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This is the same "Last Patrol" founded by Michael J Martin and Tim "doc" 
Holiday.
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    THE LAST PATROL
"Operation Thunderstorm"
     lpatrol@aye.net 
http://www.aye.net./~emtwoods/

Mike Woods: mwoods@aye.net
Jessica Woods: emtwoods@aye.net
Chris Hamrick: TstormHq@prodigy.net

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                 STORY OF A GULF WAR VETERAN

I want you to imagine that your job, your home, your health, your savings, 
and your hopes and dreams are suddenly taken away from you.  You have to 
explain to your two year old daughter that you can't pick her up and play 
with her the way you used to.  When she asks when she can go home, you 
don't know what to say.  You know that home is gone because you couldn't 
pay for itany longer.  Now pretend that you and your family have put all 
of your belongings instorage and move in with your mother because you had
no where else to go.  How do you feelwhen you watch your wife go to the 
welfare office to ask for food stamps just so your family can eat, when 
you have always earned every dime you have ever spent and been proud of 
it.

Your worst nightmare?  Mabey.  But for me it's every day life.  It's been 
five years since the Gulf War, and casualties continue to mount as 
thousands of vets and their families struggle to survive.

My name is MIchael Woods. I am 28 years old. I served with the 101st 
Airbourne Division in the Persian Gulf.  I'm not looking for hand outs or
sympathy.  I don't want praise or medals or marching bands.  I want one 
thing.  I WANT MY LIFE BACK.

I used to think nothing of working a 60hr week doing hard physical labor.  
Today I have trouble just getting through the day.  I used to drive a 
truck and operate heavy equiptment.  Today I can't even have a drivers 
license because of the danger that I might pass out on the road.

Trying to get medical care through the VA has been a torment of delays, 
lost test results and misplaced records.  I have a heart condition, and 
chronic meningitis I still have not received treatment for these conditions.  
I continue to loose weight.  I have chest pains, vomiting, headaches, black 
outs, dizziness, night sweats, and insomnia.  My joints are so stiff I feel
like I am 90 years old.  I have been told there are abnormal cells in my 
spinal fluid that could be cancer, but they don't know for sure.  It's hard 
to diagnose the aftermath of chemical weapons.

I applied for VA disability in July 1996 when I was hospitalized and no 
longer able to work.  The estimated date of a decision is March, 1997, 
and there is still no guarantee that I will get any help.  I applied for 
Social Security at the same time, and was recently denied.  They told me 
to find a new job field where blacking out wouldn't be a danger to myself 
or others.  Our only income is $300 a month in food stamps and charity of 
friends and relatives.  How much more does our family have to sacrifice?

After today, you may not remember my name or even that I served with the 
101st Airbourne Division in the Persian Gulf.  That's O.K.  Just remember 
this.  I didn't hesitate to serve this nation when I was needed, and now 
I ask for only one thing in return: I WANT MY LIFE BACK.
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In 1990, world events of historic magnitude were unfolding.  In Europe,
East Germany reunited with West Germany after over 40 years of oppression,
thus marking the end of the Cold War.In the Middle East, tension between Iraq
and Kuwait reached drastic and catastrophic levels.  Iraq invaded Kuwait.  It
appeared their sights were set on the rest of the Middle East, with Saudi
Arabia the next most likely target.

On August 2, 1990, President Bush deployed the first troops to Saudi Arabia.  
Saddam Hussein and President Bush taunted each other back and forth,flexing 
their strategic muscles, each hoping to back the other down. Soldiers from
different nations filled the Desert in Saudi Arabia.  The numbers eventually
rose to over 500,000 American soldiers filling the air,land and sea in the 
Persian Gulf region.

To us, the soldiers, it was Armageddon, right out of the Bible, the final war
that would end the world.

To the Pentagon, it was an opportunity to do battlefield testing.  There
hadn't been the opportunity to effectively test American forces in a
deployment of this size since Vietnam, and there hadn't been an armor
engagement since  WWII.  The threat of NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical)
weapons  made it all the better.  Experimental antidotes, that were not even
approved by the F.D.A.,  were given to a select number of American soldiers. 
We were not told what the vaccination was, or what it was for. We were
merely lined up and given these vaccinations immediately prior to the ground 
assault.

