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Taking on the Military

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A retired Green Bay Marine is fighting for those who got sick from toxic water at a North Carolina base.

Allen Menard knows a thing or two about combat.   He served as a Marine and fought a deadly cancer into remission, but his toughest war may be against those who readied him for battle.

"When we served we were faithful.  Where is their faithfulness to us?  Because we're suffering."

It's a question Allen has been asking ever since last year when the military sent him a letter saying he and his family may have been exposed to harmful chemicals during his time at Camp Lejeune.  There were reportedly toxins in the North Carolina base's water supply for decades.

"We both were shocked that this could possibly be what caused his cancer," said Allen's wife Debbie.

A doctor confirmed his Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma was most likely from chemicals in the Camp's water.   Allen petitioned the VA for disability and was turned down.

"They acknowledged the cancer is from Camp Lejeune but would not pay for his past medical bills," recalled Debbie.

After months of paperwork the VA threw Allen a bone.

"If it comes back I'll be taken care of."

The Menard's say it's not enough for them and the thousands of other service people and their families who are dealing with deadly diseases, deformities and cancers, thought to be from the toxic water.  

"Down the line we don't know if something will come up with my daughter. I was pregnant with [her] at the time," said Debbie.

It's why they're pushing for a new bill called the "Caring for Camp Lejeune Veterans Act."  It is co-sponsored by Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI) who helped Allen get VA benefits.  

Senator Feingold told NBC26 the bill is to, "ensure veterans and their families who become ill as the likely result of exposure to contaminated drinking water at Camp Lejeune receive the care they deserve from the VA."

Allen is confident it will eventually pass.  "We're making a lot of progress on it and I'm confident that we're gonna win out."

For more information on the bill and victims of Camp Lejeune visit:

The Few, The Proud, The Forgotten at http://www.tftptf.com/

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