thedrifter
04-09-03, 06:56 AM
Article ran : 04/09/2003
Leathernecks receive training to detect agents
By ERIC STEINKOPFF
DAILY NEWS STAFF
When approximately half a unit with the 101st Airborne Division were reportedly sick after discovering a possible chemical weapons storage facility south of Baghdad and it had specialists scrambling to verify the substances.
The leaky barrels found over the weekend were labeled as pesticides. But some in the military speculate that the barrels might have been booby trapped with chemical nerve agents like Sarin or possibly a blister agent like mustard gas.
That would come as no surprise to Camp Lejeune Marines if faced with such a scenario as they advance on Baghdad. During training, learning about nuclear, biological and chemical defense warfare are integral elements. Marines are not only shown how to protect themselves but how to use specially designed paper that tests sites for the presence of nerve agents. It gives a positive reading from pesticides and bug repellents as well.
Both are closely related, said Sgt. James Walters, specialist in nuclear, biological and chemical weapons defense. Walters discussed dealing with weapons of mass destruction during training at Lejeune last month while troops were deploying for war with Iraq.
“The best way to describe a nerve agent is a strong pesticide,” Walters said. “It was discovered by a botanist trying to make a poison to kill insects.”
Walters said German scientist Gerhard Schrader first made the pesticide Tabun to kill leaf lice in 1936, but later discovered that higher concentrations kill people in the same way.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Carlos Tsapelas, nuclear biological and chemical defense officer with the 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, said nerve agents attack all actions of the body.
“Nerve agents block the uptake of acetylocholinestorase so the body begins tightens but can’t relax,” Tsapelas said.
Symptoms include constriction of breathing passages, twitching of some areas of the skin and the pupils pinpoint. The problems become worse, including convulsions and nausea, before death.
“An exposure the size of a pin drop (of Sarin) is a lethal dose,” Walters added.
Walters said each Marine carries three packs of atropine and 2-pralidoxim chloride injections to help them survive until they can get medical attention.
“The first shot (kit) is atropine and the second is ‘2-pan’,” Walters said. “If they are showing severe symptoms they can use two more kits. Medical personnel can (administer) a fourth time if needed, but they have to be watched closely because they can dehydrate.”
Marines are also given a nerve agent antidote pill to fight convulsions that is similar to Valium, Walters said.
In the past Iraqi forces have used a less lethal substance similar to mustard gas that is mixed with the suspected nerve agent. Such toxic cocktails are a trademark of Saddam Hussein’s chemical weapons program in northern Iraq when his forces allegedly used concoctions that caused massive blisters over the entire body to hide the affects of deadly nerve agents.
“Blister agents such as mustard gas were used during World War I,” Walters said. “Saddam Hussein used them in the Iran-Iraq war and against the Kurds in the north very successfully,”
But for each nasty weapon there is also a remedy. The Marines carry a six-pad decontamination kit to carefully blot up any drops of contamination that might touch their skin.
And U.S. forces in Iraq have other anti-chemical measures at their disposal.
Most Marine infantry battalions of about 1,000 people typically have as many as six four-person decontamination teams and there are the six-wheeled armored “Fox” vehicles that can go into a contaminated area while under fire and determine what nuclear, biological or chemical threat is present.
Contact Eric Steinkopff at esteinkopff@jdnews.com or 353-1171, Ext. 236.
http://www.jacksonvilledailynews.com/photo/040903_mattis.jpg
AP Photo
General briefing: Marine Maj. Gen Jim Mattis answers questions at a news conference at the Division 1 main headquarters outside of Baghdad on Tuesday. Mattis talked about reports of chemical weapons along the route to Baghdad, although none had been found yet by the Marines. Mattis also spoke about the use of civilians by Iraqi fighters as cover during firefights with coalition forces.
Sempers,
Roger
Leathernecks receive training to detect agents
By ERIC STEINKOPFF
DAILY NEWS STAFF
When approximately half a unit with the 101st Airborne Division were reportedly sick after discovering a possible chemical weapons storage facility south of Baghdad and it had specialists scrambling to verify the substances.
The leaky barrels found over the weekend were labeled as pesticides. But some in the military speculate that the barrels might have been booby trapped with chemical nerve agents like Sarin or possibly a blister agent like mustard gas.
That would come as no surprise to Camp Lejeune Marines if faced with such a scenario as they advance on Baghdad. During training, learning about nuclear, biological and chemical defense warfare are integral elements. Marines are not only shown how to protect themselves but how to use specially designed paper that tests sites for the presence of nerve agents. It gives a positive reading from pesticides and bug repellents as well.
Both are closely related, said Sgt. James Walters, specialist in nuclear, biological and chemical weapons defense. Walters discussed dealing with weapons of mass destruction during training at Lejeune last month while troops were deploying for war with Iraq.
“The best way to describe a nerve agent is a strong pesticide,” Walters said. “It was discovered by a botanist trying to make a poison to kill insects.”
Walters said German scientist Gerhard Schrader first made the pesticide Tabun to kill leaf lice in 1936, but later discovered that higher concentrations kill people in the same way.
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Carlos Tsapelas, nuclear biological and chemical defense officer with the 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, said nerve agents attack all actions of the body.
“Nerve agents block the uptake of acetylocholinestorase so the body begins tightens but can’t relax,” Tsapelas said.
Symptoms include constriction of breathing passages, twitching of some areas of the skin and the pupils pinpoint. The problems become worse, including convulsions and nausea, before death.
“An exposure the size of a pin drop (of Sarin) is a lethal dose,” Walters added.
Walters said each Marine carries three packs of atropine and 2-pralidoxim chloride injections to help them survive until they can get medical attention.
“The first shot (kit) is atropine and the second is ‘2-pan’,” Walters said. “If they are showing severe symptoms they can use two more kits. Medical personnel can (administer) a fourth time if needed, but they have to be watched closely because they can dehydrate.”
Marines are also given a nerve agent antidote pill to fight convulsions that is similar to Valium, Walters said.
In the past Iraqi forces have used a less lethal substance similar to mustard gas that is mixed with the suspected nerve agent. Such toxic cocktails are a trademark of Saddam Hussein’s chemical weapons program in northern Iraq when his forces allegedly used concoctions that caused massive blisters over the entire body to hide the affects of deadly nerve agents.
“Blister agents such as mustard gas were used during World War I,” Walters said. “Saddam Hussein used them in the Iran-Iraq war and against the Kurds in the north very successfully,”
But for each nasty weapon there is also a remedy. The Marines carry a six-pad decontamination kit to carefully blot up any drops of contamination that might touch their skin.
And U.S. forces in Iraq have other anti-chemical measures at their disposal.
Most Marine infantry battalions of about 1,000 people typically have as many as six four-person decontamination teams and there are the six-wheeled armored “Fox” vehicles that can go into a contaminated area while under fire and determine what nuclear, biological or chemical threat is present.
Contact Eric Steinkopff at esteinkopff@jdnews.com or 353-1171, Ext. 236.
http://www.jacksonvilledailynews.com/photo/040903_mattis.jpg
AP Photo
General briefing: Marine Maj. Gen Jim Mattis answers questions at a news conference at the Division 1 main headquarters outside of Baghdad on Tuesday. Mattis talked about reports of chemical weapons along the route to Baghdad, although none had been found yet by the Marines. Mattis also spoke about the use of civilians by Iraqi fighters as cover during firefights with coalition forces.
Sempers,
Roger