W. Va. seeks ex-guardsmen for health screening

W. Va. seeks ex-guardsmen for health screening
By John Raby - The Associated Press
Posted : Monday Mar 2, 2009 17:11:21 EST

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia National Guard is still trying to locate about 25 troops who may have been exposed six years ago to a toxic chemical at an Iraqi water treatment plant, a Guard spokesman said Monday.

The Guard was notified in November that as many as 150 members were in the Basra area and were potentially exposed to hexavalent chromium in 2003. Lt. Col. Mike Cadle said that number has since been narrowed to about 125.

About one-third of the troops are still with the Guard and contacting them was simple. But those no longer active members aren’t required to maintain contact and Cadle says efforts to reach them have proven difficult.

The Guard wants the soldiers to get health screenings through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

“We want people to know. That’s the goal, whether they were exposed long term, short term,” Cadle said. “We just want people to know there’s a potential and that they should get the appropriate assessment at the VA. Whether the outcome is somebody has an illness related to this or not, it’s not the point.”


Rest of article at: http://armytimes.com/news/2009/03/ap_west_virginia_guardsmen_030209/%2e