Throughout the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the US military used "burn pits" to handle trash — everything from plastic bottles to medical waste was dumped into the pits and lit aflame. Now, thousands of soldiers are blaming those pits for serious illnesses, while the military and VA deny that any health crisis exists.

This video could not have been created without the first-hand accounts and footage shot by many brave soldiers. We thank them for helping us tell this very important story.

Video Credits
Director/Editor: Sam Thonis
Editorial Lead: Katie Drummond
Producer: Erin Lee Carr
Feature Editors: Joseph L. Flatley, Thomas Houston
Camera: Ryan Manning, Sam Thonis