European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - May 22, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                When the sickness by Cindy k1lli0n Washington Bureau Ina Brown is sure of two things her husband Dan an army reservist is sick \ with something he encountered in the persian Gulf and whatever that Quot something is she has it too. V the same goes for Nan Corple. Her husband Joe a former Marine has symptoms identical to Danes and Nan a physical health mimics Gina a. That a what the two women have in common a an undiagnosed illness of headaches rashes aching joints and overwhelming fatigue a the kind of tired that no amount of rest can diminish. What binds them together arc their shared experiences and what they see happening to their husbands their children arid themselves. Until six months ago the two women did no to even know each other. There was no reason their husbands were in different branches of the service. Although both men served in the persian Gulf War Dan Brown spent his time patrolling the main Supply routes in Northern saudi Arabia while Joe Corple moved throughout the Region to eventually land on the North Side of Kuwait City. It Wasny to until Joe left the Marine corps and the couple moved to Nan a Hometown in East Liverpool Ohio that the women met at a regional support group for veterans afflicted with what is dubbed the Quot persian Gulf  the two have made two trips to Washington in the past month to further their cause. First they attended a three Day conference the last week of april at the National  of health on the possible causes of the syndrome. A week later they sat in the conference room of the Senate veterans affairs committee to. Hear testimony from those afflicted. They both now have some Hope that a crack has formed in what they see As a dam of bureaucratic rules medical incompetence and an uncaring attitude in the government medical Community. The Way they figure it that dam has kept their husbands and themselves from getting the right medical care for the past three years. Corple says she a relieved that medical experts in the departments of defense and veterans affairs agree that there a something to the syndrome a that the veterans Are sick As a result of wartime service. But Brown said she a disheartened since Many theories abound on the cause parasites bacteria viruses Post traumatic stress exposure to Industrial chemicals or chemical weapons exposure to biological warfare agents. With so Many possibilities help. Appears to be a Long time coming. Quot  i knew something was wrong with Joe As soon As he stepped off the plane in september 1091,�?� Brown said. A a we a been married 13 years so i knew All his ins and outs. We were so close that we used to finish each others  within three months she said Quot we both knew sometime was terribly wrong. Physically and emotionally he Wasny to the same  his symptoms Are like most who have the syndrome. A a his night sweats Are so bad that his Side of the bed is sopping wet each morning a she said a then there Are the headaches muscle aches no emotions except for Black rages fatigue. The list goes  a. Brown said when the troops were first warned of leishmaniasis a parasitic infection transmitted to humans through Sand Flea bites her husband wrote and asked her to find out everything she could about it. She researched and made Calls until she was Quot probably As Well read on the subject As  her research told her that the parasite can be transmitted sexually and that using a condom was 82nd airborne troops train in saudi Arabia against a possible chemical attack in August 1990. Recommended. A but when Joe came Home i made the decision not to ask him to Wear one i believed it would be psychologically damaging for him to think he was diseased.  v Quot a i thought i made the logical Choice a she said a but now i think it was the wrong  within weeks after her husband returned Brown said her continuing Battle began with yeast infections and vaginal burning a which is something i have never experienced before. Nothing helps. Nothing will make it go away  she has itching and burning with any skin to skin Contact. A at night he will sleep with the Arm Over me and where his Arm touches me i break out in an itchy rash a she said. A but almost As soon As he takes his Arm away the rash goes away too a Corple a experience is the same a no problems until her husband came Home. A for two years i made excuses a she said. A my line was a Honey i must be at Eric to you so we could laugh about  a a is amps Cindy Kidron Nan Corple and Gina Brown in  said her husband now wears a condom a which helps some Quot but she believes the damage has already been done. Quot i never had cold sores or sties before but now they re common a she said. A and i can to Wear make up anymore because it makes me break out a in addition to the yeast infections she said she Breaks out in rashes on the inside of her legs from her Knees to her Pelvis and her menstrual periods Are agony. A a we re told that if you pass a clot that s bigger than a Quarter you should see a doctor a she said. A a in a passing clots the size of my fist.�?�. Joe Corple does no to have insurance with his Job in Road construction but he makes too much Money for the family to qualify for free or reduced medical care at a government run clinic. A so i can to go to an gynaecologist a Nan said. A a there a just no  Brown said she s convinced that a a there a something in their bodies that has been passed to us. There Are just too Many spouses and children having the same  the classic symptoms Are also Starling in both a women. A a. A now i know How Joe a headaches Feci a Brown said. A they can go on for Days and nothing will get. Rid of them. A i look at some of the vets that now have to walk with canes or arc in wheelchairs and i wonder is this where Joe will be in a year. Is this where ill be a a 7 a a a a a a a a a a. Unexplained rashes have started in their four children. Quot a a a a a a a a a awhile ago my youngest son got what i thought was ringworm a Gina Brown said. A so i took him to the doctor but the doctor said it Wasny to ringworm. Head never seen anything like it and did no to know what it  soon Brown her sister had come for a visit and two other children had the round spots with Clear centers Quot a. A. Y. A a. A. A it Wasny to until was at a support group meeting and someone mentioned their kids a bulls Eye rash that i made the connection Quot Brown said a i asked around and a lot of families said they a had it  she said it took four or five months for her family a rashes cleared. Brown said she a frustrated with the a system a unless a Veteran is Given a 30 percent disability rating his family cannot get Nedical care. So most Young families Are just barely getting by financially which in turn is causing marriages and families to break  How is she coping a you just walk around constantly holding your breath wondering and waiting for the next problem to hit.�?�. May 22, 1994 sunday Page 5