Is George AFB the Air Force’s Camp Lejeune?

Is the former George Air Force Base, CA, “EPA Superfund ID: CA2570024453, ″ the Air Force’s Camp Lejeune?  Yes!

Some people have asked why it is taking so long to get help for the families of George AFB.  At some point, senior management within the DOD made a decision that it was more important to cover up the problem at its contaminated bases than help the American Citizens that it harmed.  When the decision was made to cover up the problem, the DOD created a classic “Us vs. Them” dynamic.  This dynamic automatically makes anyone trying to expose the problem a threat, and creates a moral dilemma for the DOD employees: “Where does my allegiance lie, with my Oath of Enlistment or Oath of Office, or my paycheck and pension?”

The DOD’s Modus Operandi (M.O.) – Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, NC

To understand what those who are trying to expose the cover-up are up against, look at what was done at Camp Lejeune.  The DOD lied to the public and local, state, and federal regulators and congress; withheld records; covered-up deaths that were the result of the contamination at Camp Lejeune; and forced the ATSDR to suppress information about the contamination, health problems, and deaths which were the direct result of the contamination at Camp Lejeune.
See: POGO’s Camp Lejeune Resource Page, POGO’s  Blog Camp Lejeune Contamination Cover-up, and Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, NC – News

U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) Investigation

In a 2012 investigation, the GAO determined that the DOD has a long history of failing to notify the Department of Veterans Affairs or former base personnel of their exposure to potentially life threatening environmental contamination on its military bases.  See: “DOD Can Improve Its Response to Environmental Exposures on Military Installations,” May 2012
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) is an independent, nonpartisan agency that works for Congress and is often called the “congressional watchdog.”

After reviewing this GAO report, I have to ask, “Has the DOD crossed the line from criminal negligence to criminal intent to conceal:

• The nature and extent of the contamination at its contaminated bases;
• The contamination’s Completed Exposure Pathways (CEP) to the base personnel, their families, civilian employees, and the surrounding community;
• The adverse health effects and deaths that were the result of the exposure to environmental contamination?”

Consequence of the DOD decision

Hundreds, possibly thousands, of people, including children, are sick, dying, or dead after exposure to the extremely toxic contamination at George AFB.  By concealing the nature and extent of the contamination and its Completed Exposure Pathways, the DOD has defrauded our nation’s military personnel, their families, and veterans, of their pension and medical care.

• Doctors cannot treat the toxic exposures of base personnel and family members.
• Military personnel are being defrauded of their Medical Discharge, Military Pension, and medical care (TRICARE).
• Military personnel’s family members are being defrauded of their medical care (TRICARE).
• Veterans are being defrauded of their Social Security Disability, VA Service Connected Pension, and VA medical care.
• Veterans’ family members are being defrauded of their VA medical care (CHAMPVA).
• Parents were never given the choice of whether or not to have children because these parents were not provided information about their toxic exposure and the possible effect that it may have on their pregnancy and unborn children.
• The two schools on George AFB remained open for 10 years after the base was closed, potentially unnecessarily exposing the children and staff to environmental contamination.

Unlawful Orders 

U.S. military law has long held that following manifestly illegal orders is not a viable defense from criminal prosecution. In United States v. Keenan, the accused (Keenan) was found guilty of murder after he obeyed in order to shoot and kill an elderly Vietnamese citizen. The Court of Military Appeals held that “the justification for acts done pursuant to orders does not exist if the order was of such a nature that a man of ordinary sense and understanding would know it to be illegal.” (Interestingly, the soldier who gave Keenan the order, Corporal Luczko, was acquitted by reason of insanity).

Accessory after the fact – 18 U.S. Code § 3

“Whoever, knowing that an offense against the United States has been committed, receives, relieves, comforts or assists the offender in order to hinder or prevent his apprehension, trial or punishment, is an accessory after the fact.

Except as otherwise expressly provided by any Act of Congress, an accessory after the fact shall be imprisoned not more than one-half the maximum term of imprisonment or (notwithstanding section 3571) fined not more than one-half the maximum fine prescribed for the punishment of the principal, or both; or if the principal is punishable by life imprisonment or death, the accessory shall be imprisoned not more than 15 years.”

Accessory After the Fact – California Penal Code § 32 

” Every person who, after a felony has been committed, harbors, conceals or aids a principal in such felony, with the intent that said principal may avoid or escape from arrest, trial, conviction or punishment, having knowledge that said principal has committed such felony or has been charged with such felony or convicted thereof, is an accessory to such felony.”

This page was updated on: 11/30/2014