I read a newspaper article today about Glen Bootay, veteran soldier, who served in Iraq at Quarmat Ali in 2003. He and his squad came into contact with an orange powder at a vandalized plant. He stated the soldiers sat on bags of this powder, slept on it, and breathed it into their lungs. They walked through the powder, getting it all over their uniforms.
The powder was sodium dichromate, a deadly poison. This can lead to serious long term health problems, which Glen now has. He has headaches, nasal congestion, severe nosebleeds, constant chest pain with skipped heartbeats, shortness of breath since the lower part of his lungs collapsed, extreme fatigue, skin rashes, vomiting without nausea, loss of feeling on his left side and torso, high blood sugar, kidney stones, blacking out and memory loss. He has to undergo chemotherapy and takes over 35 medications a day. He’s just 30 years old. His parents are his caregivers now.
Why am I posting this about Glen? Because I got angry when I read the rest of the story. It seems he has tried to contact Pa. Senator Arlen Spector, but has gotten no calls returned. He is trying to get VA help, but they are dragging their feet. The staff for Senator Bob Casey has been trying to get help for him through the VA, but they have not heard anything. Why is this young man being forced to wait for help? Why are his parents the ones who are paying the bills? Bootay enlisted the day after 9 11. This is how he gets treated by the government after serving in the Iraq war? I wonder how many other young soldiers are out there suffering like Glen, wondering if they will get help for their illness gotten in Iraq. We need to write, email, or call our state representatives about this. They all need to be more aware of what is going on. It doens’t matter than Glen lives in Pennsylvania as I am sure there are soldiers in every state undergoing the same problems Glen is. Take action. Help our veterans, no matter what their age.
Information about Glen Bootay was gathered from an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer written by Kevin Ferris.
2 responses so far ↓
1 Kellie Bradt // Oct 14, 2009 at 12:09 pm
I agree. This young man volunarilty enlisted the day after 911. He should have had the best of care, immediately – as should every soldier. This is an absolute travesty of justice. I pray that God will bless this young man and bring about justice.
2 Rosie // Oct 14, 2009 at 6:23 pm
thank you for your comment. It’s soldiers like Glenn who keep this country free.
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