Combat engineers exposed to deadly mix in Kuwait

"The bottom line is we went there healthy, we came home sick. Who cares what you call it - just take care of us," Louise Richard, a former army medic, told CTV News.

In fact, the report wasn't an examination of the potential causes of soldiers' health issues, but was an investigation of how soldiers who came forward were treated.

"It is clear from our investigation that members of 1 Combat Engineer Regiment discharged their responsibilities with exemplary courage and dedication to duty that demands special recognition," Cote said in the report.

He added: "It troubles me greatly that the legitimate health concerns of these proud veterans were not given the weight and respect that they deserved."

A sizeable portion of the roughly 350 soldiers who participated in the Kuwait mission came forward with health concerns. They were systematically ignored, Cote found.

Our military members need to know, and they need to have firm grounds to believe, that if they go on a mission healthy and return sick, Canada -- their country, their government -- will take care of them," Cote told a press conference.

The investigation included more than 350 interviews, 261 of which were with 1 Combat Engineer Regiment veterans.

Cote has found that the medical files of some soldiers have key pieces of information missing, but he's not sure whether it was removed deliberately or accidentally.

In his report, Cote recommended that the engineers be recognized for their bravery. In one case, Canadian soldiers helped American troops put out a fire in an open-air ammunition depot, rescuing many victims who were exposed to burning ammunition that contained depleted uranium.

The report contains the following recommendations:

* The service of 1 CER personnel in Kuwait deserves formal recognition above and beyond unit recognition;

* The medical files of all 1 CER members who served in Kuwait should contain reference both to service in that theatre and exposure to smoke from burning oil wells;

* DND/CF should create a hot line for a minimum of three months to receive, follow-up on and resolve any outstanding concerns of 1 CER members;

* DND/CF should ensure that it has the ongoing ability to produce complete and accurate lists of all personnel deployed on each mission;

* A form that remains on the medical file of each deployed individual should contain reference to every deployment in which that individual has served;

* The medical file of each deployed individual should contain reference to any environmental exposure he or she has sustained in the course of each deployment;

* Individuals should be encouraged to file Declaration of Injury or Illness Forms (CF98) to record environmental exposures that cause them concern;

* DND/CF should review its current standard questionnaire, CF 2078, with a view to better address occupational health issues;

* DND/CF should take steps to build a culture of trust with respect to environmental exposure and the health of its personnel by implementing the above recommendations and through ongoing and proactive communication.

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