For generations, Hawai’i has stood at the center of the U.S. defense operations in the Pacific, a role reflected in nearly 90,000 veterans who now call the islands home. Yet unknown to many, this legacy masks a harsher reality: drastic repercussions stemming from service-related toxic exposures.
Such an issue has, in fact, been evident in installations like Pearl Harbor Naval Complex, which documented severe contamination due to asbestos and other hazardous chemicals.
Consequently, as exposed individuals eventually battle debilitating illnesses, spouses and parents become primary caregivers – cutting back work hours while facing rising medical and household expenses. Worse, such burdens frequently persist and even intensify after a veteran’s passing.
Recognizing this crisis, the Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) was thereby implemented to extend a monthly payment of $1,699.36 – subject to conditions. However, even this vital program cannot capture the full economic toll left behind. If recognition is to be meaningful, survivor benefits must better reflect the long-term necessities of veterans’ dependents.
Cristina Johnson
Cristina Johnson is an advocate at the Asbestos Ships Organization, a nonprofit that raises awareness of veterans’ exposure to toxic substances. For more info go to: asbestos-ships.com.
