Drinking and bathing in gasoline isn’t good yet neither is dumping it into the ocean in the first place. The USS Boxer may serve to protect the world from piracy among many other threats but reports about inexcusable actions from leadership and the lies to cover it up are beginning to emerge. The results of these actions have caused negative health effects for Sailors that serve aboard the USS Boxer (LHD 4) and were exposed to its drinking water. A trend for a branch that rings all too familiar. Related next: Here are the Complicated Rules for Choosing Navy Ship Names

What Type of Ship is the USS Boxer?

USS Boxer is an amphibious assault ship that is part of the Wasp-class of ships within the U.S. Naval fleet. She was launched in 1993 before being commissioned in 1995 where she would traverse the Panama Canal during her journey from Mississippi to San Diego, California. Deployment in the Western Pacific would soon follow in 1997, where the LHD 4 USS Boxer visited various foreign ports. The ship also participated in RIMPAC (Ring of the Pacific) the following year and deployed again in 1998. In 2001, Boxer deployed to the Western Pacific, Persian Gulf, and the Red Sea in support of Operation Southern Watch, visiting several countries before returning to the U.S. shortly after 9/11. Designated as U.S. Navy Ship 4, Boxer is also a part of the Combined Task Force 151 as the literal flagship. The task force is committed to defending against piracy that plagues ships along the coast of Somalia and other nations in the region. If you look up the ship’s past, you’ll notice that there have been numerous examples of incredible service. This has come through humanitarian efforts and support within the U.S. military. Recently, disturbing details have emerged about the ship's command deciding to dump fuel into the ocean, keep it under wraps, and expose those on board to harmful living conditions. Suggested read: Will the Military Drain the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility Successfully?

Alleged Illegal Activity and Missteps

In 2016, the Sailors on the USS Boxer found themselves in a very bad situation. After Sailors were ordered to dump diesel into the ocean, the contaminated water was then accidentally drawn back into the ship’s water system. Several emails further documenting the events have been accidentally destroyed. Making matters worse, the possible deliberate and therefore illegal dumping is also believed to have caused negative health effects for the Veterans that served on the ship. What followed the incident was a denial of wrongdoing that made it difficult for claims to be accepted by the VA from affected service members. The USS Boxer and the USNS Wally Schirra met up off the coast of Japan and Korea to resupply on March 15. This is when the Boxer received around 400,000 gallons of diesel fuel and jet fuel. Afterward, the USS Boxer sailed north into the Sea of Japan before turning west toward the Korean coast. The ship remained within 150 miles of both Korea and Japan throughout the day, well within their economic exclusion zones. According to the ship's log, Machinist Mate Chief Michael Gonzales ordered the Sailors in the oil lab to dump the fuel off the starboard side, which caused concern as the ship's engines were later stopped, potentially causing the fuel to be sucked back in. The exact timing of the fuel dump is unclear. "Once we started feeding from that feeding tank, the entire ship was contaminated. It's in all the lines. It's in everything. You cook with it, you bathe with it. You drink it," said former Machinist Alexander Casto. If fuel is mixed with the water used for creating fresh water on the Boxer, it can contaminate the filtration system. Removing the contaminated water is difficult without affecting the ship's stability, and the water storage tanks were not flushed until two months later during a mid-deployment repair. The crew ran out of bottled water and had to buy drinking water from the ship's store. Delayed acknowledgment of water issues and fuel contamination on Navy ships is not uncommon. Even before a litany of water-related issues for the Navy showed up in recent years, stories harking back to the Cold War era, and everything in-between were already being reported.

Negative Health Effects for Sailors Due to Contaminated Water

Years after the fuel incident, crew members of the USS Boxer continue to suffer from health problems believed to be caused by fuel contamination in the ship's water. Some experience heavy periods and fertility concerns, while others have eye problems, chest pain, and skin issues. Veterans have struggled to receive compensation from the VA due to a lack of documented evidence. The long-term effects of fuel exposure on the human body are not well understood, and Navy policies on fuel contamination are unclear. The crew's loyalty and expectation to endure hardships kept the truth hidden for several years. But clearly, now that the U.S. Navy is admitting that things weren’t all that they seemed to be, what the crew of the USS Boxer went through was unnecessary, avoidable, and inexcusable.

Where is the USS Boxer Now?

While the location of the USS Boxer (LHD 4) can change as duty calls, the homeport of the Wasp-class ship remains at Naval Base San Diego in San Diego, California. This is an important, strategic place for the ship and its crew. Not only does the ship have a history of operating in the Pacific Ocean, but there are also rising concerns in multiple regions throughout Asia that could call for a naval response. But how are Sailors supposed to operate at their fullest capacity when basic necessities aren’t even guaranteed? Furthermore, during a period in which the Navy struggles to recruit new members, it’s going to be that much more difficult when the branch is alleged to have a history of gaslighting and lying to its members. The USS Boxer is far from the exception, but that only adds to the problem. Sailors and anyone else affected by water contamination because of the Navy’s mistakes deserve the truth and support in their ongoing health issues at the bare minimum. Read next: Pearl Harbor Oil Leak Reaches Boiling Point as Pentagon Takes Action