(RepublicanView.org) – Some US veterans are reportedly unable to receive care for significant health issues stemming from their enlistment duties after the government refuses to acknowledge their service.
One of those Air Force veterans, 62-year-old Mark Ely, said he was assigned to inspect fighter jets from the Soviet Union secretly procured by the US government. They were stored in “hush houses,” a type of aircraft hanger hidden from public view and knowledge. He worked at Tonopah Test Range in Nevada, an area that’s been nicknamed “Area 52” over its secretive nature.
He admitted that his work in protecting the interests of national security was more important than his own life. He also knew the secretive nature of his job as it required him to sign a non-disclosure agreement when he began in the 1980s. He was a healthy, fit man in his 20s at the time.
The secret base was located near an area used by the US government to test nuclear weapons for several decades. An environmental field assessment conducted in 1975 confirmed that dangerous radiation scattered throughout the area.
Ely, who now lives in Naperville, IL, detailed the host of health issues he said have resulted from prolonged radiation exposure. They include liver cysts, scarred lungs, tumors, and lipomas. He also said it shredded the lining of his bladder. However, his work at Area 52 was excluded from his official records since it was designated as classified. That, Ely says, is preventing him from receiving aid.
Dave Crete, another veteran who worked at the site, is also reportedly experiencing a host of health issues. His include breathing difficulty and ongoing bronchitis. He previously needed a tumor removed from his back. He started a nonprofit called “The Invisible Enemy” that seeks to connect other veterans who are experiencing health issues related to their work at the site. His organization is working with congressional representatives to ensure those who served are given the care they need.
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