Edgewood Arsenal human experiments

The Edgewood Arsenal experiments (also known as Project 112) are said to be related to or part of CIA mind control programs after World War II, like MKULTRA. Journalist Linda Hunt, citing records from the National Archives, revealed that eight German scientists worked at Edgewood under Project Paperclip: see "Secret Agenda: the United States Government, Nazi Scientists and Project Paperclip" St. Martin's Press, 1991; "ABC PrimeTime Live," Operation Paperclip, 1991, and hearings before the House Judiciary Committee, 1991. The experiments were performed at the Edgewood Arsenal, northeast of Baltimore, Maryland, and involved the use of hallucinogens such LSD, THC, and BZ, in addition to biological and chemical agents. Experiments on human subjects utilizing such agents goes back to at least World War I. In the mid-1970s, in the wake of many health claims made from exposure to such agents, including psychotropic and hallucinogenic drugs administered in later experiments, Congress began investigations of misuse of such experiments, and inadequate informed consent given by the soldiers and civilians involved.

The Edgewood experiments took place from approximately 1952-1974 at the Bio Medical Laboratory, which is now known as the U. S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense. The volunteer would spend the weekend on-site. They would perform tests and procedures (math, navigation, following orders, memory and interview) while sober. The volunteer would then be dosed by a scientist and perform the same tests. These tests occurred in the building/hospital under the care of doctors and nurses. At times the tests would be taken outside to study the effects while in the field. For example the volunteer would have to guard a check point while under the influence to see what effects certain drugs had on the patient.

A pamphlet produced by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Health Effects from Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Weapons (Oct. 2003), discusses the Edgewood Arsenal Experiments in some detail:

Renewed interest led to renewed human testing by the Department of Defense (DoD), although ultimately on a much smaller scale. Thus, between 1950 and 1975, about 6,720 soldiers took part in experiments involving exposures to 254 different chemicals, conducted at U.S. Army Laboratories at Edgewood Arsenal, MD (NRC 1982, NRC 1984, NAS 1993). Congressional hearings into these experiments in 1974 and 1975 resulted in disclosures, notification of subjects as to the nature of their chemical exposures, and ultimately to compensation for a few families of subjects who had died during the experiments (NAS 3).

These experiments were conducted primarily to learn how various agents would affect humans (NRC 1982). Other agencies including the CIA and the Special Operations Division of the Department of the Army were also reportedly involved in these studies (NAS 1993). Only a small number of all the experiments done during this period involved mustard agents or Lewisite. Records indicate that between 1955 and 1965, of the 6,720 soldiers tested, only 147 human subjects underwent exposure to mustard agent at Edgewood (NRC 1982).

According to the 1984 NRC review, human experiments at DoD’s Edgewood Arsenal involved about 1,500 subjects who were experimentally exposed to irritant and blister agents including:

• lachrymatory agents, e.g., CN;

• riot control agents, e.g., CS;

• chloropicrin (PS);

• Diphenylaminochlorarsine (DM, Adamsite);

• other ocular and respiratory irritants; and

• mustard agents.

For example, from 1958 to 1973 at least 1,366 human subjects underwent experimental exposure specifically with the riot control agent CS at Edgewood Arsenal (NRC 1984). Of those involved in the experiments:

• 1,073 Subjects were exposed to aerosolized CS;

• 180 Subjects were exposed dermally;

• 82 subjects had both skin applications and aerosol exposures;

and finally

• 31 subjects experienced ocular exposure via direct CS application to their eyes.

Most of these experiments involved tests of protective equipment and of

subjects’ ability to perform military tasks during exposure.

The report cites three earlier studies for its data, namely;

• Veterans at Risk: Health Effects of Mustard Gas and Lewisite
• Possible Long-Term Health Effects of Short-Term Exposure to Chemical Agents, Volume 1, Anticholinesterases, and Anticholinergics. (1982). Commission on Life Sciences. The National Academies Press
• Possible Long-Term Health Effects of Short-Term Exposure To Chemical Agents, Volume 2: Cholinesterase Reactivators, Psychochemicals and Irritants and Vesicants (1984) Commission on Life Sciences. The National Academies Press.

The Veterans Affairs pamphlet, written to aid government clinicians in understanding the presence of various symptoms in presenting patients at their clinics and hospitals, also discusses the use of psychoactive drugs on human subjects:

About 260 subjects were experimentally exposed to various psychochemicals including phencyclidine (PCP), and 10 related synthetic analogs of the active ingredient of cannabis (NRC 1984). The NRC report also mentions human experiments involving exposure of 741 soldiers to LSD (NRC 1984).

The Vanderbilt University Television News Archive has two videos about the experiments, both from a "July 17, 1975 NBC Evening News segment". In one, NBC newsman John Chancellor reports on how Norman Augustine, then-acting Secretary of Army, ordered a probe of Army use of LSD in soldier and civilian experiments. In a separate piece, by reporter Tom Pettit, Major General Lloyd Fellenz, from Edgewood Arsenal, explains how the experiments there were about searching for humane weapons, adding that the use of LSD was unacceptable.

A Washington Post article, dated July 23, 1975, by Bill Richards ("6,940 Took Drugs") reported that a top civilian drug researcher for the Army said a total of 6,940 servicemen had been involved in Army chemical and drug experiments, and that, furthermore, the tests were proceeding at Edgewood Arsenal as of the date of the article. A Government Accounting Office May 2004 report, Chemical and Biological Defense (p. 24), states that there even more victims of the experimental program, a number that may never be completely known:

We also reported that the Army Chemical Corps conducted a classified medical research program for developing incapacitating agents. This program involved testing nerve agents, nerve agent antidotes, psycho chemicals, and irritants. The chemicals were given to volunteer service members at Edgewood Arsenal, Maryland; Dugway Proving Ground, Utah; and Forts Benning, Bragg, and McClellan. In total, Army documents identified 7,120 Army and Air Force personnel who participated in these tests.15 Further, GAO concluded that precise information on the scope and the magnitude of tests involving human subjects was not available, and the exact number of human subjects might never be known.

