Urban Soldier
Project SHAD: Deception in open waters
Project Shad or Project Shipboard Hazard and Defense, were a succession of Cold War era tests by the U.S. Dept of Defense and other federal agencies. The project was part of a larger effort by the Dept of Defense known as Project 112. Using biological and chemical weapons, these tests took place from 1962 to 1963. Tests were conducted on the open sea in the North Atlantic, open water locations of the Pacific Ocean, and near the Marshall Islands, Hawaii, Baker Island, Puerto Rico and the California coast. As well as land based tests in Alaska, Hawaii, Maryland, Florida, Utah, Georgia, Panama and the UK. Many uninformed U.S. military personnel were exposed to deadly toxins during the testing. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara was directed to strengthen the nation’s chemical program and the result was Project 112, giving rise to the development of chemical weapons like Agent Orange. McNamara was fully informed of these tests. He had approved them. Evidence has been found that shows local governments were involved in these tests as well, but specifics are unclear.
Project Shad’s official purpose was “ …to identify U.S. war ships vulnerabilities to attacks with biological warfare agents and to develop procedures to respond to such attacks while maintaining a war fighting capability”. 134 tests were planned, but only 46 were actually completed. Chemical and biological agents were introduced to unaware military personnel in their vessels. Some of the nerve agents and chemicals included VX nerve gas, Tabun gas, Sarin, Soman and the marker chemicals zinc sulfide, cadmium sulfide and QNB. All done without consent. Today those same military persons feel they have been deeply deceived and betrayed by their own government who used them as guinea pigs. Many may be dead before the complete documents revealing the testing are ever declassified.
Decades later it has been found there were exposures to toxins now known to be connected with Anthrax. Cleaning procedures aboard the vessels would also include using products that contained poisonous decontaminants.
The living survivors of these tests have spoken out, furious that the Pentagon has been quiet about this for so long. Many veterans have debated that the reason for the cover up could be for the Department of Defense to dodge liability. The fact that the veterans are suffering from mysterious cancers even their doctors can’t explain, is causing many to ask questions. It was veteran Jack Alderson who became a whistleblower when he began asking questions about chemical testing he was involved in and its effects on his health and others. This led to a introduction of the bill HR 5954 that would provide health benefits to veterans exposed to chemical agents during the 60s and 70s.
In my research, this is just one of many secret tests that were implemented onto unaware subjects. The bottom line is, that U.S. military servicemen and women give their lives to protect their nation. So the fact that the government has used them as guinea pigs is incredibly unethical and shows complete disregard for our military and there families. It’s time that all of these secrets be declassified, as these brave soldiers deserve at least that.
Robert McNamara (CA, U.S.A. Jun 9th 1916-Jul 6th 2009) (Secretary of Defense Jan 21st 1961-Feb 29th 1968) American business executive ant the eighth Secretary of Defense, serving under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson. Later serving as President of the World Bank from 1968 until 1981. McNamara was responsible for the institution of systems analysis in public policy.
Agent Orange Code name for one of the herbicides and defoliants used by U.S. military as part of its herbicidal warfare program, Operation Ranch Hand during the Vietnam War from 1961 to 1971.
HR 5954 (U.S.A. 2010) A bill that if passed, will provide Veterans Affairs health benefits to veterans who were exposed to biological, chemical or other toxic agents as part of Project 112 and Project SHAD.
Below are images of sailors and their vessels during the secret testing
