At the age of 17, Earl Chadwell enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) in January 1942. He served in the 1st Marine Division (1st MARDIV), and fought in the Pacific Theatre. Among other battles, he fought on both Guadalcanal and Peleliu. Japanese Imperial Forces failed to kill him.

Earl was not as fortunate while an inpatient at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center (Dole VAMC) in Wichita, Kansas.  Earl, a proud WWII Veteran, tragically lost his life due to the negligence of employees at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center.  This should never have happened.  This is not just a personal tragedy; it’s a stark reminder that negligent acts or omissions by employees within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) can cause preventable, serious injuries and premature death to countless others who have patriotically served our country.

Despite giving years of loyal military service to protect the freedoms we hold dear, Earl's life was tragically cut short by VA employees entrusted with his health, welfare, and safety.  The misconduct of the VA employees resulted in Earl's premature death.  Furthermore, two or more VA employees engaged in a conspiracy to conceal their misdeeds.  Such actions are not only unethical; they are immoral and must not be tolerated.

In no uncertain terms, negligence of VA employees killed WWII USMC Veteran Earl Chadwell.  To see how the justice system should work when VA employees kill a veteran in their care and then commit crimes in an effort to cover up their misfeasance, your attention is directed to: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdok/pr/former-oklahoma-city-va-medical-center-nurses-sentenced-federal-prison-lying-about.  In marked contrast, rather than prosecute various Dole VA Medical Center employees for their crimes, two Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs) within the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Kansas turned a blind eye to the VA employees' cover up of the killing of WWII Veteran Earl Chadwell.

A few years ago the Department of Justice (DOJ) agreed to settle the civil cases arising out of the June 2015 Mother Emanuel AME Church mass shooting in Charleston, South Carolina.  For more details, please read the DOJ Press Release at https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/justice-department-announces-multi-million-dollar-civil-settlement-principle-mother-emanuel.  According to the DOJ Press Release, "[f]or those killed in the shooting, the settlements range[d] from $6 million to $7.5 million per claimant. For the survivors, the settlements [were] [] $5 million per claimant."  The oldest victim of the horrific shooting at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston was 87 years old at the time of the tragedy.

Compare and contrast the DOJ's FTCA settlement of $6 million to $7.5 million for each of the preventable deaths of the Emanuel AME Church shooting victims, with the DOJ's piddly offer to settle the Chadwell FTCA lawsuit for $35,000.  Plainly stated, DOJ valued the life of each of those victims at 171 to 214 TIMES MORE than it values the life of a combat veteran.  Americans should be incensed to learn that Trump's DOJ values the lives of veterans at less than 0.6% of the value previously attached by DOJ to the lives of the Charleston, South Carolina victims.

If the foregoing is not sufficiently appalling, DOJ previously valued the lives of foreign nationals at significantly more than it has valued the life of WWII Veteran Earl Chadwell.  The White House knows DOJ previously valued the lives of foreign nationals at $1 million.  DOJ attorneys on the southern border regularly paid out $1 million to settle FTCA lawsuits brought against the United States on behalf of foreign nationals, which died while trying to avoid apprehension by Border Patrol Agents.  These individuals died while trying to avoid apprehension for illegally entering the United States without inspection.  One such individual was struck by a Border Patrol vehicle while trying to hide in vegetation to avoid detection and apprehension.  Another drowned in the Rio Grande while fleeing to evade apprehension by Border Patrol Agents.

This petition demands long overdue accountability and transparency within the VA.  The rule of law must be enforced.  Those responsible for Earl Chadwell's premature death, and the subsequent cover-up, must face justice.  In addition, it is essential that existing VA policies be enforced to ensure that veterans receive exceptional inpatient care, and are safeguarded from preventable, catastrophic injuries and resulting premature death.

We must bring this issue to the forefront of President Donald J. Trump's and Vice President JD Vance's attention.  Our veterans deserve the best care we as a nation can provide.  Our veterans should not become victims of systemic institutional failures within the Department of Veterans Affairs.  By holding incompetent VA employees accountable for their malfeasance, we can ensure that the sacrifices of our veterans are honored.  Veterans and their families should not be forced to endure both a VA and a DOJ that have been weaponized against them.

Sign this petition to demand accountability, ensure justice for WWII USMC Veteran Earl Chadwell (deceased), and protect the future well-being of all veterans who have risked their lives for our country.