EDGEWOOD ARSENAL: WHEN THE ARMY DRUGGED SOLDIERS LIKE GUINEA PIGS


By bblouin
The inside of Edgewood Arsenal.

Remember when the Nazis committed terrible human experiments on their prisoners? Remember how many of those scientists were sent to the United States to escape their fates in Europe? Well, the Army sure doesn’t want you to because then you might start remembering how they used those same people at Edgewood Arsenal. In a dark period of history for the Army, there was a two-decade period where the Edgewood experiments tested Soldiers by drugging them with numerous substances without their consent or the care for their well-being.

Where Is Edgewood Arsenal?

You can find Edgewood Arsenal in Aberdeen, Maryland, located on the southwestern portion of the Aberdeen Proving Ground.Originally, the facility was a classified location within Harford County. It would become known for holding and maintaining chemical and biological weapon programs for the United States, along with heinous human experiments on Soldiers.

The Horrors of the Edgewood Arsenal Experiments

The Edgewood Arsenal human experiments took place between 1955 and 1975. They occurred at a classified US Army facility, exposing around 7,000 Soldiers to more than 250 chemicals.Many of those administering the experiments at Edgewood Arsenal under the direction of Dr. James Ketchum, who had ties to Nazi Germany. Additionally, they were already aware of unethical, experimental health studies.Soldiers were exposed to drugs, chemical warfare agents, and a number of substances to test their effects, evaluate protective measures, and ultimately, to find a way to incapacitate humans. However, some Soldiers were simply given placebos.Exposure levels were initially based on known safe limits from animal studies, and volunteers received minimal treatment for adverse effects if needed.Additional chemical agent testing occurred outside the official program from 1951 to 1972, primarily in 1959, known as the Medical Research Volunteer Program.While some tests involved nerve agents, irritants, and hallucinogens, some participants were involved in non-chemical performance and equipment tests.Even though Soldiers were allowed to volunteer, the complete nature of the experiments, including what they were being exposed to, how much, the effects they would experience, and the healthcare, or lack thereof, was not explicitly laid out for those who were a part of these experiments.Some of the agents Soldiers were exposed to during their time at Edgewood Arsenal, include:

  • Alcohol and caffeine
  • Anticholinesterase nerve agents (e.g., sarin and common organophosphorus (OP), and carbamate pesticides)
  • Incapacitating agents (e.g. BZ (2-quinuclidinyl benzilate))
  • Irritants and riot control agents
  • Mustard agents
  • Nerve agent antidotes atropine and scopolamine
  • Nerve agent reactivators (e.g., the common OP antidote 2-PAM chloride)
  • Psychoactive agents (ex., LSD, PCP, and cannabinoids)

Health Effects and Benefits for Veterans

Those exposed to the U.S. military experiments on Soldiers at the Edgewood Arsenal shouldn’t expect much in the form of care or compensation.Unfortunately, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) didn’t include long-term care or follow-up as a part of its plan.Today, it’s hard to say what the exact lingering effects from those tests would be because of the passage of time, and the fact that no system of care has been put into place.Some physical and even long-term psychological effects developed as a result of the experiments, and the aftermath of the Edgewood Arsenal experiments may never be known.Veterans can speak to their VA healthcare provider; however, there isn’t an official environmental health registry connected to these events.

Dr. Delirium and the Edgewood Experiments

Since 2019, Dr. James Ketchum has passed away. But, his story lives on in more ways than one.The documentary Dr. Delirium and the Edgewood Experiments explores the shocking acts behind the DoD, Dr. Ketchum, and his crew.This isn’t some conspiracy theory exposé nor is it a movie based on true events, stylized for entertainment.Before his death, Dr. Ketchum was interviewed by director and executive producer Nick Brigden, and would explain his role in everything.Most disturbingly of all, Ketchum shows no remorse and believes that what he did was a good thing. This is despite the backlash that would come after the truth came out.If you’re looking to stream Dr. Delirium and the Edgewood Experiments, you can do so on Discovery Plus or Max.

Edgewood Arsenal Today

Thankfully, the weird, unethical experiments on Soldiers are no more—hopefully. However, you can still find Edgewood Arsenal, MD, in existence today.It’s still a nationally recognized research center for developing, testing, and understanding biological and chemical warfare.The Edgewood Area of Aberdeen Proving Ground is run by the Edgewood Chemical Biological Center (ECBC) as one of three sites of its kind in the country.Since WWI, the grounds of Edgewood Arsenal near the Chesapeake Bay have been used for manufacturing, testing, and disposing of chemical weapons.Many unexploded chemical weapons remain on site, both on land and underwater, as they are too dangerous to move.If you’d like to visit the Edgewood Arsenal Cemetery, you’ll need to contact the Aberdeen Proving Ground Directorate of Emergency Services. You can reach them at (410) 306-2380 to learn more about obtaining proper access.Sources:VA Public Health, Accessed September 2024.Military Health System, Accessed September 2024.The Center for Land Use Interpretation, Accessed September 2024.Suggested reads:


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