NPR Series: World War II Secret Mustard Gas Testing https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=417162462 An NPR investigation found the VA failed to keep its promise of benefits to thousands of exposed veterans. And revealed previously unknown U.S. military tests that singled out the men by race. en Copyright 2024 NPR - For Personal Use Only Story API Shim 1.2.24 Tue, 15 Apr 2025 20:22:52 -0400 https://media.npr.org/images/podcasts/primary/npr_generic_image_300.jpg?s=200 NPR Series: World War II Secret Mustard Gas Testing https://www.npr.org/series/417162462/world-war-ii-secret-mustard-gas-testing For Veterans Mustard-Gassed In Secret Tests, Help Now Sits On President's Desk More than two years after NPR revealed the U.S. government broke promises to World War II veterans whom it exposed to mustard gas, Congress has passed a bill to help them finally get compensation. Thu, 03 Aug 2017 14:23:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/03/534896928/for-veterans-mustard-gassed-in-secret-tests-help-now-sits-on-presidents-desk https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/08/03/534896928/for-veterans-mustard-gassed-in-secret-tests-help-now-sits-on-presidents-desk

More than two years after NPR revealed the U.S. government broke promises to World War II veterans whom it exposed to mustard gas, Congress has passed a bill to help them finally get compensation.

]]> Colin Dwyer Missouri Senator To Introduce Bill To Help Veterans Exposed To Mustard Gas Many veterans used in secret U.S. military experiments during World War II weren't notified they could apply for compensation. Claire McCaskill's bill calls for a new policy for processing claims. Tue, 31 May 2016 10:35:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/05/31/480131060/missouri-senator-to-introduce-bill-to-help-veterans-exposed-to-mustard-gas https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/05/31/480131060/missouri-senator-to-introduce-bill-to-help-veterans-exposed-to-mustard-gas

Many veterans used in secret U.S. military experiments during World War II weren't notified they could apply for compensation. Claire McCaskill's bill calls for a new policy for processing claims.

]]> Caitlin Dickerson WWII Veteran, Who Fought To Expose Secret Mustard Gas Experiments, Dies Charles Cavell spent decades fighting for VA compensation, even after he and others — who had been sworn to secrecy by the U.S. military — helped bring the testing program to light. He was 89. Mon, 30 May 2016 09:45:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/05/30/479975975/wwii-veteran-who-fought-to-expose-secret-mustard-gas-experiments-dies https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/05/30/479975975/wwii-veteran-who-fought-to-expose-secret-mustard-gas-experiments-dies

Charles Cavell spent decades fighting for VA compensation, even after he and others — who had been sworn to secrecy by the U.S. military — helped bring the testing program to light. He was 89.

(Image credit: Ariel Zambelich)

]]> Caitlin Dickerson Senator Presses VA On Failure To Help Vets Exposed To Mustard Gas In response to an NPR investigation, Sen. Claire McCaskill says the VA has "shown no urgency in addressing 70 years of appalling mistreatment of these men." Fri, 05 Feb 2016 15:37:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2016/02/05/465729436/senator-presses-va-on-failure-to-help-vets-exposed-to-mustard-gas https://www.npr.org/2016/02/05/465729436/senator-presses-va-on-failure-to-help-vets-exposed-to-mustard-gas In response to an NPR investigation, Sen. Claire McCaskill says the VA has "shown no urgency in addressing 70 years of appalling mistreatment of these men."

]]> Caitlin Dickerson Frequently Asked Questions About NPR'S Mustard Gas Database Since publishing NPR's list of troops who were used in these secret experiments, we have received hundreds of emails from veterans and their families. Here are answers to many common questions. Tue, 10 Nov 2015 13:49:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2015/11/10/455461734/how-to-use-nprs-database-of-wwii-vets-exposed-to-mustard-gas https://www.npr.org/2015/11/10/455461734/how-to-use-nprs-database-of-wwii-vets-exposed-to-mustard-gas Since publishing NPR's list of troops who were used in these secret experiments, we have received hundreds of emails from veterans and their families. Here are answers to many common questions.

]]> Caitlin Dickerson Families React To NPR's Reporting Of Secret Mustard Gas Testing The World War II military experiments exposed more than 60,000 American troops. But because the testing was classified, many family members of veterans never learned the details of what happened. Tue, 03 Nov 2015 04:58:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2015/11/03/453962074/families-react-to-nprs-reporting-of-secret-mustard-gas-testing https://www.npr.org/2015/11/03/453962074/families-react-to-nprs-reporting-of-secret-mustard-gas-testing

The World War II military experiments exposed more than 60,000 American troops. But because the testing was classified, many family members of veterans never learned the details of what happened.

]]> Caitlin Dickerson Were You Or Your Relatives Exposed To Mustard Gas? Search Our Database NPR has compiled a database of more than 3,900 American servicemen exposed to mustard gas in secret military experiments during World War II. Tue, 03 Nov 2015 04:53:00 -0500 https://www.npr.org/2015/11/03/443411659/were-you-or-your-relatives-exposed-to-mustard-gas-search-our-database https://www.npr.org/2015/11/03/443411659/were-you-or-your-relatives-exposed-to-mustard-gas-search-our-database

NPR has compiled a database of more than 3,900 American servicemen exposed to mustard gas in secret military experiments during World War II.

]]> Caitlin Dickerson Apology Demanded For Mustard Gas Experiment Subjects Members of Congress have written to the secretary of defense asking him to tell black, Puerto Rican and Japanese-American soldiers that they were unjustly chosen for experiments in WWII. Thu, 23 Jul 2015 18:45:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/07/23/425718462/apology-demanded-for-mustard-gas-experiment-subjects https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/07/23/425718462/apology-demanded-for-mustard-gas-experiment-subjects Members of Congress have written to the secretary of defense asking him to tell black, Puerto Rican and Japanese-American soldiers that they were unjustly chosen for experiments in WWII.

]]> Caitlin Dickerson Can The Agent Orange Act Help Veterans Exposed To Mustard Gas? Just like World War II vets who were exposed to mustard gas during secret chemical testing, Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange had trouble obtaining VA benefits — until they got the law changed. Thu, 16 Jul 2015 05:02:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/2015/07/16/421747453/can-the-agent-orange-act-help-veterans-exposed-to-mustard-gas https://www.npr.org/2015/07/16/421747453/can-the-agent-orange-act-help-veterans-exposed-to-mustard-gas

Just like World War II vets who were exposed to mustard gas during secret chemical testing, Vietnam vets exposed to Agent Orange had trouble obtaining VA benefits — until they got the law changed.

]]> Caitlin Dickerson Senators Call For VA To Explain Why It Couldn't Find Mustard-Gassed Veterans A dozen senators have also called on the Veterans Administration to say why some of the WWII-era troops who were found by an NPR Investigation were denied benefits. Wed, 01 Jul 2015 17:28:00 -0400 https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/07/01/419255992/senators-call-for-va-to-explain-why-it-couldnt-find-mustard-gassed-veterans https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/07/01/419255992/senators-call-for-va-to-explain-why-it-couldnt-find-mustard-gassed-veterans A dozen senators have also called on the Veterans Administration to say why some of the WWII-era troops who were found by an NPR Investigation were denied benefits.

]]> Caitlin Dickerson