This website and our Facebook group were created and are managed by volunteers. We are sick veterans, family members, and civilians who are concerned with the contamination on Fort Ord.

We are thankful to the individuals and organizations like Fort Ord Community Advisory Group and Fort Ord Environmental Justice Network that have been working on Fort Ord contamination for years.

Julie Akey, MA, is a U.S. Army Veteran and graduate of the Defense Language Institute (Arabic). In 2017, Ms. Akey was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma which she linked to drinking contaminated water when living on Fort Ord. She created the Facebook group “Cancer and illnesses from Fort Ord, CA military base” to bring awareness to the contamination on Fort Ord.

Debi Schoenrock is a U.S. Army Veteran. She is Admin, Moderator, and one of the founding members of the Facebook group “Cancer and illnesses from Fort Ord, CA military base”. She is a sick Veteran who lived on Fort Ord.

Wendy Martin is Moderator and one of the founding members of the Facebook group “Cancer and illnesses from Fort Ord, CA military base”. She lived on Fort Ord with her military spouse who died from cancer. Ms. Martin is a cancer survivor.

Tracy Lindquist is Moderator and one of the founding members of the Facebook group “Cancer and illnesses from Fort Ord, CA military base”. She is the spouse of a sick Veteran who has cancer and served on Fort Ord.

Gary Sauer is a 22-year U.S Army Veteran and graduate of the United States Military Academy. In 2018, he was diagnosed with Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia. His first duty assignment was Ft Ord, CA as infantry officer. Upon diagnosis and no family history of any form of cancer, Mr. Sauer’s research on toxic exposure led to his discovery of the extensive contamination at Ft Ord. He joined the Facebook group of veterans and has been an active liaison for the group with Congressional Members and the non-profit Environmental Working Group assisting in the introduction of the VETPFAS Act.

John Haecker is a medically retired Army Environmental Sciences and Preventive Medicine Officer. Currently he is a CA licensed Private Investigator who specializes in medical fraud and abuse. Mr Haecker was the Environmental Sciences Officer for the 7th Infantry Division at Fort Ord from 1982-1984. He continued to work as a civilian safety specialist at the Post Safety Office from 1984-1992. In his capacity as the ESO for the 7th Infantry Division, his enlisted Army Preventive Medicine Technicians were the ones who took the water samples throughout Fort Ord.

Mike Duris, Ph.D, is a retired psychologist and US Army veteran who served at Fort Ord for Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individualized Training (1971 - 1972). Four years ago Mike was diagnosed with an aggressive cancer which he links to toxic exposure at Fort Ord.

Mike Ventimiglia, a Vietnam War Veteran, is sick due to exposure to Agent Orange. He did basic training on Fort Ord in 1967 and is concerned about the documented use of Agent Orange on base. He was a firefighter for 54 years, retiring from the Monterey Fire Department as Division Chief. He served as City Councilmember for 20+ years for the city of Del Rey Oaks, CA. He is a lifetime member of Vietnam Veterans of American National Organization and serves as President of Chapter #1154 “the Fort Ord Memorial Chapter.”

Denise Trabbic-Pointer, MS, is a retired (2019) chemical engineer certified in Hazardous Material Management. As a career environment and occupational health professional, during her 42-year career with DuPont Performance Coatings (later spun-off as Axalta Coating Systems), Ms. Trabbic-Pointer brought awareness to and education of the adverse effects and health impacts of exposure to chemicals in the workplace. Ms. Trabbic-Pointer now volunteers her efforts as a Toxics and Remediation Specialist with the Sierra Club as a technical resource for communities affected by toxic chemicals in air, water and soil.

Dr. Kyle Horton, MD, MBA, is a physician, board certified with the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons (NBPAS). She is the Founder and CEO of the nonprofits, On Your Side Health and On Your Side Action, which are focused on health equity, improving veterans care, and fostering healthier and safer environments. She has successfully advocated alongside veterans and environmental groups for legislation related to toxic exposures, care of female veterans, opiate safety, and suicide prevention to name a few.

Pat Elder, MA, is a research analyst and Director of Military Poisons, an organization that focuses primarily on the U.S. military's use of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS. Pat has authored 300 articles on the subject and has addressed audiences around the world on the dangers inherent in the military's use of these toxins.