Soldiers criticize depleted-uranium response

[NewGuy]

http://www.thejournalnews.com/newsroom/041004/b01p10uranium.html

Soldiers criticize depleted-uranium response
By VERENA DOBNIK
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
(Original publication: April 10, 2004)

NEW YORK — Six Iraq war veterans charged yesterday that the Army ignored their complaints about uranium poisoning from U.S. weapons fired during combat.

"We were all healthy when we left home. Now, I suffer from headaches, fatigue, dizziness, blood in the urine, unexplained rashes," said Sgt. Jerry Ojeda, 28, who was stationed south of Baghdad with other National Guard members of the Orangeburg-based 442nd Military Police Company.

He said the soldiers' symptoms also include shortness of breath, migraines and nausea.

Exposure to depleted uranium has been linked to an increased incidence of kidney damage and several types of cancers, including lung, bone and lymphatic.