On May 27, 2025, Congressman Mark Green sent a letter to the Secretary of Defense (DoD) to complete a Study on the toxic exposure of Karshi-Khanabad (known as K2) veterans. The K2 Air Base was known as Camp Stronghold Freedom in Uzbekistan, during the War on Terror.
The Study was mandated (as an amendment) and included in the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The Amendment was initially conceived in Congressman Green’s K2 Veterans Toxic Exposure Accountability Act of 2020.
Congressman Green is a West Point graduate and a distinguished combat veteran. While serving three (3) tours of duty, in both Iraq and Afghanistan, he was awarded the Bronze Star and the Air Medal “V” Device for Valor.
The correspondence sent to the DoD Secretary pointed out that the DoD was to conduct the Study of the K2 Air Base and report to Congress within 180 days. The Study would focus on the toxic exposure experienced by servicemembers at K2 between the years of 2001 to 2005.
According to Congressman Green’s letter, it has been four (4) years and the Study still has not been completed.
“Because this study has yet to be completed, as far as Congress is aware, many K2 veterans are still waiting to receive much needed care,” Green stated in his letter.
“There were repeated warnings at Camp Stronghold Freedom that servicemembers were being exposed to toxins,” continued the Congressman, “and yet their health and safety were ignored by the Pentagon leadership of that day.”
From 2001 and 2005, many servicemembers kept private records of the hazardous conditions at K2. Other military personnel have come before Congress to testify on these conditions. Countless veterans have reported cases of cancer and other deadly health conditions following their service.
Because the Study has not been completed, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has denied care to many of these disabled veterans. Some of these disabled veterans have already lost their lives.
According to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s Subcommittee on National Security, over 15,000 service members were deployed to the K2 Air Base.
They were exposed to multiple cancer—causing toxic chemicals and radiological hazards. “Five years later, they are still waiting to get their VA disability claims covered,” said Congressman Green.
Congressman Green “respectfully requested” that DOD Secretary Pete Hegseth provide answers to the following questions by July 11, 2025.
First, did the Pentagon conduct an assessment regarding the conditions of K2, including an identification of any toxic substances?
Second, did the Pentagon conduct an “epidemiological study of the health consequences” of servicemembers assigned to K2? Third, did the Pentagon conduct an assessment of exposure to toxic substances and servicemembers’ health consequences?
Fourth, did the Pentagon submit a study to Congress within 180 days as required by the 2021 NDAA? If not, why? Fifth, if the K2 assessment, epidemiological, and assessment of service-related illnesses were not completed, when can Congress receive these three reports?
My Opinion: In the January 22, 2025, issue of the Clermont Sun Newspaper, there was an article entitled, “K2 Disabled Veterans Finally Receive Justice.” This article dealt with a January 8, 2025, announcement by the VA that they were adding eight (8) presumptives for K2 veterans.
Presumptives lower the burden of proof for disabled veterans. This means that now the K2 veterans do not need to prove that their service caused their condition for these eight (8) medical conditions.
Nowhere in the January 8, 2025, VA announcement was it stated that the K2 assessment; the epidemiological study; or the assessment of exposure to toxic substances and servicemembers’ health consequences was completed.
The Secretary of Defense could easily answer Questions one through four if the study/assessments were completed. If the documents were not submitted on time, he could blame it on the previous DoD administration.
However, if the K2 assessment, epidemiological, and assessment of service-related illnesses were not completed, then the Secretary of Defense must notify Congress when they will be completed and submitted to Congress. That is the hard part of the five questions.
“The VA still has not recognized the other toxic exposures and potential diseases unique to K2,” said DAV Deputy National Legislative Director Shane Liermann. “Because of these gaps, many veterans will be denied access to life-changing health care benefits.”
Hopefully, Congressman Green’s letter will spur the DoD and the VA into action and give the K2 disabled veterans the health care benefits that they deserve before they die.
BioSketch: John Plahovinsak is a 32-year retired Army veteran who served from 1967 to 1999. He is the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Department of Ohio’s Hospital Chairman and Adjutant of Chapter #63 (Clermont County). He can be contacted at: plahovinsak@msn.com.
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