European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 22, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Cove Story i y7 a Courtesy Stanley Holecek Stanley Holecek in Northern Iraq alter the wan the smell of fumes or spills were always getting on our hands. A War and pain from the cover fatigue and other problems since returning from the War with Iraq. Whether the maladies resulted from something that happened to Holeck while in the persian Gulf Region he can to say. But a growing awareness of what is being called a Gulf War syndrome led Hole Cek to recently write to Richard Haines of new a Bany ind., an advocate for sick desert storm veterans Holecek said that when he completed Haines Survey he realized that he May have been exposed to a number of potentially unhealthy situations. These included. A a a a a a diesel fuel he spilled or splashed diesel fuel far More often during his iraqi Mountain Mission than in operations in Germany. He had to extend his Arm fully to reach the fuel hoses on the Tanker trucks and if fuel was still in the Hose it would pour Down his Arm. A spills usually did hot occur at his Germany base but they happened in Iraq two or three times out of 10 fill ups he said. In Darmstadt he could quickly Wash off any spill in the scorched iraqi Hills where temperatures reached 115 degrees it would be hours before he could get clean. A the smell of fumes or spills were always getting on our hands a he said of workdays that sometimes lasted 20 hours a sure you took care but on Mission it was a hurry  a a car a chemical agent resistant coating. Before his unit deployed to the persian Gulf War zone he was ordered to paint eight vehicles including his own truck with car paint. He said he and others in his unit expressed concern about spraying car but his sergeant told them to use their military Gas masks. The project lasted More than a week in an open ended quonset hut. A thick Mist of car fumes filled the hut. Hole Cek said that everyone who worked on the project became sick. Although the paint was approved for combat and combat support equipment safety precautions for applying it arc strict. Car Spray painting was restricted to approved facilities with full faceplate masks and suits with separate air supplies pumped into them. Only a few places in Europe were approved by health officials for Spray painting car. Long term exposure to car can cause Perma Nunt lung brain and nervous system damage according to safety officials Short term exposure includes teary eyes and rashes. During operations desert storm and desert shield troops reported that vehicles were often Spray painted with car in the open desert air. A refugee Camps. Holecek worked Side by Side with kurd w to were living in unsanitary conditions. �?o1 once saw thousands of refugees crowded together on an acre of land. They stood in their own human waste a he said. Flics were everywhere and biting everyday. He and his buddies dubbed them a Dinosaur  a water. He took showers twice a Day in Well water that was tested by the army. Still dirt was everywhere and most Days began with a a stand to in a foxhole. A he drank sealed bottled water with the evian Label. I a \ a a ordnance. He drove in the Vicinity about 10 Miles of where demolition units were exploding iraqi munitions storage Sites. A trash fires. His unit regularly burned packaging for res just outside the Camp. Almost everyone in his unit became sick with diarrhoea More than once during their assignment. No one Ever really Krizew Why he said. Today hot cock 24, can to pass his Drivers test without glasses. He wears photo sensitive ones the kind that turn Darker in sunlight because he thought it would help Stop his watering eyes. Also Hoie Ceko a Job depends upon climbing lad dvrs and scaffolding. He left the army in november 1991 and is a maintenance worker and Carpenter for the military Community in Darmstadt. He said his main concern is to know what is causing the dizzy spells. His German doctor could find nothing to account for his symptoms. Holecek said a a in a go to the doctor and he would say that there Wasny to much he could  what is causing his troubles May never be known he said. A i was a truck Driver. I was  danger possible causes of illness for veterans of the persian Gulf War from Richard Haines Survey a had diesel portable Field Heater pot bellied stove that fumed and smoked in sleeping or work tent two weeks or More. A had fuel spills and sprays on arms and body one week or More a had fuel in Shower water for five showers or More Felt Oil film smell and smarting eyes. A had or used Heater in Interior of tracked vehicles 10 Days or More. A got fogged heavily with pesticides three times or More or was around Pesti cider treated equipment three Days or More. A a a / a took anthrax vaccine nerve Pill botulinum toxin Pill. Had reaction. A was near or downwind from blown up iraqi ammunition dump. A helped Bury or dispose of dead animals or livestock. A saw or helped Bury iraqi Soldier corpses. A in or around damaged bombed or a burned tracked vehicles with damaged Ura mum Armor plate three Days or More. A repeated Contact with cup a cleaner lubricant protector a for weapons and Metal cleaning. A exposed to a delousing powder repeatedly two Days or More while tending and caring for pos. A was with a group noticing a faint Green glow emanating from everything the morning of the ground War. A in or around open sewage pools two Days or More. A had boots soaked in fuels two weeks or More. For a Complete Survey of 62 questions and information that he has collected on persian Gulf War illnesses write Richard Haines 4247 Valley Terrace new Albany ind. 47150. Day and night Telephone 812948-9366. Prodigy member number mpxw96a. 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