Informative but sad article about the USS Calhoun sailors and their exposure to radioactive waste while in service for the Navy:
http://www.tampabay.com/news/military/veterans/the-atomic-sailors/2157927Worst part in my point of view is denying help to the sailors and their families, given the massive amount of evidence (while the civilians that worked at the lab got financial compensation). Quote:
"So in 2010, the federal government decided they would no longer have to prove their specific radiation exposure to get financial compensation and medical care. If they worked at the lab at least 250 days from 1947 to 1979 and were diagnosed with one of 22 radiation-related cancers, they qualified.
Congress protects military personnel in much the same way. But none of the men who served on the Calhoun County are eligible for automatic VA benefits for radiation illnesses because they did not participate in underwater or atmospheric atomic tests and related activities, the government says.
Thus, the crewmen do not meet their country's definition of "Atomic Veteran."
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