Below is the diagnosis, made by Col. Michael Dunn, of the chemcial warfare
agent mustard injury of PFC David Fisher. I don't recall which site I found this at, I do
appreciate being able to repost it here.
Medical Diagnosis of PFC David A. Fisher, U.S. Army, 3/5/91
Editor's Note: This information was obtained by the Gulf War Veterans of Georgia through Freedom of Information requests and the cooperation of other Gulf War veterans. The information presented here was transcribed verbatim from the documentation and has not been edited or altered in any way.
} SENATE {
U.S. Chemical and Biological Warfare-Related Dual Use Exports to Iraq and Their Possible Impact on the Health Consequences of the Persian Gulf War Committee Staff Report (No. 3) TO Chairman Donald W. Riegle, Jr. OF THE Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs WITH RESPECT TO Export Administration: CHEMICAL WAR AGENT IDENTIFICATION, CHEMICAL INJURIES AND OTHER FINDINGS United States Senate October 7, 1994Sgrd-Uv-Za
5 March 91 Annex I Information Paper Chemical
Agent Exposure Operation Desert Storm
1. PFC David Allen Fisher, [deleted ss#], is assigned to Scout Platoon, HHT, 4/8 Cavalry, 2nd Bde, 3d Armored Division, as a cavalry scout, MOS 19D. His exposure to mustard liquid occurred on 1 March 91 on the objective of 4/8 Cav in northwestern Kuwait (grid reference reported separate by LTC Adams, 3AD Chemical Officer). PFC Fisher's mission on 1 March included exploring enemy bunker complexes for intelligence material and personnel , and demolition of enemy fighting vehicles. On that date he wore Nomex tanker coveralls and a ballistic protective vest. While exploring numerous bunkers he remembers coming into contact with many surfaces in tight passages, resulting in the soiling of his clothing and equipment. He participated in demolition of ZSU-23 antiaircraft systems, BRDM vehicles, and T-55 tanks only. He specifically states that he was not in contact with tube or rocket field artillery systems.
2. PFC Fisher completed his mission at about 1700 on 1 March, returned to his platoon area, and experienced no symptoms for 8 hours until he started radio watch at 010 on 2 March. At that time he felt stinging pain on the skin of his left upper arm, saw that the skin had a red sunburned appearance without blisters, and thought that it felt like a spider bite. He slept from 0300 to 0400, woke for stand-to, and felt more stinging pain on his arm. At this time there were blisters on the upper arm and more reddened skin on the lower arm. At 0800 his company medic checked him, thought he might have a heater burn, and had him return at 1600, when more blisters had formed on the lower arm. At that time he was seen by CW3 Ahmed and CW3 Wildhelm at the 4/8 Cav aid station. They suspected he might be a blister agent casualty, decontaminated him with 0.5% chlorine solution, applied a local dressing and evacuated him to C Co., 45th support Battalion. During evaluation, they were assisted by chemical personnel who monitored PFC Fisher's clothing and equipment with the spectrometer of a Fox NBC recon vehicle. Initial readings of soiled areas of clothing have weak positive spectra suggesting possible lewisite or phosgene oxide contamination. A later reading of a soiled area of the left upper shoulder pad of the ballistic vest have a strongly positive reading for HQ, a mustard compound. A subsequent Fox survey of the bunker complex was positive for mustard, HD.
3. At C Co. 45th Support Bn, PFC Fisher was treated by MAJ DuClaw, who confirmed the clinical diagnosis of Blister agent exposure, photographed the blisters, applied a topical antibiotic and gauze dressing, and returned him to duty with follow-up at his unit. PFC Fisher remains in fill duty status. I examined him and interviewed CW3 Ahmed and CW3 Weidhelm on 3 March at 1100. PFC Fisher had two blisters, about 2 cm diameter, in the lateral left forearm, each surrounded by a narrow margin of erythema. The roof of one upper arm blister had broken and the other three remained fluid-filled. PFC Fisher felt fine except for mild local pain that did not interfere with his duty performance. The skin area was photographed and a urine sample was saved in preservative for later analysis for thiodiglycol, a mustard breakdown product. Fox spectra printouts and samples of the coverall sleeve and ballistic vest were retained by 3AD chemical personnel for transport and analysis via technical intelligence channels.
4. I Conclude that PFC Fisher's skin injury was caused by exposure to liquid mustard chemical warfare agent. The complete sequence of events is consistent with this conclusion. In particular, the latent period of 8 hours between exposure and first symptoms is characteristic of mustard [gas] exposure. No other corrosive or skin-toxic chemical compound that could reasonably be expected to have been present in the battlefield shows this latent period. The confirmatory Fox spectra findings are also consistent. It seems more likely that PFC Fisher's exposure occurred during bunker exploration rather than during vehicle demolition because of the positive Fox result in the bunker complex and the lack of established chemical capability of the vehicle types he encountered. MAJ DuClaw, CW3 Wildhelm, and CQ3 Ahmed are all recent graduates of the Medical Management of Chemical Casualties Course. Their accurate diagnosis and appropriate decontamination and treatment procedures reflect well on their professional capability.
Prepared and authenticated by COL Michael A. Dunn