I am a civilian who worked for Armtec Defense in Coachella California who is contracted by the government.There I made casings for 120mm shell which were used in Desert Storm. I started working there in 1992 and was only able to work there for 1 month. The very first day I started I came home feeling sore, but thought nothing of it. A couple of weeks later I couldn't lift up my arms to dress myself so I continued going to work until one day When I came home and collapsed my wife found me and rushed me to the hospital, but there they could not figure out what was wrong with me. During this time the lady from the personnal office at Armtec called me and sked me to resign from the job,and assured me that I would get my job back when i was better. Yeah Right... My wife had requested a list of their chemicals and they said they coul not give us anything .after being hospitalized at Riverside General for 1 month I applied for workmans Comp. and they denied me, and supposubly lost my files there. I had to learn how to walk again, I could not feed myself, dress myself, care for myself, or be a daddy to my 3 year old daughter who is now 12 years old. I am diagnosed with Dermatomyosities (muscle Disease) I have had relapses and back into the hospital and it is awful to live with I am permanatly
disabled and I receive Social Secuity and I'm only 30 years old. I dont live a normal life like all other 30 year olds and have not been normal for 10 years now. I was a very active person before all this it is very difficult for me to do certain things and I'm frustrated with it all. I numberous of symptoms like the vets and I'm sure they came from Armtec they started using some new chemical the year I worked there and were excited to see the outcome, but did they know they were going to infect their own people... I take percriptions everyday and will be taking them everyday for who knows how long. I visit my dr. on a regular basis I see a Reumatoid Arthrytis dr and I am very thankful for him. I now have 4 daughters and notice differnt things wrong with them anyone with any info please post message.Thank You

[This message has been edited by Disabled daddy of 4 (edited 12-30-2002).]