WAND Investigates: Veterans exposed to lethal radiation

DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — Veterans, including some from Illinois, were exposed to lethal radiation at a military base in Nevada. Because their work was classified the VA will not provide them with health benefits even though hundreds of men and women are sick or dying.

WAND Investigates first reported on this story in 2024:

In April of this year, Congressional Democrats held a hearing on toxic exposure at domestic military installations. Among those testifying was Dave Crete of the not-for-profit group The Invisible Enemy.

Crete is among those veterans suffering from a variety of ailments from his service at the Nevada base. The base was the sight of nearly one-thousand nuclear weapons tests from the 1950s until the early 1990’s. He is suffering from lung issues, lumps, tumors, and brain atrophy. Crete told lawmakers he currently has 20 tumors on his body.

“There’s 3 on my thyroid. There’s one in my lungs. I have a brain cyst. I have brain atrophy. The left side of my brain is shrinking and dying,” Crete stated.

Lawmakers hope to bring additional testimony to Congress who help Crete and others exposed to chemicals and radiation at bases around the nation.