PFC. Robert H. Rees, USMC 4/6/1957 - 9/10/1985
Honoring PFC. Robert H. Rees, USMC : 4/6/1957 - 9/10/1985
PFC Robert (Bob) H. Rees was the brother of Betsy and Sue, and son of Eugenia (Gene).
Bob joined the Marine Corps in 1973 on a two-year contract. Frankly, he joined for the G.I. Bill. Bob worked at Camp LeJeune. It has been discovered that drinking water wells had tested positive for volatile organic compounds (VOC's) during the time Bob was in the Marine Corps.
One of the places that is consistently mentioned in USMC reports, EPA reports, and media coverage is Hadnot Point - where Bob Rees lived and worked.
"The water provided by the Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point distribution systems was highly contaminated with various chemicals, including the VOCs (volatile organic compounds) known as PCE (Tetrachloroethylene aka Perchloroethylene), TCE (Trichloroethylene), DCE (Dichloroethylene), Vinyl Chloride and BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylene).These chemicals are either known or suspected human carcinogens." (source: http://www.tftptf.com )
One of the places that is consistently mentioned in USMC reports, EPA reports, and media coverage is Hadnot Point - where Bob Rees lived and worked.
"The water provided by the Tarawa Terrace and Hadnot Point distribution systems was highly contaminated with various chemicals, including the VOCs (volatile organic compounds) known as PCE (Tetrachloroethylene aka Perchloroethylene), TCE (Trichloroethylene), DCE (Dichloroethylene), Vinyl Chloride and BTEX (Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylene).These chemicals are either known or suspected human carcinogens." (source: http://www.tftptf.com )
Hospitalized in July of 1985, Bob was diagnosed with Acute Myelocytic Leukemia an aggressive cancer in his bone marrow. The Oncologist said he could have 5-7 years to live. Bob died two months later. He was 28 years old.
"Nobody in our family ever had cancer before," Gene said, her eyes telling me it still doesn't make sense and 26 years later the case of her son's death is still not closed in her heart.
"Exposure to benzene is a leading cause of the type of Leukemia Bob had," Betsy Rees said. She will always be Bob's little sister.
"Exposure to benzene is a leading cause of the type of Leukemia Bob had," Betsy Rees said. She will always be Bob's little sister.
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Honorably Discharged an E-2, Private First Class, Bob spent his two years working at Camp LeJeune as an Administrative Clerk.
In a non-descript legal-sized manilla folder, his mother had saved her son's every letter, every accolade, and every correspondence with the Marine Corps. Also in the folder, the Survey she received in 1991 from the Department of Health and Human Services, inquiring of families about deaths in Marines and their families who drank the water at Camp LeJeune.
It's no secret.
“It is estimated that more than a million Marines or their family members were affected by the toxic drinking water at Camp Lejeune,” reads a quote from U.S Representative Brad Miller - NC, 13th District on his web site.
“It is estimated that more than a million Marines or their family members were affected by the toxic drinking water at Camp Lejeune,” reads a quote from U.S Representative Brad Miller - NC, 13th District on his web site.
It was widely reported when the Marine Corps made a public announcement in 1990 that they would investigate the tainted drinking water at Camp LeJeune as a result of unexplained illness and death.
"Marines and their families who lived at Camp Lejeune between 1957 and 1987 drank and bathed in water contaminated by various “known human carcinogens” including Trichloroethylene (TCE) and Tetrachloroethylene (PCE), benzene and vinyl chloride. In some cases the contamination was as high as 280 times what is currently regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act," reads an article on U.S Rep Miller's web site dated February 20, 2010.
"Marines and their families who lived at Camp Lejeune between 1957 and 1987 drank and bathed in water contaminated by various “known human carcinogens” including Trichloroethylene (TCE) and Tetrachloroethylene (PCE), benzene and vinyl chloride. In some cases the contamination was as high as 280 times what is currently regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act," reads an article on U.S Rep Miller's web site dated February 20, 2010.
*****
It's a large, grey area though some have fought the Veterans Administration for disability benefits, and many others have filed lawsuits.
"He died an unwarranted death, and it just needs to be written down," Gene said last Sunday about her willingness to share her story 26 years after the death of her son.
It is my honor to share with you one family's story about losing someone that just never seemed to make sense. Stand by for transmissions from the road as I hit the road, headed for Camp LeJeune.
It is more than being written down. It needs to be publicized so other can be helped to heal and have their questions answered.It needs to be public information so it doesn't ever happen again. Thanks so much for your caring and your work.With love,Gene
ReplyDeleteLaura, I am in awe of the way you have taken on this project. As I see it, the purpose is twofold. First, you are giving my brother a voice! He told a few people on more than one occasion during his illness that he was sure it was something he was exposed to during the time he served as a Marine that made him sick. Second, there are so many people who have been affected by the contamination but have no idea why they themselves or their family members have been so sick. One story that stands out to me is that of a mother whose baby was gestated and born at Camp Lejeune. Her baby was so sick and died shortly after his first birthday. She always thought it was her fault, that she had done something horribly wrong while she was pregnant. She died still full of guilt and remorse before learning the truth. Her husband publicized the journals she kept. They are heart wrenching to read. Everybody deserves to know the truth. You are seeking a truth to share with others with far reaching affects. Words cannot adequately express the level of gratitude I feel.
ReplyDeleteSadly, there is more to the issue then what the government has or will reveal. Mammograms were being read by an unqualified civilian contract Dr. resulting in many misdiagnosed. I worked on the peer review project concerning these patients. We had to hunt down each and every person 10k which is no small task, (many times dispatching sheriff deputies to the home to inform them of the medical emergency that affected them, that they were unaware of)research their subsequent medical history and get them in for necessary treatments, or in some cases obtain the autopsy reports.
ReplyDeleteThis we feel, was an additional attempt to mask just how widespread the issue was. These patients were all stationed at Camp Lejeune during the contamination period (which I believe is much longer then documented, I arrived in 96 and diagnosed with brain tumor 4 years later)
To escort many of these patients to Duke and be with them throughout their treatment or recovery from surgery was heartbreaking and angering. Many believed the Dr. simply made a mistake, because they believed that the USMC had always taken good care of them and they came from a generation that didn't know better.
To this day, they have not included these patients in their formal investigation of the water contamination issue.
Jerry E. has been a driving force behind getting the answers we need and are due. I appreciate your involvement and pray that you do not become as overwhelmed as so many have in the past and walk away.
Thank you, Laura, for the work that you are doing in the case of these Marines...Unfortunately, it will not return these innocent human beings to those who loved them the most...However, it will give the survivors some peace of mind so they can spend the remainder of their lives knowing they did nothing wrong...You are a true investigative reporter...Semper fi
ReplyDeleteI didn't give up...check it out :)
ReplyDeletehttp://laurafongphotography.blogspot.com/2012/02/camp-lejeune-my-experience-with.html