Military Veterans

[brandej]

Are there any Hep C positive veterans out there who received vacinations with the air injector gun while on active duty in the early 1970's or late 1960's?  The veteran population from that time period has a high prevelence of Hepatitis C and some believe that the air injector method of giving vacinations used at that time might be the cause.  I was in the Marine Corps from 70 to 74 and remember being vacinated with this method where we were simply lined up and injected one by one by stepping forward to the injection station.  The air injector gun shot a high pressure pre-measured dose through the skin on the upper arm.  The end of the air gun that touched the arm could not have been sterile as I remember seeing bleeding arms on some after the shot was given.  This has recently been added to the list of risk factors for Hep C.  Comments??

[GBGungy]

I served in the Marines from 1972 through 1974. I also went through what I refer to as the inoculation line by use of the air gun.  Months later deployed overseas, I came down with a severe case of Hep C which I was hospitalized in Okinawa for 3 weeks. Lost 35% of my body weight during this time, constant 24/7 dry heaving, unable to eat or drink. Was fed through I.V. tubes. Woke up in the middle of the night with a nurse sitting at the foot of my bed who stated by order of doctor.  What is the current V.A. policy in 2018 regarding this issue.  The national archive office has been advised and records have been requested. V.A. Benefits office  in Wisconsin who is requesting all medical records says it takes a full year to process any claims.  What's going on with the V.A.?

[jimbo0007]

yes 1972 or 1973 Wurzburg hospital Germany. I was one of several cases where I contacted the disease and quarantined. the cause non sterilized needles used to draw blood. I ran across a report on a congressional investigation many years ago. since then I have not been able to locate it again. anybody know this

[flyinlynn]

Hi jumbo this thread was started in 2001 you might want to start a new thread so more people will see your comments.

I was in Kitzingen 77 to 80 and Bamberg 84 to 88

You sure it was hep C? Most people don’t have symptoms of hep C and  quarantine is usually for hep B. We had some hep B going around in Kitzingen with a few people being quarantined in Wuerzburg hospital in 1985 I believe  

[Lapue]

Yes what's up?

[Lapue]

I unlisted in 1978 and have hep c. They lied and said I told them I was introvines drug user.

[jetinfectors]

jetinfectors.com has information on the risks of military jet injections

[Alnuman]

I was in usar from 71 to 74 and was diagnosed with hep c some years ago. It of course has altered my life regarding many decisions including insurance. This is typical of gov procedure regarding denial..,

[klynn848]

This is probably far fetched since the original post is so old but it is worth a shot! My father served in the Marines from 1971-74 and he has Hepatitis. He was diagnosed some time ago, and is sure it was contracted from the inoculation shot he received while in the Marines. I am doing research for him trying to figure out what needs to be done to give him the correct information and paperwork needed to receive social security disability benefits. Thank you in advance!

Krista

[Dee1956]

I think this is why they are telling everyone born between 1945 and 1965 to be tested.

I got a gama globulin shot in 1977 which I believe had HCV

[Expo81]

I was in the the Army from 81-84 and was vaccinated with the air gun method and as a medic I’ve used these guns. I was diagnosed with hep-C in 2010 with a liver transplant in 2013 due to the Hep-C I’m interested in finding out what is the Geno type most veterans are coming up with mine was 1-B there could be a correlation there.

[Dee1956]

If any of you are still here, please read this.  When they knew

https://asknod.wordpress.com/2015/03/15/jetguns-when-they-really-found-out-the-truth/

[orphanedhawk]

This is an old thread but the subject is not. There are still people discovering they have hep C and were given it via airgun injections while in the military.

Check out this site: http://www.hcvets.com/

[Carlhcv]

Old thread. I didn't know this forum was active back in 2001! When I was a kid we were all injected that way! We all have the scar on our upper arms to show it.

[meana66]

My husband also was in army 1971-1972 korea and also in Germany after that I believe 74-76 he passed away in 2007 from hepc heptacelur carcinoma this was 2-3 months after he was denied sc for hep c by way of air jet gun vacinations. I just received his medical records in2015  waiting for the appeal need new evidence

[Patti_Blue]

I got Hep C 1a genio- type in 1980 from shots given with the air gun. Haven't started treatment yet, and am worried how treatment will be. Think I need to file for a check cause I am too sick to stand much let alone work.

[PhineasT007]

1976 US ARMY still have my shot record with swine flu from 77. yeah one right after the other got it. there was an artical about 5 years ago about this in the READER before I saw that I thought i got it because without my knowledge i must have used drugs at a party and got it. i didn't know about blow-back from the gun and I knew how you got HepC so I was really at a lost on how I got it. but almost 30 years to the day I started feeling weak and not active anylonger and found out why and there also web data on a vet who won. but i tried the VA but they said no. i did not dispute. but i think since it was for hepc and at that time I said chronic hep that maybe a legal issue will allow me to refile with the VA for chronic hepC not just HepC? good luck but i am going into treatment soon and so what they didn't compensate at least they are helping me. PS i got punched in the nose once and i am calling it in under then new battery and sexual abuse act thing. maybe i will get comp and a nose job? good luck fellow vets! 7thCav 5th Bat.

[MsMelissa1974]

My fiancée and his brother joined the Army National Guard back in the 1970's era under the buddy system.  They too remember being air gun injected and blood being everywhere.  The air gun was never sterilized.  My fiancée's brother, needless to say is now deceased because of this unnecessary action.  My fiancée also underwent treatment for Hep C.  We have been doing battle with the VA for approximately eight years now and they deny this ever happened.  We are also trying to obtain an article stating that there was an outbreak and they tell us it doesn't exist.  The article does exist because my fiancée did see it, we just are unable to get our hands on it for proof.  Is anyone aware of this article?

