Daily Hero

Petty Officer Third Class David M. Ponder
(as of Jan. 2001)
David M. Ponder is currently serving time in Pensacola for refusing to take the anthrax vaccine. Ponder was sentenced last week to 60 days and a two-grade, pay-and-rank cut. more

Vance Wasden
Vance Wasden was medically discharged from the Air Force nearly two years after becoming extremely ill upon taking the anthrax vaccine, lot #020. His 23 different conditions have left him, as a young man, walking with a cane. Vance and his wife, Michelle, have traded roles as have many couples where the primary breadwinner has become ill from the vaccine. Vance stays home with the couple's four children, while Michelle holds down a full-time job. They have received VA disability benefits after fighting for them for years.more

Captain Jason M. Nietupski
The following letter requesting help is a comprehensive overview of Jason Nietupski's reactions to the anthrax vaccine and his subsequent search for help. Following this later are two updates on the outcome of his case. April 16, 2001 To Whom It May Concern: My name is Captain Jason M. Nietupski from the 104th Fighter Wing, Massachusetts Air National Guard. I am writing this letter to the Institute of Medicine to explain, for the record, my adverse reactions to the anthrax vaccine, which was directed by the Department of Defense's (DoD) Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program (AVIP). I have served in the US Armed Forces for nearly 6-years with a distinguished military record as both an Active Duty and Reserve officer. In April 2000, I was a member of the 8th US Army, US Army Reserves in Farmington, Michigan when I was deployed to South Korea for a 2-week military exercise. More