father testifies

[Guest guest]

STATEMENT OF

TONEY EDWARDS AND KEVIN EDWARDS

TO

GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE

AT HEARING ENTITLED

ANTHRAX VACCINATION IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM - WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?

OCTOBER 3, 2000

Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee, good morning.

My name is Toney and I would like to say it is indeed a pleasure for me

to appear before you today, except for the nature of my testimony, I do,

however, ver much appreciate the chance to tell the story of multiple military

tragedies in our family.

I have with me today my son, , who is currently on active duty and

is now in the Medical Hold Company at Army Medical Center at Ft. Sam

Houston, TX. He has been there since November 1998. I hope that the

information I provide today will help this committee in making recommendations

or decisions concerning the safety and future use of the Anthrax vaccine.

Before I begin, I would like to give a little information about myself. I am

retired from the United States Army. I served approximately fifteen years of my

career with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC. I also served in the

101st Airborne Division in the Republic of Vietnam, the Berlin Brigade and as a

Drill Instructor at Ft. , SC.

During my tour with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam, I was exposed to the

herbicide known as Agent Orange, which was used to kill vegetation in the

jungles of Vietname, so that we could have a better opportunity to see and

destroy the enemy. It was not until later that I learned that the herbicide

that I observed being sprayed from military aircraft, would ultimately case the

death of many American soldiers, including myself. I now have prostate cancer

as a result of exposure to Agent Orange, from Vietnam. I have Post Traumatic

Stress Syndrome (PTSD) and other illnesses that have made it difficult for me to

live a normal life. I feel that these conditions are a result of my Vietnam

service. I joined the United States Army from the back woods of Virginia and

the Army gave me a life. I served my country in Vietnam and as a result, my

life will be cut short due to my exposure to this toxic chemical, which I was

led to believe was harmless and only killed vegetation.

My son, , joined the US Army in August 1994. After spending some time at

Ft. Bragg, he was assigned to the Republic of Korea in August 1998. It is my

understanding that it is Army policy that those serving in Korea were required

to take a series of the Anthrax vaccine. Without objection, and without

disobeying any orders from his superiors, my son took his first shot Lot #FAV017

on September 10, 1998, his second shot of Lot #FAV017 on September 24, 1998 and

his third shot of Lot#FAV017 on October 8, 1998.

On or about November 15, 1998, my son started having headaches and flu-like

symptoms and went on sick call at the Troop Medical Clinic (TMC). He was

evaluated and given some Actifed and was instructed to return to his barracks.

Again, on or about November 16, 1998, again went back on sick call because

his condition had not improved. He was again examined and was given Motrin and

was instructed to return to his barracks. On or about November 17 or 18, 1998,

he went back on sick call because blisters had began forming around his moth,

face, neck and back. He was again treated and returned to his barracks.

Records show that at some point and time between November 15 and 18, he was

treated for possible adverse reaction, however, the records does not specify

what the medical personnel suspected caused the adverse reaction. On or about

November 19, 1998, again returned to sick call and was subsequently

evacuated by air from his duty station at Camp Carol to the 121st General

Hospital in Seoul, Korea. Sometime during the evacuation period, my son lost

consciousness and when he awoke, he had been given a tracheotomy, which was

necessary just to save his life.

My wife and I were notified on or about November 19, 1998 by the DA of 's

serious illness and were told to prepare to come to Korea. On or about November

21, 1998, we were told to be on stand by to go to Ft. Sam Houston, Texas or to

the Burn Center in Hawaii. The decision was finally made to fly to Texas

and we prepared to fly to Texas.

was air evacuated to Army Medical Center (BAMC) on November 25,

1998. At this time, and the entire family would like to take this

opportunity to thank the Command at Army Medical Center and the Command

in Korea, who coordinated this flight and the flight crew and medical personnel

made the long round-trip flight from Ft. Sam Houston to Korea and returned to

bring home. We would like to offer our special thanks to Dr. Cantenello

who made the round trip flight and the person, whom we feel, was the physician

who most likely was responsible for saving 's life.

We arrived at Army Medical Center on November 25, 1998, just short of

midnight and were allowed to see our son on the same night. My daughter, who

was already in Texas, met my wife and I in the hallway and told us to be

prepared for an ugly sight.

When I first saw my son, , I almost went into a state of shock. I could

not believe the condition that he was in. My first thought reminded me of my

experience in Vietnam, where I witnessed members of my own unit as they were hit

with Napalm fired from US Aircraft.

