STATEMENT OF
TONEY EDWARDS AND KEVIN EDWARDS
TO
GOVERNMENT REFORM COMMITTEE
AT HEARING ENTITLED

ANTHRAX VACCINATION IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM – WHAT HAVE WE LEARNED?

OCTOBER 3, 2000

 

Mr. Chairman, Members of the Committee, good morning.

My name is Toney Edwards and I would like to say it is indeed a pleasure for me to appear before you today, except for the nature of my testimony, I do, however, ver much appreciate the chance to tell the story of multiple military tragedies in our family.

I have with me today my son, Kevin Edwards, who is currently on active duty and is now in the Medical Hold Company at Brooke Army Medical Center at Ft. Sam Houston, TX.  He has been there since November 1998.  I hope that the information I provide today will help this committee in making recommendations or decisions concerning the safety and future use of the Anthrax vaccine.

Before I begin, I would like to give a little information about myself.  I am retired from the United States Army.  I served approximately fifteen years of my career with the 82^nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, NC.  I also served in the 101^st Airborne Division in the Republic of Vietnam, the Berlin Brigade and as a Drill Instructor at Ft. Jackson, SC.

During my tour with the 101^st Airborne Division in Vietnam, I was exposed to the herbicide known as Agent Orange, which was used to kill vegetation in the jungles of Vietname, so that we could have a better opportunity to see and destroy the enemy.  It was not until later that I learned that the herbicide that I observed being sprayed from military aircraft, would ultimately case the death of many American soldiers, including myself.  I now have prostate cancer as a result of exposure to Agent Orange, from Vietnam.  I have Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome (PTSD) and other illnesses that have made it difficult for me to live a normal life.  I feel that these conditions are a result of my Vietnam service.  I joined the United States Army from the back woods of Virginia and the Army gave me a life.  I served my country in Vietnam and as a result, my life will be cut short due to my exposure to this toxic chemical, which I was led to believe was harmless and only killed vegetation.

My son, Kevin, joined the US Army in August 1994.  After spending some time at Ft. Bragg, he was assigned to the Republic of Korea in August 1998.  It is my understanding that it is Army policy that those serving in Korea were required to take a series of the Anthrax vaccine.  Without objection, and without disobeying any orders from his superiors, my son took his first shot Lot #FAV017 on September 10, 1998, his second shot of Lot #FAV017 on September 24, 1998 and his third shot of Lot#FAV017 on October 8, 1998.

On or about November 15, 1998, my son started having headaches and flu-like symptoms and went on sick call at the Troop Medical Clinic (TMC).  He was evaluated and given some Actifed and was instructed to return to his barracks.  Again, on or about November 16, 1998, Kevin again went back on sick call because his condition had not improved.  He was again examined and was given Motrin and was instructed to return to his barracks.  On or about November 17 or 18, 1998, he went back on sick call because blisters had began forming around his moth, face, neck and back.  He was again treated and returned to his barracks.  Records show that at some point and time between November 15 and 18, he was treated for possible adverse reaction, however, the records does not specify what the medical personnel suspected caused the adverse reaction.  On or about November 19, 1998, Kevin again returned to sick call and was subsequently evacuated by air from his duty station at Camp Carol to the 121^st General Hospital in Seoul, Korea.  Sometime during the evacuation period, my son lost consciousness and when he awoke, he had been given a tracheotomy, which was necessary just to save his life.

My wife and I were notified on or about November 19, 1998 by the DA of Kevin’s serious illness and were told to prepare to come to Korea.  On or about November 21, 1998, we were told to be on stand by to go to Ft. Sam Houston, Texas or to the Burn Center in Hawaii.  The decision was finally made to fly Kevin to Texas and we prepared to fly to Texas.

Kevin was air evacuated to Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) on November 25, 1998.  At this time, Kevin and the entire Edwards family would like to take this opportunity to thank the Command at Brooke Army Medical Center and the Command in Korea, who coordinated this flight and the flight crew and medical personnel made the long round-trip flight from Ft. Sam Houston to Korea and returned to bring Kevin home.  We would like to offer our special thanks to Dr. Cantenello who made the round trip flight and the person, whom we feel, was the physician who most likely was responsible for saving Kevin’s life.

We arrived at Brooke Army Medical Center on November 25, 1998, just short of midnight and were allowed to see our son on the same night.  My daughter, who was already in Texas, met my wife and I in the hallway and told us to be prepared for an ugly sight.

When I first saw my son, Kevin, I almost went into a state of shock.  I could not believe the condition that he was in.  My first thought reminded me of my experience in Vietnam, where I witnessed members of my own unit as they were hit with Napalm fired from US Aircraft.

