In April 1999, Congress designated the month of May to be the National Military Appreciation Month. Every year since then, May has been dedicated to our more than 1.3 million active-duty military men, women, their families, and approximately 15.8 million veterans. Communities nationwide recognize and celebrate the services and sacrifices of past and present US Navy, Marines, Army, Air Force, Space Force, National Guard, and Coast Guard members.
This special month also holds space for appreciating the contributions of military spouses and families during the Military Spouse Appreciation Day on May 9. Moreover, there are other notable observance days during this month, including Loyalty Day on May 1; Memorial Day on May 26 to remember those who lost their lives while serving their country; VE Day on May 8, remembering the end of World War II in Europe, and Armed Forces Day on the third Saturday of May paying tribute to the military personnel currently serving.
It’s a unique occasion for everyone to acknowledge all those in and out of the Military and their families by raising much-needed awareness of the military community’s challenges. Toxic exposure and related disabilities affect thousands of active members and veterans and are one of the most severe dangers these courageous men and women have to face. Active and retired military personnel and their families living on military bases were exposed to several contaminants on the job, including air pollutants (burn pits, sand, dust), toxic chemicals (Agent Orange, industrial solvents like PFAS), radiation and occupational hazards, such as asbestos.
Many of these toxic agents are silent and unknown risks that lurk in the air, soil, landfills, groundwater, and drinking water in military bases. Asbestos is one of the most dangerous substances to veterans, especially those who served during WWII and the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Exposure to asbestos, a cost-effective and heat-resistant mineral, was an everyday occurrence in all branches of the US Armed Forces, especially in the Navy, which relied on large amounts of asbestos until the 1980s.
Even if EPA regulated asbestos use, its microscopic fibers could still be found in various military assets, exposing service members to the malignant asbestos-linked conditions of mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. The rare but deadly mesothelioma, a cancer exclusively linked to asbestos exposure, affects veterans in a disproportionate manner: about 30 percent of all mesothelioma patients in America are veterans.
Past and present military personnel still at risk
Texas’s and Houston’s veteran and active-duty military population is also affected by the risks of toxic exposure, a fact mirrored in statistics showing that, in 2022, around 31 percent of the state’s veterans had a disability. These men and women were and are still exposed to chemical pollutants on Texas’s military bases, some of which have appeared on the list of superfund sites. Veterans and active military members nationwide are getting ill day by day as a result of years-long exposure to toxins. Moreover, family members are also in danger due to indirect contamination, while the health of those living on military installations is undoubtedly at risk.
Forging ahead
In 2022, the Senate passed the Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act (PACT Act) to acknowledge toxic exposure as a significant occupational hazard in the US Armed Forces. The PACT Act expanded VA health care and benefits for veterans, adding 20+ more toxic chemicals and related illnesses to the list of presumptive conditions.
The new law brought significant change for those exposed to harmful substances by making the application process for disability benefits and health care services more straightforward. Even so, despite evidence linking contaminants, such as volatile organic compounds, to severe health conditions, the Act leaves behind veterans suffering from exposures not yet included.
Additionally, the VA faces challenges and bureaucratic shortcomings in handling the many compensation claims, leading to significant delays in VA healthcare and disability benefit claims. For the thousands of veterans living with aggressive or incurable conditions, delays are critical. They need timely diagnosis, appropriate care, and compensation right away, as these are the only options for spending their last years in dignity. The National Military Appreciation Month could and should be a platform for raising awareness and fostering dialogue about the experiences and challenges of military members, veterans, and their families with toxic exposure.
About the author: Cristina Johnson is a Navy veteran advocate for Asbestos Ships Organization, a nonprofit whose primary mission is to raise awareness and educate veterans about the dangers of asbestos exposure on Navy ships and assist them in navigating the VA claims process. For more information, please visit our page.