Camp Lejeune veterans thank Virginia lawmaker for speaking up for those impacted by toxic waters

ROANOKE, Va. (WSET) — On Thursday, The Children of Camp Lejeune recognized Congressman Ben Cline for his efforts to help veterans who once lived on Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.

Many say that the toxic water at the base has caused serious health problems down the line for folks who used to call it home. During their recognition, they thanked Rep. Cline for voting “yes” on the PACT Act last year that expanded VA health benefits to veterans exposed to toxic chemicals, as those at Camp Lejeune did. After they presented Cline with a plaque, they shared their personal struggles with ABC13 to help shed light on the fact that so many, 900,000 they say, were impacted by the toxic water.

“Camp Lejeune has ruined my life, just like it has many of the other people here,” said Curtis Crawford who was on the base in 1981. He is one of many that are now experiencing health complications, allegedly from that troubled water.

Others have even lost loved ones from medical problems they suffered after living there. Jeff Roberts, who himself now is now dealing with cancer and early on-set Parkinson’s, said his doctor told him that his conditions are related to his time on base in 1985.

“He even put it in his report that it came from the toxic water at Camp Lejeune,” shared Roberts.

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Roberts isn’t the only one in his family to be affected either. He told ABC13 his ex-wife now has cancer, as does his sister. His newborn son didn’t survive after being born there.

“He lived for six months after two brain surgeries,” said Roberts, who finds it hard to cope with the fact that his family has faced these unimaginable challenges.

Jimmy Hollingsworth shared that he and his parents also dealt with medical issues.

“I was born on Camp Lejeune in 1962. When I was born, my kidneys were in the wrong place,” shared Hollingsworth. “It killed my mother in 2007, my dad in 2017, both from the toxic water."

Overall, these veterans say they want to spread awareness for the nearly one million people exposed to the water and hold those responsible accountable.

“The water was polluted, you know, and they didn’t do anything about it,” said William Armentrout. “They should be stand up to for what they done to us."