[davey12]

I was inducted into the Air Force on 30Nov70 at Fort Wayne (I believe it was called) in Detroit, Michigan. Same thing, never had multiple sex partners, never shared needles or illegal drugs. Docs found it in Dec 2001, started treatment Feb. 2002. It was 9 months of hell followed by many years of purgatory. My health has sucked since my induction into the A F. It still was a great time, should have stayed in. I remember agent orange vets had to protest and protest to get the help they needed and deserved!!!! Just saying. If anyone has any info or ideas contact me

[scottie24]

13 years ld his thread.  wild.

1986 - 1990. Induction and two overseas deployments, US Army.  Many, many air gun shots, plus bloodwings with my blood brothers.  I remember thinking, "Jeez, did they just give me AIDS?"

I read that the high pressure liquid vaporized blood in the skin, which would often settle just a bit on the tip of the gun to be injected into the next person.  

[radioman51]

I did not contract Hep C from the hydraulic injectors, BUT, am 100 percent certain, I contracted Hepatitis B.  The instruments used for mass injections were not the problem, the corpsmen, medics and any other military and civilian medical person used the injectors improperly - thus creating the perfect opportunity for transmitting tainted blood/body fluids.  No sterilization of the instrument after EACH use, or swabbing the arms.  I can remember as if it was yesterday standing in line with so many other boot camp sailors, watching as many received the pump and walked away with small rips in the skin and blood dripping down their arm.  I also recall asking the corpsman to please sterilize the instrument, his hands and my arm prior to injection.  This was in 1972 at Navy Bootcamp in Orlando, Florida.  I am female but gender made no difference in how the injections were administered.  Within just 2 weeks perhaps a few days more, I developed slight jaundice, high fever , severe fatigue.  I was hospitalized for just a few days with the diagnosis being HEAT exhaustion. Not being medically trained, I went with the diagnosis and finished boot camp on time and went on to retire.  In retrospect, through the last 40 years, my health took some rather odd dips - fatigue, nausea, fever and overall feeling of malaise.  Recuperation usually lasted a couple months before I felt my strength return.  I donated blood shortly after bootcamp, and received a letter from the base Red Cross and base hospital advising me that abnormal results were found in the blood spin after donation.  I was informed by the base hospital I had Australia Antigen B (Hep B), and was treated like a pariah.  Back then, medicine believed Hep B was contracted through needle sharing or exchange of body fluids through unsafe sex.  Knowing I had never used drugs of any sort, and also, had never had a sexual relationship, I thought of the injections.  Fast forward 40 years.  This year in fact, yes, I have had active periods of Hep B, and have been diagnosed with stage one liver cancer/disease.  I do not drink and have not done any drugs and my physical exchanges have been safe.  Now, medicine understands the hydraulic instruments used for mass innoculations for not just the military, but for school children and other large groups have been impacted by the lack of caution used by whomever was doing the inoculation caused many to test positive for Hep B and Hep C and possibly other long term conditions.  

This is a long response, and perhaps not the answer you were looking for, but I feel it is important that others in our situation should understand that Hep C is not the only member of the Hep family that one contracted from tainted instruments.  It takes a micro virus to become infected.  No, I have not asked if this is considered service connected but I will.  Thank you.

[wouldy]

Go to HCVets.com there you will find what you are seeking   good luck ray

[tucker2255]

yes I,m a vietnam Vet with hep-c 1972 -1974 great lakes byron tucker ***@****

[09don]

im a air force vet 21979-1984. im positive with hepc genotype 4 which is mid east asia. I received many airgun shots in the air force. and during boot camp there was a high amount of iran air force at lackland doing English training or something. seems funny that my geno type is from the mid east and I was never near the mid east during my service or at any time. I am presently on chemo meds interferon and ribivron. the va was not helpful when contacted

[PJWms10]

My husband served in the US Army 1969-1972. CA veteran, never went to Vietnam but Germany, honorably discharged. His remembrance of immunizations were a line up and injections one right after the other, same needle and air injections. We've been trying to get VA to take accountability and provide treatment. We have been told that approx.  70% of Vietnam era veterans are Hep C positive. We've received denial and denial from them. Anyone with success?

[JimmyMose]

Sorry to hear you were denied.  Have you gone through any appeals?
No doubt you are aware of this site but just in case or for others in a similar situation who don't
http://www.hcvets.com/

Sometimes local veterans legions or other organizations will help with information or even filing appeals.

It seems to be real hard to get entitlement to service connection for hepatitis C with even with appeals but a few have but many have not.  

I was in army in the late 60's but came down with acute non A non B in 1980 (HEP C now) when I was injecting drugs. So no way could I get service connection.  I immediately stopped sharing needles and related items. Guess I was lucky i got that instead of HIV in 1980 as I know a few drug addicts who dies within the 80's from that. Completely stopped injecting drugs in the early 80's     .

I am low income and receive free medical care from the VA. Now waiting for the VA to approve SOVALDI and Ribavarin to treat my genotype 2a/ 2c.
Who knows maybe one of them got one from the air injection and the other  from the 1980 exposure.

BTW be sure to read the Terms of Use & Privacy  this site auto removes email links that why ***@**** shows in your post.

Wish you the best!

[fryer1959]

I have for some time now have been trying to reach veterans so as to prove that they got diseases through airguns and shots in service.  I was denied due to the most used word in C&P exams (SPECULATION) which I find funny considering the VA states in there web on it that it in theory biologicaly plausible yet denieng claims for the same reason which speculation meas theorys or guesses. my unit in Germany hgad a hep outbreak in Dec 78 and they checked for hepatitis in Jan 79 which I can prove but convincing the VA is another story.
if anyone wishes to contact me feel free to do so at ***@****