Many veterans of the Gulf War have expressed concern that their unexplained illnesses may result from their experiences in that war. In response to veterans’ concerns, the Department of Defense established a task force in June 1995 to investigate those incidents and circumstances relating to possible causes. The Office of the Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense for Gulf War Illnesses assumed responsibility for these investigations on November 12, 1996.

Case Narratives are reports of what we know today about specific events that took place during the Gulf War of 1990 and 1991. This particular case narrative focuses on the analysis of a piece of a Scud missile that a veteran provided to the Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses, and which he reported caused symptoms similar to exposure to certain chemical warfare agents. The narrative was initially published on August 13, 1997. Since that time, the Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses has not received any new information that contradicts the material presented, nor have any additional leads developed to change the narrative’s assessments. Additionally, the Presidential Special Oversight Board for Department of Defense Investigations of Gulf War Chemical and Biological Incidents reviewed the narrative and recommended that the Office of the Special Assistant republish it as final. For this reason, this is a final report. However, if you believe you have information that may change this case narrative, please contact my office by calling:

Bernard Rostker
Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses
US Department of Defense

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