The operational name of the Desert Storm  ground assault was Desert Sabre.  
During Operation Desert Sabre, our ground forces faced Saddam's very best 
units, his elite guard, and defeated them.  During these battles, we were 
required to move directly through several destroyed supply and ammunition 
bases.  These bases were in such disarray that artillery type rounds, likely 
chemical rounds, were scattered or piled (not stacked, like artillery rounds 
would have been) throughout the perimeter and in hastily dug holes.  As we 
rolled through, these rounds were exploding or burning.  Our hatches were 
opened at several times  by officers on board, so they could take pictures 
of these sights for their personal collections.

Some of our ammunition was coated with Depleted Uranium for maximum
penetration, as was our armor.

There were pills  we were required to take every six hours.  They made some
of us sick to our stomach.  In the training we received prior to the war we
were told these pills would be used in the event we encountered nerve agent. 
This was the first time that any of us had been ordered to take them. The
command was adamant about us taking one every six hours. Why?  If there
wasn't any chemical play involved , like they are saying now, then why?

Over the last 5 years, more and more of us have developed illnesses and 
ailments that cannot be explained. The Pentagon denies allegations of any 
use of chemicals in the Persian Gulf.  However, they now acknowledge 
"possible" exposure to chemical weapons or ammunition from a certain base 
that we destroyed.

Many of our children who have been born after our return from the  Persian
Gulf, have severe birth defects.  This in itself is enough to raise serious
doubts about the real truth concerning our possible exposure to chemical
weapons.

Growing numbers of us  are experiencing problems of physical,mental and
psychological natures that cannot or will not be explained.  Although the
Department of Veterans Affairs seems willing to help, the truth still has not
been revealed.  We need medical assistance, and we need to know what we are
dealing with. For our health, our peace of mind, and the sake of our children, 
let us know what can expect in the future.  If we have been exposed to 
dangerous or deadly chemicals, we have the right to know.

It has taken 20 years for the government to acknowledge the Agent Orange      
issue.  We won't let the same thing  happen to us that happened to the
Vietnam Veterans.  Over the past 20 years,  Agent Orange has taken many of
our fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles .  We have a
responsibility to carry on the  fight they began.  The fight for the truth. 
We didn't choose  this fight.  There would not even be a fight if it weren't 
for the lies and deception of the government we gladly and proudly served.

We are organizing a march that will begin in Melbourne, Florida on April 20,1997 
and end at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. right before Memorial 
Day weekend.  The purpose of this march is to make Americans aware of these 
issues and let them hear from us, the veterans.  We were there.  We have 
nothing to lose by telling the truth.  We are not the career officers  and 
government officials who make the rules and have careers to protect.  We 
didn't and don't make policy.  Our goal is to tell our story as we travel 
through the towns and cities of the country we love.

Come and talk with  the soldiers whose lives and families have been torn
apart, not by combat, but by whatever "unknown" has caused these illnesses
and disabilities.  We invite you  to join in and walk with us as we pass
through  your community.  If you can,  make the entire trip with us.

Keep in mind that this IS NOT A MARCH OF PROTEST, IT IS A MARCH OF TRUTH.
There is a lot of credibility in what we have to say. We are more apt to be
heard if we gather together in one place than if we continue to  speak out 
from  small pockets scattered throughout our nation.

We answered America's call and stood in harm's way.  Now we ask that America
hear our call.

We need any and all of the help that you can provide. Organizing a project of
this size requires logistical support, food, advertising, shelter and medical
supplies, and  FUNDING.  For more information on how you can help, please
contact:

The Last Patrol "Operation Thunder Storm"
Attention: Jessica and/or Michael Woods
4520 Hopewell RD 
Jeffersontown, KY 40299
(502) 266-6279.
e-mail  emtwoods@aye.net or lpatrol@aye.net

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