Case Narrative Close-Out Reports are summaries of discontinued investigations into possible exposures of US servicemembers to chemical or biological warfare agents during the Gulf War. The Office of the Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense for Gulf War Illnesses began this investigation of the possible post-war use of chemical warfare agents against civilians by Iraq in response to veterans’ concerns that US forces may have been exposed as a result.

The Presidential Special Oversight Board requested that we provide a summary of this investigation, which we did at a public hearing on September 16, 1999. Based on that summary, the Board concluded that the information obtained to date, the emerging results, and the anticipated outcomes from continued investigation are not likely to improve our understanding of any unexplained illnesses. Consequently, the Presidential Special Oversight Board recommended terminating further investigation. In addition, to bring the investigation to closure, the Board requested that we complete a close-out report to present the data, documentary evidence, and findings compiled during the course of the investigation. The close-out report that follows complies with the Board’s recommendation, but if you believe you have additional information related to possible post-war use of chemical warfare agents by Iraq, please contact my office by calling:

Bernard Rostker
Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses
Department of Defense