New Podcast: A Father Talks About His Quest for Justice at Camp Lejeune

By ANDRE FRANCISCO

For 30 years, Marines and their families at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina used water contaminated with known carcinogens to cook, clean, and bathe. Jerry Ensminger was a drill instructor at Camp Lejeune and his daughter Janey was exposed to the contaminated water during her first trimester. Janey died of leukemia when she was nine years old.

Since finding out that the water at Camp Lejenue may have been connected with his daughter's death, Jerry has been on a quest to learn the truth about Camp Lejeune and to get justice for the contamination victims--as many as one million Marines and their family members, according to some estimates. Jerry's story was recently chronicled in the acclaimed documentary Semper Fi: Always Faithful, which was short-listed this year for an Academy Award.

POGO recently sat down with Jerry to talk about his story and the contamination at Camp Lejeune.

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If you want to do something after listening to the podcast, you can go to POGO's Camp Lejeune Action Center to support Jerry's efforts and find ways you can help. For additional information, you can go to The Few, The Proud, The Forgotten, a website set up for the victims of the contamination.

Andre Francisco is POGO's Online Producer

Follow @andrefrancisco

Photo by POGO's Pam Rutter.

Comments

[ROGER P. HOPE JR.]

I WAS STATION THERE IN 1964. 1967 IT WAS MY MEAIN DUTY STATION. WORK AT BUILING 15 AS A DIS PATCHER FOR THE MED BASE. I HAVE CANCER AND HEART PROMBLES. AFTER DIS CHARGER FROM SER, HAD A DRAUGHTER WITH OPENDSPRIAL OF THE BACK. DIE 4YEARS AGO.

[mark thomas sullivan]

i was stationed all over camp swampy and I have lynphoma my mother who lived there and brother born there both have died my children have mental physical issues wee what about the deaths and taking of quality of life [email protected]

[grover smith]

i was stationed at camp lejune from 1961 to 1963.i have had several medical problems.i have a clam filed since 2008 but have had no sucess.my records are in washington DC for review.I am waiting for a reply. sincerly Grover Smith

[RichMan]

I saw this on television easter weekend. By the time it was over I was angry,afraid, hurt, and let down. I now wonder how much of my medical conditions may have started here. I was stationed at or close by Lejeune from 69 through 73. I remember talks on the base about this and how we were told we were not in any danger. Now I find out we were lied to. My health is going down hill and I have thought it was because I had lived wrong. Maybe not instead maybe I was just another piece of meat to be used and then thrown away.
Not the Marine Cors way. Surender Hell NO....Semper FI

[carol Reom]

It distresses me terribly that the powers that be treat our people, land and water like TP . You use it as long as its useful and you cast it aside. You might as well be an ant for all they care. As long as you give your life to them they are free to use it in any manner and you don't have to be an enlisted person to be used as a guinea pig. Just be an American and they can use Or abuse you.

[William E.Howard]

I at Camp Legeune during those years when the water was contaminated,& I certainly drank the water.I served with H&S Co 10th Marines.