January 25, 2000
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
Native American Vet to Ride Wheelchair to State Capital in Protest
to Gulf War
In March one veteran is going to ride over 200 miles in his wheelchair,
from Moorhead to the capital of Minnesota, St. Paul to demand answers about Gulf War
Illness. Currently there are 186 thousand vets registered with symptoms of the gulf war
illness and thousands have died. Since the Gulf War information has been obtained that
proves that there are many unanswered questions and the government is withholding the
answers.
My name is Kevin R. Shores. I am a Native American that served in the
Navy from September 1985 though May 1988. During my enlistment, I was given
many inoculations, presuming as preventative measures. I was stationed on the
USS Fox CG-33. We were the first ship, sent into the gulf after a missile hit the USS
Stark. After receiving an Honorable Discharge, I returned to Minnesota. Within a couple of
years I began to notice health problems, muscle aches, joint stiffness, night sweats,
major weight loss (70 Pounds), uncontrollable muscle twitching, chronic fatigue, loss of
vision in my left eye and many other symptoms. I went to the Veterans administration
hospital to find out what was wrong with me. They labeled it rheumatoid variant disease,
which is basically an acute arthritic condition in younger people. I then followed their
regiment of medications to assist my condition. However, nothing helped and my condition
worsened. Within three years I found myself confined to a wheelchair. I can walk with
canes but only for short distances.
In 1997, I was introduced to the American Gulf War Veterans
Association, http://www.gulfwarvets.com/. With their help, I learned of the cover up that
was initiated by our Government. They are with holding important information from me,
thousands of other vets and the general public concerning the gulf war. Currently 186,000
vets have registered with the gulf war illness and over 20,000 have died.
I have not been given adequate answers as to why we, my fellow vets and
I, are sick. In search of the answers, I am going to ride my wheelchair from Moorhead,
Minnesota to the capital located in St. Paul, where I will demand the truth. This trip is
roughly 250 miles and will take 6-8 days. I know that I will not be able to accomplish
this protest alone, so I am calling on you, my fellow Americans, to assist me. I will need
emotional, spiritual and financial support.
If you feel you can help me please contact me at email, nindoogitchidaa@aol.com.
Please forward this to all that you can.
May the creator watch over us all?
Miigwetch (thank you)
Kevin Richard Shores