The Toxic Alphabet Soup of Military Health (Please Support my Motorcycle Ride for Veterans)

I'm on the road armed with a motorcycle, sleeping bag, and information to help Veterans.

Christian King and his Dad, Tim King. Photo by Bonnie King

(COLORADO SPRINGS) - When looking at military health problems, there are the toxic chemicals like TCE, AO and

In this photo Christian, on the left, says good bye to his dad as he leaves to cover the Afghan war in 2006. Tim is holding his niece Olivia. Photo by Q Madp IraqWarHeroes.org

PCE, then there are the injury based PTSD and TBI; it becomes a confusing batch of acronyms and far too many Veterans are SOL as a result. But there are answers, they begin with awareness, and understanding, and that is what 'Operation Red Dragonfly' is all about.

As I move along with my mission to raise the bar of awareness for Veterans, their families and friends, I ask you to consider helping by making a contribution to this cause via PayPal. It only takes a second, and even $20 moves the motorcycle and I 200 miles.

So far I have only slept at rest stops and at the homes of supporters. I appreciate the idea that others who care are helping cover the costs. It is vital that I continue and make my way to a number of locations where I will give talks about toxic bases and PTSD and suicide, providing answers where I can, taking notes and connecting the dots for Veterans.

My motorcycle is a 1200 Suzuki Bandit, it has new tires thanks to Jon Daggett of Sacramento Motorcycle Rentals, but it gets only marginal gas mileage with the full load I'm carrying, please get involved, let me add your name to the list of people who are making this possible.

Support this important
Salem-News.com mission
to help Vets via PayPal:

You can also donate on PayPal to this address: tim@salem-news.com.

As I move across the country, I am reminded that every American needs the same information, because it is about simple things, like ruined toxic land and a desire to serve one's country, and these ideas clash over and over again.

We are raised to believe that the dangers faced by our military result from war, when in fact a life can be snatched away in an instant by a person's own irresponsible government without a shot being fired. Generations polluted the ground the modern day service member is expected to occupy.

For many, the most important information I am sharing on this tour relates to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Victims of these injuries can often have a large, unanticipated impact on their communities. They also suffer from police prejudice and not a single PTSD sufferer I have ever met asked for this life interrupting problem.

Salem-News.com's Dr. Phillip Leveque

For the last several years, I have been greatly fortunate to be under the guidance of Dr. Phillip Leveque in Portland, Oregon, one of the most extraordinary medical men a person like myself could ever come to know. He first served his country as a "Dogface" US Army Infantryman under General Patton, battling the Nazi's in the final period of WWII. He later became a Professor of Pharmacology and a Forensic Toxicologist and then after teaching doctors for decades, he became an Osteopathic Physician.

Dr. Leveque has suffered PTSD since WWII and he treated thousands of Veterans who suffer from this widespread problem. Dr. Leveque helped Oregon achieve its first Medical Marijuana laws and has been instrumental in the never ending battle to bring this herb to those who suffer the effects of combat stress.

It is Dr. Leveque who first explained to me what TCE (trichloroethylene) was, after I learned of the impact this chemical had on my former Marine base, Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) El Toro in Orange County, California. El Toro is an EPA Superfund site for TCE and it is one of many military bases with this classification. TCE causes liver failure with intense contact, lower stomach problems and different types of cancer. It is also passed down genetically, and it was a shock to realize in the 2007/2008 timeframe that my two sons who had severe health problems in their first six months of life, were almost certainly victims of TCE contact. One had a collapsed bowel a the age of four months, the other boy had an epiglottis the size of a 40-year old man's at birth; a birth defect consistent with TCE contamination. That son today has intestinal colitis.

I began visiting the El Toro site somewhat regularly after learning of the base's deadly consequences; I made contact with Marines I had served with who had developed different types of cancer, one had male breast cancer, that same Marine who was once my sergeant, and his wife have lost two children to cancer.

Tim's Jul-23-2008 report: Sick Marines and Contaminated Water: Questions Surround El Toro Marine Air Base

From Tim's Jan-27-2013 report: Irvine, MCAS El Toro and the Associated Bull

Click to order Kindle version from Amazon

Dr. Leveque explained in different ways the toxicity of TCE, and also PCE (perchloroethylene) - these are both chlorine based chemical degreasing agents, they cleaned well and yet rarely were treated in a manner consistent with human safety.

