Document ypRk8jRQ3Q1wgn478RnZmOE4V

ETHYL CORPORATION INTER-OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE xo Robert A. Kehoe, M.D. f r o m S. M. Wagner subj ec t a d d r e s s Cincinnati, Ohio a d d r e s s Lo s Angeles, Calif. dat e February 15, 1943 I spent the last of the week at Camp Young, which is headquarters for our troops training in the desert. I did not develop very much information, as the more people I contacted the more contradictory the reports became. I don't think there is any question but that they are using leaded gasoline in their stoves, but whether or not theyare all equipped with the proper stoves using this type of fuel, or whether they are having any trouble could not be developed. After spending quite a good deal of time in interview ing various people, it was suggested that if we wished to get to the bottom of this matter in the field, we should spend some time at this camp and develop the facts. In view of my conversat ion with you the other day, I would be very happy to do this myself personally, or assign one of our men. I do not think that anything can he done toward getting action in the desert other than develop the facts, as they all seem to be very intent upon their training activities and everything else becomes very much of a secondary issue. My impression is that the best way to correct the condition which evidently is nation-wide and not particularly confined to the California desert, is to go directly to Washington and bring it to the attention of the medical people, who probably would have suffi cient authority to call it to the attention of the Quartermasters' Department to see that the proper stoves are issued to those forces who, of necessity, have to use leaded gasoline in their cook stoves. All of the forces that are on maneuvers or in combat use the same type of gasoline in their cook stoves that is used in their vehicles. I would be very happy to go further into this situation if you think it necessary, and I am awaiting your reply. Yours very truly, 0009594 S. M. Wagner