The USS CARBONARO was the only submarine involved in the Shad Testing Series.

HR 2433 "Health Care for Veterans of Project 112/Project SHAD Act of 2003", on a recommendation of House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Chris Smith, cleared the house with a voice vote and now resides in the U. S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs (SVAC). The text modifies U.S. Code, Title 38,Section 1710(e).

The bill, if it becomes law, makes a veteran who participated in a test conducted by the DoD Deseret Test Center as part of a program for chemical and biological warfare testing from 1962 through 1973 (including the program designated as Project Shipboard Hazard and Defense -SHAD- and related land-based tests)--- eligible for hospital care, medical services, and nursing home care through the Department of Veterans Affairs for any illness, notwithstanding that there is insufficient medical evidence to conclude that such illness is attributable to such testing. Eligibility terminates after December 31, 2005.

(Official summary)

After the euphoria of having won World War Two passed, leaders of the country faced up to the COLD WAR. Thought was given to just how the armed forces would fare against biological, chemical and Nuclear weapons. Rightly or wrongly, top level decisions were made to subject active forces to tests and find out how well they responded. Live tests were held from 1962 through 1973. Participants in the test were not informed of the nature of their secret operations. Uniformed services veterans involved in the tests, in later years experienced health conditions that were more severe and different than was found in non-participants.

Many filed claims with the Department of Veterans Affairs for health care and disabilities. VA asked DoD for details of the tests and health records of the sailors and soldiers. It was only after years of suffering and repeated requests that DoD has finally turned over to VA the names of participants and

some other data. However, DoD claims that some of the detail VA wants is so highly classified that it can not be made available even at this late date.

Congress is trying to work around the dilemma. HR 2433 would provide health care but will do nothing for those veterans who are also disabled and unable to earn a salary to provide for them and their families.

Veterans who need help verifying their possible participation in a Project SHAD/112 test can call DoD's contact managers at 1-800-497-6261. To speak with a VA representative, call the Special Issues Helpline at 1-800-749-8387. These SHAD/112 veterans deserve the support of all other veterans and veterans' advocates.

Since HR 2433 is now in the Senate for approval, call your two Senators and ask them to support survivors of Project 112/Project SHAD in this first step.