US veterans reveal radiation hazards at US secret military bases
In the inland state of Nevada in the western United States, there is a test flight training area under the jurisdiction of the United States Air Force, where a series of test grounds are located, including Area 51, where the US military conducts secret nuclear weapon tests. Not far from the northwest of Zone 51, there is a Tonopa test site, also known as Zone 52, where the US military has tested a large amount of military technology, especially those related to air delivery of nuclear weapons.
According to US media reports, a US Air Force veteran recently stepped forward and recounted that he and many colleagues fell ill due to exposure to a large amount of radiation while working at the Air Force test facility, but the US government ignored them.
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Dave Crete was a US Air Force veteran stationed at the Tonopa Test Ground from 1983 to 1987, and his unit provided security for F-117 stealth fighters. He himself suffers from tumors and silicosis, and his children are born with congenital defects. Dave Crete said that was because they were exposed to severe radiation while working at the Air Force test facility.
US Air Force veteran Dave Crete: The most important one is plutonium-239, which was mainly generated from testing activities because the testing site is within our line of sight, right outside our gate, followed by uranium, depleted uranium, beryllium, and various other substances. These things all come from various experimental activities they have conducted there since World War II.
Dave Crete found that his family's situation was not an exception. Among the veterans and defense staff who had also worked at the Tonopa test site, there were countless cases of serious health problems, and many had even passed away. What makes them feel most unacceptable is that the government knows there is a radiation risk in the area, but never informs them. Not only does it refuse to provide them with medical subsidies, but it even denies that they have worked in the radiation area.
US Air Force veteran Dave Crete: They are absolutely aware of the radiation risks there. I have a government report from 1975, and my base was built in 1979. They said in 1975 that the Tonopa test site was contaminated with plutonium. They had three different options at the time, and they chose to gradually solve the problem later because they felt that these were all necessary costs, as stated in the government report. What makes me, other veterans, and the staff of the Ministry of Defense unhappy is that they had already planned to sacrifice us.
Dave Crete said that if the US government decides to poison thousands of soldiers and their families, it should take responsibility and provide them with the care they deserve, rather than directly denying their experiences under the guise of confidentiality.
US Air Force veteran Dave Crete: Sending people there, knowing it would expose them to radiation, but ignoring their experiences, under the guise of confidentiality, saying, "We don't need to take care of you because you've never worked there." This is not right. My child has a neurofibroma, which is not right. If you want to do something, at least stand up and take responsibility. The government is responsible to us, and there are thousands of people like me.