West Virginia soldiers sue firm for chemical exposure in Iraq

Russell Powell wondered for years after he returned from Iraq why he couldn't run even short distances without wheezing. Following his yearlong tour of duty that ended in 2004, he coached his son's Little League team, but had to stop because it exhausted him. The 34-year-old, who was able to run two miles in 9:44 before he went to Iraq in 2003, said now he is lucky to finish in 20 minutes. He was discharged from the West Virginia Army National Guard for medical reasons at the end of 2008 because he was unable to meet physical requirements. Since he started his new job as a corrections officer for a West Virginia prison earlier this year, he's had to use several sick days and vacation days to visit doctors.