El Toro Exposure to Marines

[Randy Lea Barnes]

My Brother Sg. Richard Barnes USMC served with the WTS-37, MWSG-37 3DAW, MCAS El Toro California for 2 years. His military papers are showing this to be factual on DD-214 Form. He enlisted in the service in later 1969 and left the service in 1985.  He served with the 37th as a heavy vehicle operator for hangers 296 and 297. He has been sick since leaving the service and has run into many brick walls with the VA.  Does anyone here know if R.R.Thrasher LTCOL USMC WTS-37 has any information concerning hanger 296 & 297? 

[Berta]

There seem to be quite a few El Toro exposure decisons at the BVA.

This one has good info:

https://www.va.gov/vetapp15/files6/1552324.txt

The veteran's cancer was service connected but I have nt time to read the whole thing yet-

https://www.va.gov/vetapp16/files3/1618834.txt

This case is a widow's claim o Remand and identifies that 

"MCAS El Toro is a Superfund Site"

https://www.va.gov/vetapp10/files2/1017816.txt

This widow won her DIC claim because:

"The Veteran served at El Toro MCAS for more than one year and 
worked in Air Freight Operations.  His death certificate 
indicated that his causes of death included CLL and small 
lymphocytic lymphoma.  The October 2009 opinion from the 
Veteran's treating VA physician, the only competent medical 
opinion of record, establishes a nexus between the Veteran's 
cause of death and his service.  This opinion is buttressed 
by the April 1991 CDC report which confirmed the burning of 
hazardous materials at base landfills during the Veteran's 
service at El Toro MCAS.

All of the elements for the grant of service connection for 
the Veteran's cause of death have been demonstrated.  
Accordingly entitlement to DIC, on the basis of service 
connection for the cause of the Veteran's death, is granted.  
38 U.S.C.A. § 5107(b).


ORDER

Entitlement to DIC on the basis of service connection for the 
Veteran's cause of death is granted."

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We need more info - can your brother join us here?

We need to know 

When was he at El Toro, and what disabilities does he have? 

 

 

 

 

[Berta]

Lt Col RR Thrasher is mentioned somewhere in this pdf-

https://www.marines.mil/Portals/59/Publications/History of the 4th Marine Division 1943-2000 PCN 19000306300_5.pdf

In this Google search there are photos of many men named Thrasher and they serviced in the USMC:

https://www.google.com/search?q=Lt+Col+Trasher+USMC&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS695US695&oq=Lt+Col+Trasher+USMC&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i60.8972j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Do you use Facebook ? I don't and could not find any internet footprint for RR Thrasher except at ancestry.com-

but I am not a member of that site-I would try both if I were your brother-

I am a member of this site but forget my passsword:

https://marines.togetherweserved.com/usmc/landing/index.jsp?gclid=CjwKCAjw1ZbaBRBUEiwA4VQCIXomrOMTP6_3Ck8ZwyKBGf4buCBOawu-eelQL9llZmBpNFQofr1fiBoC8WgQAvD_BwE

They have quite a member list whereby Marines can find their buddies contact info-

He would need to join and tell them his full unit designation, etc.

Why is this Lt Col important to you?

 

[Berta]

I google El Toro sick Marines and lots of stuff popped up-

https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS695US695&ei=Iv5FW-fKBIvbjwT7547oDw&q=El+Toro+sick+Marines&oq=El+Toro+sick+Marines&gs_l=psy-ab.12..33i22i29i30k1l2.25381.33574.0.36544.38.21.0.0.0.0.1231.1231.7-1.1.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..37.1.1231.0...0.Ky6-NaZURUo

Was he ever stationed or in housing at Camp LeJeune?

Marines have bee compensated for the contaminated water there-it seems that was an issue at El Toro as well- per the google above.

If you search hadit for Bad Water Vets or Camp LeJuene  contaminated water you will find the regulations and time frames on that.

I think we have had 2 bad water LeJuene vets here.

 

 

[Berta]

One vet is here with the regulations:

and here too:

https://community.hadit.com/topic/46699-camp-lejeune-water-contamination-exposure/

 

[Mergatroyd]

O.K., Was Stationed on the LTA from mid 1968 to May 1970; MAG 56, 3rd Marine Air Wing; My MOS 3057. I will attest to the Fact that We buried a LOT of;

Contaminants, Hydrocarbons, Spent Fuels, INTO the Sub soils in areas which now are covered by some pricy upper middle income housing ( from my small research.)

NO WAY that water table is NOT contaminated regardless of the probably forged report necessary to get this Housing BUILT! BIG $$$ HUGE Investment for CA...

Michael P. Oliver 1966-1970