Michelle James, who lost her husband to cancer that she believes was caused by contaminated drinking water at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, is among thousands of people with U.S. military connections who did not feel very appreciated this Veterans Day.
The Florida woman is the founder of a website that provides support for widows like her, nearly 400 women still waiting for compensation from the government for the deaths of loved ones who were exposed to toxic chemicals at the North Carolina base decades ago.
“A lot of the widows I’ve spoken to are very, very disheartened,” James said in a phone interview last week. “One of them said her husband served two tours in Vietnam, only to be killed by the Marines he loved. And that kind of sums up how a lot of people feel.”
