National Guard Veterans
Whether it's the war effort in Iraq, peace keeping at home, or humanitarian work in Suriname, the National Guard maintains the same motto: "Always Ready, Always There." This may be the oldest, most versatile, branch of the United States Armed Forces, providing the widest-variety of duties, but National Guard veterans face the same peril as everyone else in military life: They likely were exposed to toxic asbestos, which can lead to a variety of life-threatening problems, including mesothelioma.
The National Guard has a huge presence today in the wars being waged in both Iraq and Afghanistan, serving alongside those in the Army and Marine Corps. Both the Army and Air National Guard can be mobilized by any governor during a state of emergency or by presidential order. For example, the National Guard can be found in Mongolia doing training and peacekeeping work. And they are in New York and other states, serving as part of the Domestic All-Hazard Response Team, ready for quick deployment in case of a natural disaster or terrorist attack.
During such deployment, there is risk of asbestos exposure, especially in decades past. Asbestos was used more prevalently until the '80s, and since asbestos-related diseases take 10 to 50 years to develop, many veterans are just now being diagnosed with conditions like mesothelioma, asbestosis and lung cancer. Understanding the potential sources of asbestos helps prevent exposure, or helps veterans assess their risk of previous exposure. And knowing the symptoms to watch out for can help vets catch disease early.
If you'd like to learn more about asbestos exposure and what symptoms to be aware of, talk with a veteran benefits counselor in the Veterans Assistance Program. The program's counselors are veterans themselves, so they are uniquely qualified to answer any questions you may have and can even help you file a VA claim.
How National Guard Vets were Exposed
Although the use of asbestos has been curtailed sharply in recent years, many of the places where guardsmen serve still have it, leaving them exposed to the long-term dangers. Asbestos was prevalent in construction throughout most of the 20th century, popular as a fire-resistant, durable and affordable mineral that mixed well with most everything.
Following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, more than 50,000 guardsmen were mobilized around New York City in 2001, providing security and cleanup help, being showered with the toxic dust that enveloped Manhattan for months. There was an estimated 400 tons of asbestos used originally in the Twin Towers that collapsed.
The Guard also deployed another 50,000 troops to the Gulf States following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, using them in a variety of roles that included rescue missions, repeatedly sending them into damaged homes and buildings filled with asbestos. Guardsmen, on a regular basis, respond to emergency situations at home and abroad. Recent International peace-keeping missions have been in Bosnia, Kosova, Somalia, Haiti, and Kuwait, places where the use of asbestos is still thriving.
One of the uncertainties about exposure to asbestos is that symptoms of mesothelioma might not appear until 50 years after the fact. The microscopic fibers sometimes are unknowingly inhaled and then lodged into the linings of the lungs. Once inside the lungs or abdomen, the fibers can remain there for decades, lying dormant before producing obvious symptoms.
Guardsmen around the country also have been exposed at the various installations where they work before being deployed. They often gather in armories that were constructed in the '50s, '60s and '70s when asbestos use was common place.
In 2009, for example, the Missouri Army National Guard armory in Cape Girardeau underwent a $1.5 million renovation, which revealed plenty of asbestos throughout a building that was originally constructed in 1953. In 1993, the city of Westminster, MD paid $15,000 to remove all the asbestos from a former National Guard Armory that it purchased a year earlier. Army guardsmen are trained and equipped the same as Army soldiers. They can receive the same military awards, and they also are at the same long-term risks to asbestos exposure.
Resources for National Guard Veterans
Our Veterans Assistance Department at Asbestos.com is available to offer help to National Guardsman file claims with the VA. Our counselors are a valuable resource who can answer questions and alleviate any confusion. For help, just fill out the form on this page.
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© 2012 The Mesothelioma Center |
Last Modified Friday, April 27th, 2012 | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy |
The information provided by The Mesothelioma Center is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
Sponsored by a law firm concentrating in asbestos litigation, The Peterson Firm, LLP with offices at 1350 Connecticut Ave, NW, Fifth Floor, Washington DC 20036.
