A Toxic Tale at Camp LeJeune III

Water Contamination at Camp Lejeune III  
by Andrea M. Byron

On this date, 8 years ago, my family’s lives forever changed. May 27, 2000 is when we received the letter from NORC (National Opinion Research Center) informing us that we had been exposed to contaminated water while my dad honorably served in the USMC at Camp Lejeune.

We were astonished to say the least. I’m still astonished, but for different reasons. Not so much that the contamination occurred (because the DoD is the #1 self-proclaimed polluter in the country), but that after 8 years, the USMC has still not lived up to their motto.

I read the letter just days before my high school graduation and just days before my 18th birthday. This has consumed my entire adult life thus far. It has taken time away from my family. It has taken its toll on me, as it has everyone involved.

We are all doing something important here. We’re fighting for a cause. And not just any cause. We fight for our lives, the lives around us and those who are no longer with us. We fight for the past, the present and the future military servicemen and women, as well as their families…

There is a saying that says "Stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves." We are standing up for each person who was affected at Lejeune- whether they’ve been "notified" or not.

I sincerely hope that someone from DoD/DoJ/DoN/USMC reads this. That way they know that 8 years after the fact, I am even more determined to make sure that justice is served. If I have to fight to see justice served until my last dying breath, I will.

For more information on the Camp Lejeune water contamination, please visit the website of The Few, The Proud, The Forgotten at www.tftptf.com.