Leo Case, a World War II tank commander and recipient of the Navy Cross, died at the age of 58 from multiple cancers after being exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. His granddaughter, Jessie Hoerman, has spent the last two years collecting documents to prove his illness was caused by the water at the Marine Corps training facility. Hoerman plans to share the records with other veterans and families affected by the water contamination at Camp Lejeune.
Between 1953 and 1987, up to 1 million people who lived or worked at Camp Lejeune may have been exposed to a contaminated water supply containing chemicals linked to severe health problems. The wells were contaminated by waste from a dry-cleaning facility and leaks from underground storage tanks. The chemicals found in the water, including trichloroethylene and vinyl chloride, can cause various diseases, including cancer.
Case died of bowel, colon, liver, and lung cancer in 1976. A postmortem examination conducted by the Veterans Administration found no evidence of any hereditary or infectious disease. Hoerman began researching her grandfather’s history after benefits were expanded for veterans exposed to toxic substances. She hopes to help other families affected by the water contamination at Camp Lejeune by sharing the documents she collected in her quest to prove the connection between the contaminated water and her grandfather’s illnesses.
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