U.S. veterans who were part of the military’s nuclear testing programs or the follow-up to the use of nuclear weapons would be honored by a bill moving through the House.
Representative Bob Bromley (R-Carl Junction) says as many as 400,000 American military personnel were exposed in one way or another to nuclear radiation, but for decades they couldn’t talk about it.
“This was a very classified operation, and the people involved … had to swear an oath of secrecy. They would’ve been charged with treason if they would’ve even mentioned this because it was so secretive,” Bromley told the House Veterans Committee.
Consequently many of these veterans were not compensated for treatments for diseases they developed likely as a result of those nuclear operations.
“A lot of them had developed illnesses. I think 23 different types of cancers have been associated with this,” said Bromley.
He said it’s perhaps difficult to believe now what these military members were expected to do.
House Bill 1652 would designate part of Highway 171 the “Atomic Veterans Memorial Highway.” Bromley said many other states have so honored this group of veterans and its important that Missouri follow suit, especially as so many of them are elderly or have already passed on.
The Veterans committee voted 12-0 to advance the measure. It must go before one more committee and then could be considered by the full House.