Since my son was not involved in any kind of an accident involving a car or some type of an explosion, I did not expect to see the kind of illness that I witnessed when I first saw him.  It was hard for me to understand how he could possibly have this type of illness or injury that we witnessed, (SHOW PICTURES) without being involved in some type vehicle accident, a fire or some type of explosion.  After quick evaluation of his condition I quickly realized that whatever this was that caused this illness, that my son was vry ill and he appeared to have a slim chance of surviving.

My wife and I and the rest of our family struggled through the next twelve to fifteen days, praying that Kevin would survive this terrible ordeal.  Within a few days, we were convinced that through the Grace of God, Kevin would most likely survive this ordeal, but we knew that somehow he would be left scarred and/or disabled for the rest of his life.

As time passed and Kevin was able to communicate with us, I noted that he was very confused about his condition.  He appeared to be in a state of shock and disbelief.  He was scared and worried about his own survival of his illness.  As I questioned him about what he thought caused his illness, he immediately mentioned the Anthrax vaccine.

I knew that the military was inoculating soldiers with the vaccine, and I had heard of some other soldiers complaining about their fear of the vaccine.  I had even heard of soldiers who became ill and suspected that their illness was caused by this vaccine.  I immediately went to the library at Ft. Sam Houston and began collecting information about this vaccine.

Once we were satisfied that Kevin was out of danger, we started making plans to return home.  My wife departed on December 10, 1998 and I departed on December 12, 1998.

We arrived back in Fayetteville thinking that we would be kept informed of Kevin’s condition by officials at BAMC.  We waited for the next four months, but we did not receive any communication from anyone at BAMC concerning Kevin’s condition.  On April 17, 1999, I mailed a certified letter to the Commanding Officer of BAMC BG Ogden deWhitt and asked him if he or a member of his staff would provide me with an update of Kevin’s condition.  I also asked if it would be possible for Kevin to be transferred to Womack Army Medical Center at Ft. Bragg.

BG deWhitt did not respond to my letter until October 20, 1999, after I contacted North Carolina Congressman Walter Jones for assistance.  In a letter dated October 20, 1999, BG deWhitt stated that Kevin’s primary diagnosis was Staphylococcal Scalded Skin Syndrome (SSSS) but that Steven Johnson’ Syndrome could not be ruled out.

BG deWhitt also stated that Kevin should remain at Ft. Sam Houston so that his condition could be monitored by the experts at the Army’s sole Institute of Surgical Research located at Ft. Sam Houston, Texas.  However, even though the experts at Ft. Sam Houston knew of my son’s deteriorating eye sight, nothing was done to help him until January 20, 2000.

In a memorandum dated November 24, 1999 to BG deWhitt, from Colonel Benjamin Chacko, Ophthalmology Service, Colonel Chacko states “he was sent to the Burn Ward in November 1998, with acute Stephen Johnson Syndrome/TENS.  His mucus membrane including his conjunctiva and cornea were acutely affected”.  Again in the same memoranda Colonel Benjamin Chacko states “his visual acuity is 20/70 od and 20/40 os.  He does have severe photophobia from his chronic keratopathy.  Unfortunately, there is no cure to reverse these cicatrical changes”.  Even though Kevin’s sight continued to get worse from November 1998 through 1999, the experts did nothing to have him seen by more qualified medical personnel until on or about January 20, 2000.

At this time, BAMC hosted a visiting professor from the University of Florida, Dr. Scheffer Tsang.  When Dr. Tsang arrived on January 20, 2000, he evaluated Kevin’s condition and immediately made recommendations that could correct and/or save some of his vision.  I was present when Dr. Tsang visited BAMC and he stated that Kevin’s sight would not have gotten to that point if the procedure that he recommended had taken place earlier.

Additional records, that I have obtained, indicate that the command at BAMC reported Kevin’s illness as being caused by an adverse reaction to the Anthrax vaccine in excess of one year after the onset of his symptoms. (SHOW EXHIBITS)

Kevin has since that time been sent to the Boston Foundation for Sight, where he has been given special lenses, which has improved his sight.  However, he has to frequently change these lenses and use a special lubricant that allows him to see better.  His tead ducts have been cut and he can no longer make natural tears.  Imagine, being in a position in which you can not even cry.

I was proud of Kevin when he made his decision to join the US Army and serve his country.  I supported him in his decision and encouraged him to do so.  Due to the manner in which the military has handled Kevin’s situation in the past, I would not support any of my relatives who might be considering joining the US Army.

I am convinced that Kevin’s illness was caused by the Anthrax vaccine.  I am also convinced that my son’s case is one of the so-called “confirmed cases”.  This being the case, I urge all members of the committee members to take a close look at the evidence that has been presented to you today, in the past, and any that may be presented to you in the future, and I urge you to recommend that this vaccine be discontinued.

Thank you very much for allowing us to come before you.