethylene (TCE) and other harmful contaminants.
In hindsight, it’s clear that this insidious contamination was no accident. The Marine Corps internally acknowledged the presence of dangerous chemicals in the water as early as the 1980s but failed to alert former residents about potential exposure until 1999. Shockingly, it took an additional nine years, when Congress compelled the Marine Corps in 2008 to disclose the actual risks associated with the ingested chemicals, to shed light on this grave issue.
The consequences of the contaminated water at Camp Lejeune were nothing short of catastrophic. Extensive research has linked exposure to TCE and other contaminants to a slew of devastating health conditions, including bladder cancer, breast cancer, female infertility, miscarriage, kidney cancer, leukemia, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and neurobehavioral disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease. This sinister legacy continues to haunt those who once called the base home.
Peterson, the diagnosis of Parkinson’s in 2001 marked the beginning of a harrowing journey. Astonishingly, a recent study revealed that Lejeune veterans are 70 percent more likely to develop Parkinson’s than their counterparts who served at other bases across the country. This alarming statistic highlights the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for accountability and justice.
More than a decade passed between Peterson’s Parkinson’s diagnosis and his realization that his affliction was connected to his time at Lejeune. It was only when he received a Lejeune-related health questionnaire from the Marine Corps in the mail that the pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place. However, North Carolina’s statute of limitations for filing a claim had long expired, leaving Peterson and countless others without a legal recourse to address the injustice that had befallen them.
Then, a glimmer of hope appeared on the horizon. In a significant step toward righting the wrongs of the past, President Joe Biden signed the PACT Act into law a year ago. While the bill primarily aimed to provide benefits for post-9/11 veterans and surviving family members exposed to burn pits, it also extended an olive branch to Lejeune water victims. The act granted them the ability to file lawsuits against the government, igniting a ray of optimism for those who had long yearned for justice.
Peterson, like many others, hailed this development as a watershed moment. “It’s a crime against humanity. It’s a crime against everyone who was there who suffered like I have,” he declared. “Those that were in charge, they had a chance to stop it 20 years ago and they didn’t do it, so they need to be held responsible for their misdeeds.”
However, despite the promising start, the pursuit of justice for Lejeune victims has proven to be an arduous and agonizing journey. Lawsuits stemming from the PACT Act have been advancing at a glacial pace, and distressingly, many have evolved into wrongful death claims. The victims and their families are grappling with both the emotional toll of their suffering and the bureaucratic hurdles standing in the way of justice.
For these veterans, their fight is not merely about seeking retribution for the injustices of the past. It’s a fight to secure a future for their loved ones, to ensure that others do not fall prey to the same silent enemy lurking within the very institutions entrusted with their well-being.
The heartbreaking saga of US Marines slowly dying from contaminated camp water at Camp Lejeune is a stark reminder of the profound consequences of negligence and cover-ups within institutions. Eddie Peterson’s battle against Parkinson’s serves as a poignant symbol of the resilience and determination of those who have suffered unimaginable hardships due to the actions of others.
As the legal battles continue, it is imperative that we do not allow these victims to be forgotten or dismissed. Their pursuit of justice is not only about righting past wrongs but also about holding those responsible accountable and preventing such tragedies from happening again. It is a call for transparency, responsibility, and compassion—a call that should resonate with all of us, as we strive to ensure that the water we drink, the air we breathe, and the environments we inhabit are safe and free from harm.
