If you have heard the term Gulf War Syndrome or Gulf War Illness, it refers to a medical condition that has affected thousands of U.S. veterans who served in the 1990-1991 Gulf War. These veterans started experiencing strange, unexplained symptoms years after returning home from Iraq and Kuwait.
Some of these symptoms include:
- Severe fatigue
- Chronic headaches
- Muscle pain and spasms
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Memory issues and confusion
- Skin rashes
- Numbness in the limbs
It is estimated that up to one in three veterans from that war may be suffering from Gulf War Illness. Many of them still do not have clear answers about what caused it—and they believe classified government documents could help shed light on the truth.
Why are veterans asking Trump to declassify Gulf War documents?
Recently, the Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA) sent a formal request to the Department of Defense, asking them to declassify all documents related to the Gulf War. They believe these documents could hold key information about what troops were exposed to during the war.
One major concern centers around the demolition of an Iraqi ammunition site in Khamisiyah in March 1991. That explosion may have released toxic chemicals into the air, exposing thousands of U.S. troops.
Veterans are urging President Donald Trump to step in and order the release of these files.
As Ronald Brown, a toxic wounds consultant with the VVA, put it:
“Could they hold evidence that could assist researchers in finding treatment for these sick veterans? It’s possible… We feel in the order of transparency that these documents should be released.”
Why do some veterans feel abandoned?
Many Gulf War veterans say they served their country with pride and now feel forgotten. Take Alan Sigmon, for example. He deployed to the Gulf as a young man and said his time there was terrifying. Now in his 50s, he suffers from:
- Burning headaches
- Dizziness
- Nerve pain
- Muscle spasms
- Memory loss
Despite trying to participate in a clinical trial for Gulf War Illness, Sigmon was disqualified because he also has PTSD. The study excluded veterans with PTSD to avoid overlapping symptoms.
Sigmon said:
“I gave everything… and now I am struggling to survive. The government has turned its back on me like I am the problem.”
How many veterans are still suffering?
According to Anthony Hardie, director of Veterans for Common Sense, nearly one-third of Gulf War veterans are still dealing with the effects of GWI today. And not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well.
He warned that funding for Gulf War Illness research is now being cut, making it even harder to find real answers and treatments.
Here is what is happening:
- The defense budget for medical research was cut by 57% this year
- Gulf War Illness funding under that budget was cut in half
- Many veterans feel they are being “abandoned in silence”
What are experts saying about these illnesses?
Dr. Beatrice Golomb, a professor at the University of California San Diego, has researched Gulf War Illness for years. She believes the veterans’ suffering is real—and that more data from government files could help not only veterans, but everyday Americans too.
According to her:
- Up to one-third of Gulf War vets have chronic health issues
- These issues have not gone away with time
- Some of the chemical exposures Gulf War vets faced are similar to what civilians may face over a lifetime
Dr. Golomb said:
“Veterans continue to suffer and more information would benefit not only the veterans but… the population overall.”
What happens next?
Veterans and advocacy groups are not giving up. They are calling on Congress, the Department of Defense, and President Trump to release all classified documents related to the first Gulf War. They believe that transparency is the first step to understanding what happened—and to finding the right treatments.
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