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Sep-17-2013 17:48printcommentsVideo

Chemicals and Trauma are Killing our Veterans

The journey to educate Americans about contaminated military bases continues, Tim King is moving toward Illinois.

Tim King in Yoder, Colorado
Tim King at Nick Burgin's house in Yoder, Colorado

(ROLLA, MO) - Our mission to raise awareness of Veteran's health issues has been underway for a little over a month now, we just wrapped three days of talks in Missouri, in one case addressing an audience of more than 300.

Operation Red Dragonfly is a one-off idea to tour the nation on a motorcycle giving talks about military base contamination, PTSD and Veteran Suicide, Agent Orange and other issues facing veterans.

As the news editor of Salem-News.com, I have dedicated almost ten years of my life to providing people valuable information through the Internet; now I am looking them in the eye and taking the message to the street, to churches, VFW's, and other locations where members of the public can be accessed.

Veterans are the primary concern, but the issues they face reach out and impact family and friends and even people who simply live near current and former military bases that are contaminated with deadly chemicals.

I have worked with Dr. Phil Leveque for several years. As a Professor of Pharmacology, Forensic Toxicologist and Osteopathic Physician, he is one of the most knowledgeable people in the world when it comes to the collision between chemicals and the human body. Before entering the world of medicine, Dr. Leveque fought in WWII as an Army Infantryman in Patton's Army.

From Tim's talk at the Golden Corral in Ozark, Misouri.

Dr. Leveque's testimony in the 1970's led to DDT being banned, and he testified as a Forensic Toxicologist in the first lawsuit over a TCE-related death. That also took place in the 1970's.

When I began discovering the world of toxic US military bases, including my own former base, the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) El Toro, Doc Leveque was there to fill in the blanks. In the end there are no good answers.

There are efforts underway at El Toro to remove the TCE from the groundwater beneath the base, but as our Laguna Beach based writer Roger Butow points out, the chemical laced water is simply dumped into the ocean through an outfall pipe half a mile off South Laguna Beach.

Even if the TCE tainted groundwater is removed, an El Nino season will effectively "recharge" the chemicals. There are no solutions to contaminated land other than to vacate it and ban human occupation.

This will probably never happen, the El Toro Marine base, now annexed by Irvine, California, is slated to be a park and housing development, it is truly a shameful fact. As my co-author Robert O'Dowd points out,

Some of the chemicals I address are...

Trichloroethylene (TCE) - a triple chlorine degreasing chemical that causes liver failure, lower stomach issues, cancer and birth defects in the children of contamination victims.

Perchloroethylene (PCE) a degreasing chemical that utilizes four types of chlorine.

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 THCF 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, Bonnie King, 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
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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 : Breakdown in Kansas

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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Steve Moylett September 25, 2013 9:52 am (Pacific time)

Ralph are you comparing WMD's like nerve gas to Agent Orange? Certainly there are long term effects for AO, but it was primarily used with the intent to save lives, not to immediately kill. At any rate LBJ and the democratic congress back in that time period were the bad guys in the AO scenario. Now we have the same democrats, in DNA, passing healthcare laws that they are not going to be using. Time to clean house of these elitists who use distractions and seem to have countless evil carrying their water and doing their bidding. I saw Pelosi asked the other day why she and her family would not come under "Obamacare" and she simply refused to answer. All the democrats respond in similar fashion while Republicans have submitted several bills to make everyone come under "Obamacare." NO WAIVERS!


Ralph E. Stone September 21, 2013 7:41 am (Pacific time)

Isn't it hypocritical of the U.S. to criticize Syria for using chemical weapons on its own citizens when we freely used agent orange in Vietnam that ended up adversely harming U.S. troops.


Vic September 18, 2013 6:16 pm (Pacific time)

Can tell you've been out in the sun, my friend ! So glad things are going smoothly and that you are getting to do this ! Everyone talks about helping make this world a better (and more informed) place, but few put forth the effort and self sacrifice that you do. Thank You !!

Thank you so much Brother!!!

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