U.S. Navy occupies Vieques for weapons testing
The U.S. Navy expropriated two-thirds of Vieques island for weapons testing. For 62 years, the Navy dropped bombs containing napalm, depleted uranium, Agent Orange, and other toxic substances. Cancer rates in Vieques are 27% higher than mainland Puerto Rico.
The Occupation
In 1941, the U.S. Navy expropriated approximately 26,000 of Vieques's 33,000 acres — roughly two-thirds of the island. Thousands of residents were displaced.
The eastern end became a live-fire bombing range. The western end became an ammunition storage facility. Civilians were confined to a narrow strip in the middle.
What Was Dropped
Over 62 years, the Navy used Vieques as a testing ground for:
- Conventional bombs and munitions
- Napalm
- Depleted uranium rounds
- Agent Orange (confirmed by Navy documents)
- Chemical warfare agents
Health Consequences
- Cancer rates 27% higher than mainland Puerto Rico
- Elevated rates of hepatitis, cirrhosis, diabetes, and heart disease
- Heavy metal contamination in soil, water, and marine life
- Mercury, lead, cadmium, and arsenic levels exceeding EPA safety thresholds
Resistance and Closure
After the accidental killing of civilian security guard David Sanes Rodriguez by an errant bomb on April 19, 1999, a sustained civil disobedience campaign led to the Navy's withdrawal in 2003.
The contamination remains. The cleanup is ongoing and incomplete.
Sources
- McCaffrey, Katherine T. "Military Power and Popular Protest: The U.S. Navy in Vieques, Puerto Rico." Rutgers University Press, 2002.