Since my son was not involved in any kind of an accident involving a car or some

type of an explosion, I did not expect to see the kind of illness that I

witnessed when I first saw him. It was hard for me to understand how he could

possibly have this type of illness or injury that we witnessed, (SHOW PICTURES)

without being involved in some type vehicle accident, a fire or some type of

explosion. After quick evaluation of his condition I quickly realized that

whatever this was that caused this illness, that my son was vry ill and he

appeared to have a slim chance of surviving.

My wife and I and the rest of our family struggled through the next twelve to

fifteen days, praying that would survive this terrible ordeal. Within a

few days, we were convinced that through the Grace of God, would most

likely survive this ordeal, but we knew that somehow he would be left scarred

and/or disabled for the rest of his life.

As time passed and was able to communicate with us, I noted that he was

very confused about his condition. He appeared to be in a state of shock and

disbelief. He was scared and worried about his own survival of his illness. As

I questioned him about what he thought caused his illness, he immediately

mentioned the Anthrax vaccine.

I knew that the military was inoculating soldiers with the vaccine, and I had

heard of some other soldiers complaining about their fear of the vaccine. I had

even heard of soldiers who became ill and suspected that their illness was

caused by this vaccine. I immediately went to the library at Ft. Sam Houston

and began collecting information about this vaccine.

Once we were satisfied that was out of danger, we started making plans to

return home. My wife departed on December 10, 1998 and I departed on December

12, 1998.

We arrived back in Fayetteville thinking that we would be kept informed of

's condition by officials at BAMC. We waited for the next four months, but we

did not receive any communication from anyone at BAMC concerning 's

condition. On April 17, 1999, I mailed a certified letter to the Commanding

Officer of BAMC BG Ogden deWhitt and asked him if he or a member of his staff

would provide me with an update of 's condition. I also asked if it would

be possible for to be transferred to Womack Army Medical Center at Ft.

Bragg.

BG deWhitt did not respond to my letter until October 20, 1999, after I

contacted North Carolina Congressman Walter for assistance. In a letter

dated October 20, 1999, BG deWhitt stated that 's primary diagnosis was

Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome (SSSS) but that ' Syndrome

could not be ruled out.

BG deWhitt also stated that should remain at Ft. Sam Houston so that his

condition could be monitored by the experts at the Army's sole Institute of

Surgical Research located at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas. However, even though the

experts at Ft. Sam Houston knew of my son's deteriorating eye sight, nothing was

done to help him until January 20, 2000.

In a memorandum dated November 24, 1999 to BG deWhitt, from Colonel

Chacko, Ophthalmology Service, Colonel Chacko states " he was sent to the Burn

Ward in November 1998, with acute Syndrome/TENS. His mucus

membrane including his conjunctiva and cornea were acutely affected " . Again in

the same memoranda Colonel Chacko states " his visual acuity is 20/70 od

and 20/40 os. He does have severe photophobia from his chronic keratopathy.

Unfortunately, there is no cure to reverse these cicatrical changes " . Even

though 's sight continued to get worse from November 1998 through 1999, the

experts did nothing to have him seen by more qualified medical personnel until

on or about January 20, 2000.

At this time, BAMC hosted a visiting professor from the University of Florida,

Dr. Scheffer Tsang. When Dr. Tsang arrived on January 20, 2000, he evaluated

's condition and immediately made recommendations that could correct and/or

save some of his vision. I was present when Dr. Tsang visited BAMC and he

stated that 's sight would not have gotten to that point if the procedure

that he recommended had taken place earlier.

Additional records, that I have obtained, indicate that the command at BAMC

reported 's illness as being caused by an adverse reaction to the Anthrax

vaccine in excess of one year after the onset of his symptoms. (SHOW EXHIBITS)

has since that time been sent to the Boston Foundation for Sight, where he

has been given special lenses, which has improved his sight. However, he has to

frequently change these lenses and use a special lubricant that allows him to

see better. His tear ducts have been cut and he can no longer make natural

tears. Imagine, being in a position in which you can not even cry.

I was proud of when he made his decision to join the US Army and serve his

country. I supported him in his decision and encouraged him to do so. Due to

the manner in which the military has handled 's situation in the past, I

would not support any of my relatives who might be considering joining the US

Army.

I am convinced that 's illness was caused by the Anthrax vaccine. I am

also convinced that my son's case is one of the so-called " confirmed cases " .

This being the case, I urge all members of the committee members to take a close

look at the evidence that has been presented to you today, in the past, and any

that may be presented to you in the future, and I urge you to recommend that

this vaccine be discontinued.

Thank you very much for allowing us to come before you.