Veterans who served at the Nevada Test and Training Range, including near Area 51 in the 80s and 90s, believe they were exposed to radiation during top-secret missions. Their service is unacknowledged by the Department of Defense, hindering their access to healthcare and benefits. Several veterans developed benign tumors, and one DOD contractor experienced severe cancer requiring extensive surgery and now lives on a feeding tube.

These veterans report medical claims are being denied due to data masking – the lack of official records confirming their service. They believe the government was aware of the contamination – including depleted uranium, burilium, and plutonium – but stationed them there anyway. An advocacy group, The Invisible Enemy, has connected over 1,000 veterans reporting similar health issues.

The veterans emphasize they performed important work, including contributing to the end of the Cold War, and deserve recognition and care. The VA currently requires veterans to prove, on a case-by-case basis, that their illnesses are service-related, a difficult task given the masked data. More than 400 names are already on a memorial list, and families are now coming forward with declassified documents detailing the exposure.