Army out of Vieques
Rafael Torres, a former security guard at the U.S. Navy base in Vieques, said he still hears noises in his head. A sound like the fighter jet that in 1995 hurled two cement-filled projectiles a few feet from where he was standing (ROSS A10). "The other day I was sleeping in my armchair, and I dove on the floor when I heard airplanes buzzing in my ears," said Torres (qtd in ROSS A10), 49, who has since retired with a disability pension because of psychological trauma from the accident. He said one bomb struck the three-story observation post he was guarding, crashing through the top two floors. The second landed feet away from where he stood, spewing chunks of cement. Torres didn't realize this at the time, but this narrow miss foreshadowed a much more serious accident (ROSS A10). Months later on April 19,1999, one of Torres's co-workers, David Sanes Rodriguez was pulling duty at the same post when a Navy F-18 dumped two 5,000-pound bombs about 1.9 miles off course. Unlike the inert practice bombs Torres encountered, these projectiles packed lives explosives. Sanes was killed, and four other base employees were injured. This incident has stirred widespread political opposition to the Navy's 60 year heg
The habitats of fish are disappearing along with the island's traditional livelihood (EGLUND "Vieques"). This is one of the island's most remarkable asset. "The offer was a step forward but it fell short of range, just like the bomb that killed David Sanes," said Miguel Alvarado (qtd in MARINO "85,000" A05). This contributes to a cancer rate among the 9,300 inhabitants, that is twice the Puerto Rican average. Moreover, during the decades that part of Vieques has been used as a target range , the island has become contaminated with radioactivity (LEE E02). If the Navy would clean up and take greater care of what they say they value, these issues wouldn't be in concern. It is here where many Viequenses celebrate tons of activities including birthdays and holidays. They use it because it is extremely dense and can pierce thick armor. Vieques is wanted for it's land to practice on in order to save soldier lives. The bombardments have destroyed the ecosystem of the island, and the reef around it. Furthermore, the land used for the training is no longer habitable.
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Acceptance Essays
