Service

Although I've never worn a uniform, I have served at the pleasure of the United States government since birth. There are many like me around the globe who suffer the genetic damage and medical repercussions of "Human Radiologic Experiments" (HRE) conducted by our respective country's participation in the nuclear arms race.

We are a highly specialized group to study, now able to make ourselves known and available to researchers globally. We as a community have an opportunity to be empowered by our story and help bring valuable information to light. We have the ability to help a generation or two from suffering additional unintended consequences. Children of Atomic Veterans initiatives are intended to help this and future generations understand the global and individual genetic impacts.

Sacrifice

The levels of secrecy imposed and the medical fallout is not restricted to the Veteran, their families have silently suffered and sacrificed as well. The genetic impacts carry on in the generations that follow the Atomic Veterans exposure(s) and without information to hand down to them, they may suffer and/or pass on life threatening cancers, deformities and genetic weaknesses to their offspring.

Silence

Security Clearances each country required has silenced a generation of Cold War Veterans, along with the Veterans who were tasked to clean up the radiated test sites, equipment and ships, when their government knew they were putting them directly in harm’s way. Medical research in various disciplines may be quite relevant, advances in genetic screening and editing may serve this group quite well.

Lifting Veils of Secrecy and Silence.

In the U.S. the Atomic Energy Commission, Department of Defense and military branches required 50 year “Q” clearances carrying very daunting punishments, including jail time. The Cold War era have expired now, but the genetic damage of ionic irradiation exposure and the medical consequences of genetic damage rains down upon their generations.

I was born into a family above top secret, and lived a life shrouded in silence and lies that bind." No longer willing to be an invisible footnote in history, we support all efforts to improve the care and outcomes for this and future generations.