I was exposed to toxic burn pits in Iraq

…and Republicans like Josh Hawley abandoned veterans like me [Lucas Kunce for U.S. Senate] {NAME} — I’m Lt. Col. Lucas Kunce, USMCR, 13 years of active duty. After three tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, I never imagined I would return home and face more attacks. But that’s what happened two years ago, when Josh Hawley and 40 other Republicans blocked a bill to expand healthcare to millions of veterans like me who were exposed to toxic burn pits during their service. [DEFEAT JOSH HAWLEY]( [On the left, an image of Josh Hawley underneath a headline reading: Blunt, Hawley vote to stall bill expanding healthcare to veterans exposed to burn pits. On the right, an article written by Lucas Kunce for Fox News reading: I was exposed to toxic burn pits in Iraq; Republicans turned their backs on veterans like me.]( Let me tell you what happened, so you know why I’m running for U.S. Senate. In Iraq, I deployed to the Sunni Triangle where I led a police training team. Twelve Marines and a Navy Corpsman, running missions through Habbaniyah, Fallujah, and Ramadi. From our camp, the base’s burn pit loomed over us. Smoke columns filled the sky and blew through our living space. We ran through it, joking about how we should be doing gas mask runs. For three months that pit bathed us in toxic fumes. We accepted it and focused on our duty. [Three photos of Lucas' active duty service in Iraq, with a picture of a column of smoke from the burn pit in the center.]( When I got home from that deployment, I had developed a persistent tickle in my throat. Constant irritation. I never had allergies before and annoyed myself with the constant throat clearing. Eventually, I was so embarrassed by it that I went to the base clinic. They said it was postnasal drip and that they could give me allergy medicine. There was no formal diagnosis. But over 10 years later, it’s still there. Bothersome. Uncomfortable, but certainly manageable. And that’s about the best story you’ll hear about a vet who’s been exposed to burn pits. Many struggle with chronic respiratory issues. Migraines. Cancer. So imagine how we all felt when politicians who have never worn the uniform, like Josh Hawley, threw us a giant middle finger and voted against aid for veterans who were exposed to these toxic burn pits. I know that’s harsh language, but it has to be. Because what they did was about as anti-American as it gets. Patriots don’t attack veterans who suffered injuries or illness from being around those toxic pits. Many of these same Republicans spent years voting to keep us in these forever wars, lying to the American people about what was really going on over there, and getting rich off their defense contractor stocks that skyrocket when we’re at war. These people profited off of sending us over there only to screw us when we came back messed up. It’s criminal — and I’m ready to do something about it. I served my country for 13 years in the United States Marine Corps. I’d give anything for this country — and that’s exactly why I’m running to replace Josh Hawley in the U.S. Senate. [If you’re with me, will you please consider donating $10 or anything at all so we can get this message in front of voters and defeat Josh Hawley this November? I’m not taking a single cent from corporate PACs in this race, so any amount you can give will have a massive impact on our grassroots campaign.]( If you've stored your info with ActBlue Express, we'll process your contribution instantly: [Contribute $10]( [Contribute $25]( [Contribute $30]( [Contribute $50]( [Contribute $100]( [Contribute $250]( [Give another amount]( Thank you so much. Lucas Kunce [Donate]( [Like on Facebook]( [Follow on Twitter]( [Follow on Instagram]( Paid for by Lucas Kunce for Missouri This email was sent to [{EMAIL}](#). Email is the most important way we keep in touch with people like you. But, if you'd like to receive fewer emails, [you can do so here](. If you need to remove yourself from our email list, [click here to unsubscribe](. Mail us: PO BOX 1240 Independence, MO 64050. Use of military rank, job titles, and photographs in uniform do not imply endorsement by the Department of the Navy or the Department of Defense.