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Re: Gulf War POW Looking for Justice

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: August 19, 2003

"Gulf War I vet looking for justice after lawsuit verdict blocked

by Kara Gormley on a Gulf vet looking for justice


(Myrtle Beach) August 18, 2003 - An A-10 "Warthog" at the Myrtle Beach Airport brings back difficult memories for retired Lt. Col. Jeff Fox.
  
An Iraqi missle took out his right engine as a pilot during the 1991 Gulf War, "It got to the point where it was in a dive and all I could see was sand, so you knew it was time to eject."

He was shot at by Iraqi forces minutes later, caught and held as a prisoner of war, "You were beaten most of the day. If you had to go to the bathroom they would knock you down, kick you. I had my right eardrum broken in a beating. They placed a gun at my head one time and told me they were going to kill me if I didn't answer specific questions."
 
Fox made headlines during his captivity and when he was finally freed 15 days later, "It was verified in the Boston Globe."
 
He's now making headlines again. This time by suing Iraq and Saddam Hussein, "I was awarded by the judge $30 million." Fox and 16 other Gulf veteran's and their families won over $950 million in damages. All of it to be paid for with frozen Iraqi assets seized during the first Gulf War, "There was a billion and a half dollars in frozen funds."

Fox says now, President Bush has essentially vetoed the lawsuit, claiming the money is needed to help rebuild Iraq after the latest war. Fox says it's left him feeling betrayed, but he says when it comes down to it, "There are no big deals now. I can handle it."

Fox and the other veterans have now sued the US Department of Treasury. It could be months before Fox finds out whether or not he will ever see any of the $30 million he was originally awarded.

By Kara Gormley
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