Around 2008 I joined forces with Robert O'Dowd, another former El Toro Marine, and we began writing dozens of articles about both El Toro, and Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, a base with deadly water that the Marines and Dept of Navy kept hidden for many years. That all changed thanks to a retired Marine named Jerry Ensminger who lost a daughter to cancer connected directly to Camp Lejeune's water.

Then more El Toro Marines came forward and joined our effort; John Uldrich and Roger Butow began contributing ideas and articles and eventually we reached a point where the truth began to emerge. Even two members of the Irvine, Calif. City Council worked with Roger Butow and I in an effort to expose the real truth about El Toro, a toxic base that the developers planned to turn into a park and housing community.

Robert O'Dowd and I eventually wrote the book, BETRAYAL - Toxic Exposure of U.S. Marines, Murder, and Government Cover-up [Kindle Edition]. You can see our report about it here.

Again I greatly appreciate the support of all of you who are helping this donation-backed mission to reach Veterans and explain to them the many chemicals they may have been exposed to. I am also gathering interviews and footage all over this country for a documentary on PTSD that we have under production. PTSD is a subject well addressed during my talks, and I have ample information to pass out and contact to share. Agent Orange is another subject, as are the children of Vietnam Veterans and military base contamination.

Those interested in learning more can contact me via my email below, I am also addressing PTSD and Veteran suicide and gathering elements for a documentary on PTSD that is under production.

Anyone with questions can call 916 308-5902.

Many people are already helping, one significant person is Sheree Evans in Missouri, she is the east coast contact person for 'Operation Red Dragonfly'. You can write to Sheree at evasher6@cebridge.net if you are interested in seeing this event come to your city or town.

People and organizations who have contributed include Nicholas Burgin, Tosh Plumlee, Paul Stanford and The THC Clinic, Coral Theill, Charlie Smith, Vic Pittman, Mary Vogel, Joan Vogel, Kevin Saunders, Leonard Lawrence, Dennis Paterka, Karin Rougeau, Charlie Smith, Jean James, Bob and Donna Collinsworth, Robert and Grace O'Dowd, Al Hayward, James Frederickson, Michael Rawlings, Gary Bennett, Veterans United for Truth, EnyaDreamz Productions, the King family, Sacramento Motorcycle Rentals, and several other are already stepping up. It is time to think outside of the box, time to reach out in person. We believe this is a cheap and effective approach that will gain measurable ground in our fight to save lives.

Please use our PayPal or send a check and please specify that the donation is for Operation Red Dragonfly:

Please send your donation via the PayPal icon below, which is also located at the top right side of Salem-News.com. This is a SAFE and secure way to help.

Support this important
Salem-News.com mission
to help Vets via PayPal:

You can also donate on PayPal to this address: tim@salem-news.com.

If you want to send money or a check then please just write to:

Salem-News.com P.O. Box 5238 Salem, Oregon 97304

More background:

Operation Red Dragonfly Veteran Health Outreach Mission in Colorado

Veteran advocates for others as part of 48-state mission - By Joshua Dillen Baker City Herald

Operation Red Dragonfly Moving East (VIDEO)

Veteran advocates for others as part of 48-state mission - By Joshua Dillen

'Coffee Strong' Near Joint Base Lewis-McChord - an Out of the Box Approach for Helping Vets (VIDEO)

Operation Red Dragonfly Lands in Seattle (VIDEO)

Operation Red Dragonfly Outreach Mission for Veterans Takes Flight (VIDEO)

Red Dragonfly 'Veteran Awareness Mission' Set to Land at Camp Lejeune (VIDEO)

Tim King's Cross Country Ride for Veterans Health

Operation Red Dragonfly Brings Hardcore Veteran Health Outreach to America

Operation Red Dragonfly - Former Marine Will Cross Country for Veteran's Health

Road Warrior Crossroads: Taking Veteran's Issues to the Street

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Anonymous September 14, 2013 12:23 pm (Pacific time)

Just proudly made our first small contibution to Op Red Dragonfly. Go Tim!

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pinkfloyd September 8, 2013 4:01 pm (Pacific time)

hey Tim...if you did not know about this 2 million motorcycle ride on D.C. here it is...if you already knew, or part of it, disregard, but thought it was interesting in case you did not know...best to u my friend. http://investmentwatchblog.com/permit-denied-route-kept-secret-as-2-million-bikers-will-ride-on-washington-d-c-91113/

Thanks S!

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