In a significant development, recently obtained military records by CBS News have provided insight into the potential causes of rare cancers and illnesses among U.S. servicemembers deployed to an overseas base after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The documents reveal a 2001 PowerPoint presentation compiled by an Army environmental testing team, shedding light on the hazardous conditions at the Karshi-Khanabad air base in Uzbekistan, commonly known as "K2."

The 17 slides in the presentation outline multiple dangers present at the base, including "enriched radioactive material" and significant concerns regarding airborne exposure. The records also cite "severe subsurface soil fuel contamination" that posed a direct health threat to those exposed.

The revelation of these records has been referred to as a "smoking gun" by Mark T. Jackson, an Army Veteran from The Stronghold Freedom Foundation. Jackson expressed how these records contradict previous claims that the hazards at K2 did not exist, stating, "This is what we knew existed...This is what they said never existed. And now we can prove it."

Approximately 15,000 service members passed through the Karshi-Khanabad base, which was used by American Special Operations teams for counterterrorism operations against al Qaeda and the Taliban in Afghanistan. U.S. Army Lt. Gen. (Ret.) John Mulholland, who led Task Force Dagger, confirmed that the base, previously occupied by the Russians, was treated as a "dumping ground."

Mulholland personally called in environmental testing teams after servicemembers fell ill following the construction of a protective dirt barrier around the base. Immediate concerns arose as toxic materials, such as jet fuel, solvents, and depleted and yellowcake uranium, were discovered. The yellowcake uranium was identified by military personnel knowledgeable about such materials.

The suffering of these servicemembers has prompted calls for prioritizing their health and ending extensive studies. Mulholland advocated "erring on the side of the veteran" to provide necessary support. Army veteran Mark T. Jackson, who experienced deteriorating health while stationed at K2, highlighted the profound impact of his health decline, going from being able to run marathons to struggling with basic physical activities.

A 2020 investigation by CBS News previously documented the toxic conditions at the base, including soil contaminated with jet fuel and solvents, as well as warnings about chemical agents and radiation. Despite this evidence, the U.S. government has yet to confirm that these toxic materials at K2 caused illnesses among servicemembers.

The missing information concerning the base has hindered K2 veterans from receiving accurate medical diagnoses and adequate treatment plans. In a bid to obtain records, the Stronghold Freedom Foundation, along with students from Yale Law School, filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government. The lawsuit asserts that the unavailability of critical information has left veterans without the necessary support.

In October, Army veteran Nick Nicholls provided a significant breakthrough by sharing newly uncovered military records related to radiation with Jackson. Nicholls, who was part of the environmental testing team, voiced his shock at the radiation readings and captured them in photographs included in the PowerPoint presentation.

The significance of these records was further emphasized when two certified toxic exposure experts reviewed the newly discovered documents and other declassified government materials. Their assessment confirmed that K2 was a hazardous environment, with the potential for troops to be at risk.

Despite the mounting evidence, the U.S. Department of Defense has consistently rejected claims of yellowcake uranium at the base. When asked about these claims, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh stated that they were not aware of any survey or report confirming the presence of yellowcake at K2 facilities.

The Department of Defense and the Veterans Affairs Administration released statements emphasizing their commitment to veterans' health care, safety, and benefits. They acknowledged ongoing assessments of the health effects on those deployed at K2 and expressed willingness to consider additional information that may emerge.

The struggle for recognition and support continues for veterans like Mark T. Jackson, whose medical conditions have been denied by the VA, despite indications of acute and long-term toxic exposure. As experts continue to study the impact of deployment at K2, the hope is that further research will enable veterans to receive the care and assistance they deserve.

A major study by Johns Hopkins University on K-2 is anticipated later this year, which could potentially shed more light on the health effects of the servicemembers deployed to the overseas base.