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Retired Army veteran tells subcommittee household goods storage allegedly caused mold exposure; seeks accountability from contractor
Summary
A retired Army veteran testified that household goods stored by a military contractor, Smith Draylon, were contaminated with Aspergillus and Penicillium mold, causing health problems for her and her family. She said contractor and third‑party environmental reports disagreed and that she is seeking legal help.
Marquetta McCall, a retired U.S. Army service member, told the subcommittee her household goods were returned from contractor storage contaminated with mold she identified as Aspergillus and Penicillium and described ongoing respiratory and other health problems in her family.
McCall said the goods in her house were stored under a Department of Defense contract with Smith Draylon and that she believes improper storage and lack of a climate‑controlled facility caused contamination. She described visual mold on furniture and on military uniforms: "I pull out my military uniform. Mold growth is on my jacket," McCall said. She said independent environmental testing identified mold species not present in outdoor air around her home, which she said indicates contamination originated in storage.
McCall said a contractor‑hired firm (ABS Environmental) reported no mold in her house, but independent testing from another specialist contradicted that report. She said she had written to U.S. Senator Joe Wilson seeking assistance and was attempting to find legal counsel to pursue a claim against Smith Draylon.
The testimony was delivered during public comment and was not part of the subcommittee’s tort‑reform bill debate. Senators thanked McCall for testifying; no committee action was recorded in the transcript on the matter.
