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There should be no question concerning the heroism or the risks undertaken. That should be evident when viewing the records of Clinical Chief Dr. Van Sim. He was awarded a DoD medal to recognize Exceptional Civilian Service for placing himself "in grave personal danger".......and he didn't ingest a single chemical agent.

Another proof of justice being denied to these test veterans can be seen when reviewing the Code of Federal Regulations. In recognizing presumptive conditions, which military personnel could have received from exposure to various agents while on active duty, the code limits application of its rules to those exposed in Southeast Asia or the Persian Gulf. Those who developed the same conditions because they were test subjects who were gassed, drugged or injected in the United States of America, are excluded.

Additional federal regulations, known as the Feres Doctrine, even forbid these veterans from seeking justice through civil lawsuits. Because they were on active duty at the time of the tests, they are denied the right of court mandated action.

Volunteer participants in the Edgewood experiments deserve suitable recognition for their outstanding service to the armed forces and this nation. Their actions far exceed the recognized standards of duty. Justice demands the country face up to its obligations or promised care and personal commendation.

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Note -- The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions, views, and/or philosophy of GOPUSA.

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