Veterans Post
No Gulf War Syndrome?
By FREDDY GROVES

There is no such thing as Gulf War Syndrome. So says a federally funded report, Gulf War and Health, volume 4.

Instead, officials say, there are a wide range of symptoms, nothing they can point to or isolate as definitely being Gulf Warrelated, no specific cluster of symptoms. This study, done by the National Academy of Sciences at the VA's request, looked at all the medical literature since the Gulf War, hunting for patterns - and finding few.

Thirty percent of those who served in the Gulf (as opposed to 16 percent who were not deployed) are suffering from joint pain, memory loss, chronic fatigue, muscle pain and rashes, though not every affected veteran has every single symptom. There's concern on the part of veterans about cancers and birth defects in their children.

In spite of the lack of a cohesive answer, it's a step toward getting disability benefits for veterans who served in the Gulf and are now ill. For years the government said there was no link to service in the Gulf. Now it will at least admit there was exposure to oil-well smoke and possibly even Sarin, as well as other toxins.

Since many health issues, such as cancer, likely won't show up for years, the study committee recommended further surveillance of veteran health.

To read the report, go to http://veterans.iom.edu/ and click on Gulf War. Look for volume 4.

REMINDER: Operation Gratitude needs holiday cards and letters from veterans right away to go in the 45,000 individual packages that will be sent to military personnel overseas this season. Send to: Operation Gratitude 16444 Refugio Road

Encino, CA 91436

Best bet: Send more than one personalized letter and card in one larger envelope. Don't seal the smaller envelopes, as each letter will be reviewed.

Write to Freddy Groves in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL32853-6475, or send an e-mail to letters.kfws@hearstsc.com.

(c) 2006 King Features Synd., Inc.