Results

The Pentagon created a toll-free hotline to report potential exposure and seek medical screening. As of March 2015, 544 people had called the hotline to report being exposed. In late 2014, the Pentagon formed a group, led by Brad R. Carson, under secretary of the Army, to identify service members potentially exposed to chemical weapons and screen them for care. The group issued guidelines this month that also cover troops exposed to chlorine. Mr. Carson apologized for the military’s mishandling of past cases. The group acknowledged that the Pentagon had previously been notified that more than 800 American troops believed they were exposed, but the Pentagon failed to follow up thoroughly. The services agreed to consider Purple Hearts for those exposed to makeshift bombs made from chemical weapons. Based on this, the Army approved a medal for former Specialist Richard Beasley.