Former Guardsmen tell senators about exposure to deadly chemical

By Army Staff Sgt. Jim Greenhill
National Guard Bureau

WASHINGTON (8/3/09) – Three former National Guard members told a Senate committee Monday they were exposed to a deadly chemical with long-term health effects while serving in Iraq.

Russell Powell, a former West Virginia Army National Guard staff sergeant; Rocky Bixby, a former Oregon Army National Guard staff sergeant; and Russell Kimberling, a former Indiana Army National Guard infantry company commander, are among hundreds of Guard members who were notified in letters earlier this year that they were exposed to sodium dichromate.

The toxic carcinogen was spread across a ruined water injection facility in Qarmat Ali, Iraq, when the Soldiers were there in the spring and summer of 2003, they said in testimony before the Senate Democratic Policy Committee.

Among those who listened to the Soldiers’ testimony Monday was Sen. Harry Reid, the majority leader, and senators who represent the states where the Guard members served….

Sodium Dichromate Exposure at Qarmat Ali

The full Senate DPC hearing (including testimony by Indiana soldiers, an expert on the health effects of sodium dichromate, and statements by Sen. Bayh and others) is available at:

http://dpc.senate.gov/dpchearing.cfm?h=hearing49

Sen. Bayh’s statement at the hearing (with a link to further information) is also available at:
http://bayh.senate.gov/news/press/release/?id=1fce8635-9fb2-415b-ad55-7fb02288c55a

Opening Statements

• Senator Byron L. Dorgan
  Chairman, Senate Democratic Policy Committee
• Senator Evan Bayh
• Senator Roland Burris
• Senator Kay Hagan
• Senator Harry Reid
• Senator Senator John D. Rockefeller
• Senator Senator Arlen Specter
• Senator Senator Sheldon Whitehouse
• Senator Senator Ron Wyden

Doyle Raizner LLP serves as lead council for the KBR Litigation case and the Guards that testified at the Senate DPC Hearing.

Witnesses

Russell Kimberling (Represented by Lead Counsel Mike Doyle of  Doyle Raizner LLP)
Former Indiana Army National Guard Company Commander

Rocky Bixby (Represented by Lead Counsel Mike Doyle of  Doyle Raizner LLP)
Former Oregon Army National Guard Staff Sergeant

Russell Powell (Represented by Lead Counsel Mike Doyle of  Doyle Raizner LLP)
Former West Virginia Army National Guard Staff Sergeant

Glen Bootay
Former Army (3rd Infantry Division) Combat Engineer

Herman Gibb, Ph.D
Former Environmental Protection Agency Associate Director for Health