Operation Teapot
US Atomic Veterans
John D. Fatino
From: "John and Janelle Fatino" jfatino@positech.net
To: "Keith" pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Service connected disability Operation Teapot
Date: Thu, 12 Oct 2000
Hello,
My name is John D. Fatino and I have been awarded service connected disability of 70% and 30% for a total of 100%. It took some time but I was only awarded backpay to September 1993. We (my attorney and I) have filed a disagreement to get back compensation to 1968 the year of my first claim.
I will give all atomic veterans this advice. Do not, I repeat, do not expect any service organization trained by the VA to be able to handle your claim. It would be like putting a high school football team against a professional football team. The VA denies 100% of all atomic veterans claims several times. Do not give up. They count on veterans to get discouraged. By their own admission, their error factor is 45%. The very first thing to do is write to your congressman and request him to get your medical records from the VA. Then check them over thoroughly. My records were forged, altered and 15 pages were removed. ANY LETTERS OR DOCUMENTS YOU GET FROM THE VA DATE IT. The VA will purposefully not date some documents.
If you would like a copy of my award letter send a SASE to:
John D. Fatino,
RR1 box 25 G,
Preston, MO 65732.
From: "John and Janelle Fatino" jfatino@positech.net
To: "Keith" pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Re: Service connected disability Operation Teapot
Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2000
My memories are much like the others except we went
into ground zero immediately after detonation and looked up into the cloud.
The day before we had toured the area and observed equipment of all types at
different yards from ground zero. The bomb was atop a 500 foot tower
anchored in a 12 foot thick concrete slab. There was a tank at about 300
yards and several vehicles, tanks, cars etc.. After detonation when we
toured the area the tower was gone and still stuck in the concrete were the
four steel posts about 6 foot long and tapered to a melted point and bent
outward. Most of the equipment was gone, evaporated. The tank, still
intact, was moved back 500 yards, you could put your finger through the
steel ash.
One thing all the Marines I have talked to remember this vividly
and everything after that is blurred. One of the reasons for the loss of
memory is the fact we were given Thorazine to calm us down. Thorazine also
erases memory. That night one of the men from my squad was removed from the
tent because of bleeding from his nose and eyes, and ears. I have never
heard or seen him since.
One of the reasons family members do not know
about their atomic veterans relatives. We were all under an oath of secrecy
until 1996. We were under threat of imprisonment if we talked. We could
not even seek treatment at the VA. I have the letter from the Secretary of
Defense William Perry, dated 13 Feb, 1996, releasing me from my oath of
secrecy.
I hope this will help someone.
John D. Fatino
Email: jahneman@ecol.net
From: "John and Janelle Fatino" jfatino@positech.net
To: "Keith" pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Re: Service connected disability Operation Teapot
Date: Fri, 13 Oct 2000
I was awarded 70% PTSD and 30% unemployability. Here is a little known
fact. Only 2% of all atomic veterans are alive today.
I placed an add in
the St. Louis Post Dispatch. You would not believe the information I got
from VARO St. Louis employees about all the BS going on in the VA. They
give bonuses for delaying claims and loosing claims for long periods of
time. Claims are altered and pages are removed. I have proof of this and
have the evidence in my posession.
The government and the FBI will not
investigate. There are claims pending throughout the VA over 20 and 30
years old. Until the veterans and their survivors do something it will not
change. Just check and see what the salary and perks the VA give their
employees. See how many are supplied government paid sex partners when
they are on trips. It is easy to ask the questions through your
congressmen.
Thanks
John D. FatinoOperation Teapot.
Email: jahneman@ecol.net
From: "John and Janelle Fatino" jfatino@positech.net
To: pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Service connected disability
Date: Mon, 27 Sep 1999
I have been awarded service connected disability after 31 years of fighting with the VA. I was back paid for only 6 years. My rating is 50% I will be filling a disagreement for 100%. Any Marine veteran in Operation Teapot has PTSD. That is a fact. No one can be 2,600 yards at detonation and not be affected.
Fact: 58% of W W II veterans are passed
There are less than 1 % of atomic veterans accounted for today. Over 210,000 participated in these insane tests. We are to few in number to be noticed.
My information is that only 5 to 20 Marines are left of 2996 Marines from MCTU # 1 involved in Operation Teapot March 22, 1955.
If you know any Marine from that operation please have him contact me.
John D. Fatino,
RR 1 Box 25 G
Preston, MO 65732
417-722-4762 Phone/Fax
Thank you
John D. FatinoOperation Teapot.
Email: jahneman@ecol.net
From: "John and Janelle Fatino" jfatino@positech.net
To: "Keith" pdxavets@aracnet.com
Subject: Information on John D. Fatino
Date: Thu, 30 Sep 1999
I was involved in Operation Teapot Shot Bee on march 22, 1955. My position was 2,600 yards from ground zero. There were 2,996 Marines in this operation. My company was Charlie Company 1st Battalion, Marine Corps Test Unit # 1.
Today there are less than 10 Marines alive from that operation. Many died by their own hands because of PTSD. No human can live a normal life after being that close to the detonation of a 10 KT atomic bomb.
Today most of the Atomic Veterans are trying to prove the various cancers were caused by radiation. The VA has conceeded that. What the VA knows is that after the diagnosis is found the veteran is dead before benefits can be processed. The service organizations are trained by the VA and have a 45% error factor in all claims, (this is confirmed by Under Secretary of the VA). They are an extention of the VA and now think like the VA, making excuse after excuse and not having enough people to file claims. Sad but true. The service officers mean well but it is like putting a high school football team against the Kansas City Chiefs. ATTORNEYS ARE THE ONLY ANSWER. THAT IS HOW I GOT MINE AND IT ONLY TOOK 3 YEARS AFTER HE GOT IT. I had been fighting it for 31 years. My C-file is close to 2,000 pages. If you want the name of a good attorney who handles only veterans it is
Ken Carpenter
1525 S. Topeka Blvd
Topeka, Kansas 66601-2099
Operation Teapot
Keith Whittle
October 14, 2000