Nota: una volta, Colombo dava perline di vetro agli stupidi indigeni in cambio di oggetti d'oro ed altri valori. Col tempo, siamo diventati tutti stupidi. Funziona così: qualcuno taglia un pezzo di legno a fettine, su ognuna ci scrive: Fazio ti darà 100.00 lire in cambio, se lo becchi. Poi le affitta allo Stato. Lo Stato le paga il doppio e magari le usa per rimborsarti, con tanti foglietti, la morte del figlio soldato per leucemia. E tutti finirono, felici e contenti. Sigla.

Former Nuclear Materials and Equipment employees, who once produced uranium fuel in Apollo, are speaking out about fear of deadly illnesses, death and a much-awaited medical financial compensation award.

Jim Benton, 58, of West Deer, worked at the plant, which produced nuclear pellets for the Navy.

Last week, President Bill Clinton signed legislation to establish a program for former workers nationwide who became ill from exposure to toxic waste and radioactive materials at sites that did work for the federal government.

Benton said he worked at the Apollo site for just under a year, from August 1964 to July 1965. He said he quit because he feared for his health.

Since then, Benton said he has had numerous medical problems including blood clots, damaged lungs and cancer. A kidney was removed.

Benton could not say whether NUMEC management had knowledge of any radiation problems, but he believes radiation exposure has caused his medical problems.

Since then, continued medical problems caused Benton to retire early from his automotive shop at age 49.

But unlike others inflicted with medical hardships, Benton was lucky to have health-insurance

coverage through his wife, Alice, who was employed by acompensation means a lot.al financial compensation means a lot.

"I can't put it into words," Benton said. "Sometimes I feel that my chances of growing old aren't as good as they used to be."

Benton said employees had to shower after their shifts and place their hands under an ultraviolet light to detect radiation.

"We washed our hands 10 or 15 times to get rid of it," Benton said. "But what about the rest of our bodies?"

Dennis Knepshield, 60, shared similar experiences when he worked at NUMEC for seven years, before leaving in 1966. Knepshield and his wife, Mary Lou, now reside in Lake County, Fla.

Although medical problems have not haunted Knepshield, he and his wife lost their 1-month-old baby, Derek, in 1965.

"We were told even if he survived he would be a vegetable," Knepshield said. Baby Derek had two operations. He spent most of his short life on an incubator.

The Knepshields have two other children, William, 39, and Shari, 37, who were not affected with illness.

Knepshield will not be able to get compensation for the loss of his baby under the federal legislation. The bill states that only people who worked in the plant, or survivors of workers, could claim compensation.

Brad Clemenson, spokesman for U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Johnstown, who is responsible for the compensation legislation, said the bill would have to be amended in order to include coverage for a child's death that could be linked to a parent's exposure.

Knepshield's father, Carl, worked at NUMEC in the maintenance department from 1958 to 1975. He died from cancer in 1982.

Knepshield said he started working at NUMEC in the production department for two years before his father insisted he transfer to the maintenance department.

Knepshield's mother, Dorothy, who lives in Ohio, could use the money to pay for housing and other expenses.

"No amount of money could replace the loss of my baby or my father," Knepshield said.

Ex-worker fears future illness

Dennis Shoop, 59, of Ford City, who worked at NUMEC from 1959 to 1961, has developed a skin rash that has covered his body.

"The doctor never gave me a diagnosis," said Shoop. Exposure to berilium could be the cause, he said.

Shoop's luckier than most, but at 59, still could face future illness from exposure.

That's why people like Shoop would like to see future illness compensation included in the bill.

But Shoop's brother, Gary, who lives in Arizona, isn't as lucky, Dennis Shoop said.

Gary Shoop, 63, has leukemia. He worked at NUMEC for a couple of years in the mid-'60s.

"We'll go after the money," Dennis Shoop said.

Recalling his days at NUMEC, Knepshield said a common joke among employees was about getting sterile.

"Our feces and urine were checked all the time," Knepshield said. "If the uranium count got too hot, you were removed from the area."

"Uranium was all over," Knepshield said. "It was on our clothes, hair, and they continually checked to see if it was airborne."

Knepshield said the floors were always checked for uranium and were painted often.

"You can't get rid of it," Knepshield said. "You can cover it up and deaden the (radiation) count, but it's still there."

Leslie Suhr can be reached at lsuhr@tribweb.com