My testimony: I was in the Gulf War theatre from Jan 1, 1991 through June the 15, 1991. I was with the 2^nd Battalion 3^rd Field Artillery out of Kirschgoins, Germany, VII Corps. Our first 3-4 weeks was spent at cement city, in Saudi Arabia. While at cement city I witnessed several SCUD missile attacks, the SCUD missiles were counter attacked by U.S. Patriot systems. Also my battalion lost a fellow soldier due to a covered fox hole caving in on him. After our equipment came in to port, we picked it up and road-marched across the desert for 14 days, only stopping to refuel or change drivers. We ended our 14 day road march very close to Iraq (if my memory doesn’t fail me). After a week or so at this holding area, the air war got under way and next the ground war. During the ground war and further road march my battery which was Bravo battery was chosen to spearhead the formation with Calvary units on both flanks. Then my battery was ambushed by mortar fire and we lost our scout vehicles. This is when the ground war action started for my unit. We spent three days of being awake and firing mission at an enemy that was so close that we could see them. In fact we were so close that as artillery we could not fire constantly at the enemy straight ahead. My unit saw real action, and we lost soldiers. After, the ground war and our forward advancement we saw the fields of dead bloating bodies we had destroyed with our fire missions, we drove through them. After several moves from different locations we were told to hide/camouflage ourselves and vehicles in the heavy smoke from the oil well fires. We did this for about three weeks. When the oil well smoke was heavy one could not even see their own hand right in front of their face at 1200 hours noon. The flies, dead bodies, food, Iraqi ammunition dump explosions, oil well fires, nerve pills, shots/vaccines, insects, and the exposure to causalities and stresses of war have left me marked for life.

 

After my return from six and half months in the Gulf War Theater, my health was already deteriorating, which could be seen by the lung x-rays taken after my unit returned to Garrison. In 1992 I was reassigned to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, where I joined and took part in the PGW hospital evaluations. At this time I was complaining of typical Gulf War symptoms which are now known to most as Gulf War Syndrome. In 1995, I was reassigned to Ft. Lewis, Washington, where I joined their PGW medical program and continue to complain of my symptoms from my service in the Gulf War Theater. My aliments have continued to plague my body and spirit. I still have all of the symptoms of the Gulf War syndrome plus multiple stomach problems to include: diarrhea (daily) bleeding stomach ulcers (three times in the last 2 years) and heartburn on a daily basis (diagnosed by German doctors as Acid Reflux). I also experience frequent urination. I have been diagnosed to suffer from strong depression and low self esteem, I tried to take my own life unsuccessfully twice since the Gulf War. I am currently rated at 30% disabled from the V.A. however, I appealed this decision in April of 2003, I am still awaiting a new decision from the V.A. My daughter was born in 1993 six weeks earlier than full term. My daughter had her first operation at six months old, since then she has had many, many more. She has also suffered a multitude of sickness and disease. She has been diagnosed by German doctors as having an undiagnosed disease. She has suffered from ear and hearing problems to incontinence (bladder control) to kidneys and spleen being to large. She is now twelve years old and takes hormone pills; we are told that she will likely have to take these pills for the rest of her life. With our preexisting medical conditions (my daughter and I) a chance of getting or having a decent insurance in the United States is near impossible.

 

Gulf War Veterans and their families are suffering, America should not turn their backs on these brave fellow Americans, and fore they did not turn their backs when they were called to do their soldierly duties for fellow Americans. Let freedom ring for Gulf War Veterans and their families.

 

Thank you.

 

End of Testimony: Danny Ingram