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Navy ship poisoned its crew
The USS Boxer, a US Navy ship, compromised its own water supply, leading to an even more toxic environment for its crew back in 2016. The incident, previously undisclosed by the Navy, has left some veterans struggling for years with health issues related to the contamination.
The USS Boxer encountered a pungent smell of diesel fuel in March 2016 during a resupply mission. It was later discovered that the crew had intentionally and potentially illegally dumped diesel fuel into the ocean, only to reintroduce the toxic liquid back into the ship’s water supply.
The Navy denied the existence of any official documentation regarding the incident, but eventually acknowledged the water contamination and took immediate measures to restrict access to the ship’s potable water. After a thorough flush and inspection of the system, fresh water was restored.
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The long-term health effects of fuel consumption or prolonged contact with fuel-contaminated water are uncertain, but research suggests that exposure to petroleum products can lead to kidney damage, central nervous system symptoms, and potential long-term issues like cancer.
Veterans who were exposed to the toxic water continue to suffer from various health problems, including gastrointestinal issues, skin rashes, burns, and other ailments. Some have experienced severe conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, excessive menstrual bleeding, lung cysts, and rare forms of lung cancer.
Former crew members allege that disclosing such illegal activities would have resulted in severe consequences for those involved. Captain Michael Ruth, the Boxer’s commanding officer at the time, did not respond to inquiries regarding the incident, while other key personnel declined to be interviewed or provide comments.
The Boxer Amphibious Ready Group’s flagship dumped a significant amount of fuel into the sea, raising concerns about potential water contamination. Machinist’s Mate Chief Michael Gonzales ordered sailors to dump the fuel off the starboard side, but the bridge issued an “all stop” order, leading to stagnant waters and contamination of the ship’s water supply.
Crew members of the Navy ship revealed that the contaminated water was used for cooking, bathing, and drinking. Documents obtained show that fuel had entered the USS Boxer’s water supply, and an email from the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit instructed the crew to consume bottled water instead. Aaron Rawlings made copies of the email and placed them in each Marine’s medical file, but it remains unclear how the oil lab would have accounted for the sudden drop in fuel.