GAO explains at the outset of their report the rationale for the study:

In the 1962-74 time period, the Department of Defense (DOD) conducted a classified chemical and biological warfare test program —- Project 112 —- that might have exposed service members and civilian personnel to chemical or biological agents. In 2000 the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) began obtaining information from DOD about the program. Concerned that veterans and others might have health problems from exposure during Project 112 and similar DOD tests, Congress required DOD in the 2003 Defense Authorization Act to identify Project 112 tests and personnel potentially exposed—service members and the number of civilian personnel—and other chemical and biological tests that might have exposed service members.

Finally, it appears there were similar experiments conducted at the UK Ministry of Defense establishment at Porton Down, Wiltshire, into at least the 1970s. See the Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives at King's College London.

The Author of this either knows very little about the actual experiments conducted at Edgewood Arsenal, or is one of the apologists that are attempting to deny that the United States Army violated the Nuremberg laws in its treatment of it's own soldiers.

"Volunteers" were enticed to volunteer by providing them additional pay (when soldiers were extremely poorly paid, and additional $45-60 per month was a HUGE incentive). In addition, verbal promises were made that each such volunteer would be given either a "Soldiers Medal" or an "Army Commendation Medal" if the participated in these tests. No such medals were given to any of the participants. Many, but not all, soldiers were told that participation in these tests would result in promotion to a higher rank (not one soldier was promoted as a result of participation).

Volunteers were recruited at their home posts, and were promised the additional pay, medals, promotions, a 4 day work week with a 3 day pass every weekend, very light duty, and were told that they would be testing equipment and defenses against possible attacks by the enemy. Potential volunteers were screened at their home post, and were later given orders to report to Edgewood Arsenal for temporary duty. Approximately 1 out of 30-40 potential volunteers was actually picked to become Medical Volunteers. It should be noted that the vast majority of those picked were both in better physical condition that the average soldier, and were significantly more intelligent than the average soldier.

Once you arrived at Edgewood Arsenal, you were briefed on the process (in late 1968 and later, soldiers were given a "Handbook". Prior to that, no written materials of any kind were distributed). You were verbally informed that some of the tests might be hazardous, but that experienced and highly qualified medical teams were standing by and that you would be pulled out of any situation before any permanent damage could occur. A very brief mention was made that some of the tests might have a "slight" effect on your ability to think and perceive things around you. The group were then asked to sign a very generalized release form. That was the ONLY release that anyone signed.

We were also told, in no uncertain terms, that everything about Edgewood Arsenal and our participation in testing was highly classified. We were informed that we could NEVER discuss with anyone our participation in testing, anything that happened in testing, anything about the test procedures, the physical layout of the test center or any of the personnel assigned to the test center with anyone, military or civilian. We were informed that if we EVER disclosed anything about this, even after being discharged from the US Army, we would be prosecuted to the maximum extent of the law. As one of the personnel said, "I don't think telling stories to your grandchildren about this place would be worth the 40 years in Leavenworth that it would bring you."

At no time were any of the volunteers informed of what was being tested on them, and that includes at the moment of the actual tests. We were not asked to sign any other forms, we were not given any verbal information about what the test consisted of, we were just ordered to report and the tests were done.

There was "followup" done on each volunteer while they were at Edgewood Arsenal. But, since the vast majority of volunteers were only there 60 days or less, this was a joke. There was absolutely NO attempt to ever follow any Edgewood Volunteers after they left Edgewood Arsenal. None, no medical followup, no psychological followup, nothing at all. Those soldiers were simply abandoned.

In the early 1980's, many of those volunteers received a packet of material from the National Academies, purporting to be following up on the Chemical Testing Done at Edgewood Arsenal. There was no form enclosed that released us from the Oath of Secrecy that we had signed however. As a result, the majority of those that responded at all, denied any problems, denied anything that might bring any attention to themselves, and some (like myself) denied ever being there.

We were all cognizant of the extreme oath of secrecy they had taken at Edgewood Arsenal, and all too many of us saw this as a blatant attempt to get us to violate that oath. That was the ONLY attempt that was ever made to follow-up on those test subjects.

It was not until many years later that the Secretary of Defense lifted the prohibition on speaking to anyone about what happened at Edgewood Arsenal. However, it is interesting that this was only totally lifted fro those who had been at Edgewood Arsenal prior to 1968. Those that were there from 1968-1975, when testing ceased (after publicity that it was going on) are still enjoined from discussing what happened there to enyone but military and Department of Veterans Affairs personnel.

The United States Army exposed thousands of soldiers to LSD, PCP, and a host of other psychoactive drugs. The Army Physician in Charge of that testing for over 10 years has written a book, in which he recounts the many amusing behaviors and utterances that the test subjects had while under the influence of the drugs that he and his staff were administering.

It is interesting that the United States Army denies that there are any long term effects of psychoactive drugs. They are the ONLY entity in the world that denies that LSD, PCP and other psychoactive drugs can (and do) have serious long term effects, including flashbacks, nightmares, and all of the symptoms of PTSD. It is also interesting that the Department of Veterans Affairs simply refuses to provide any service connected disability rating to veterans that claim damage caused by the testing program at Edgewood Arsenal. They will provide treatment, free of charge, but deny that any lasting effects could possibly have caused any damage to the individual.

But, pray tell, why would such persons require treatment for the effects of what happened to them at Edgewood Arsenal, if they suffered no lasting damage?