Leo Case was a World War II tank commander who survived the battle of Iwo Jima and risked his life to save his crew during a clash in the South Pacific. Unfortunately, he died of multiple cancers at the age of 58. His granddaughter, Jessie Hoerman, took on the mission to prove that his illnesses were caused by exposure to a contaminated water supply at Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps training facility in North Carolina. She has gathered a significant archive of records that she believes could help other veterans and their families with similar water contamination cases.
Camp Lejeune was the site of one of the largest water contamination cases in U.S. history, with up to 1 million people potentially exposed to chemicals in the drinking water from 1953 to 1987. The contamination was linked to severe health problems including cardiac defects and various cancers. Leo Case, who was stationed at Camp Lejeune after his service in World War II, died of bowel, colon, liver, and lung cancer in 1976.
Hoerman has been collecting documents from eBay, antique stores, and national archives to build a collection of Camp Lejeune materials that she plans to share with other affected veterans and their families. With the recent expansion of benefits for veterans exposed to toxic substances, she hopes to raise awareness and support for those affected by contamination at Camp Lejeune and other military installations.
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