Veteran Louise Richards who served in the Gulf War speaks to the media at Parliament Hill in Ottawa Nov 9 , 2011. Richards is holding a book about the Gulf War Syndrome which she says she has. (ANDRE FORGET /QMI AGENCY)

OTTAWA -- All of Louise Richard's hair fell out after she came home from the Gulf War.

"Ninety-five percent of the casualties we dealt with were Iraqi prisoners of war," the former army nurse said. "They were obviously totally contaminated with depleted uranium, they had shrapnel, we operated on them, so here we were -- hands in guts and breathing all of these things."

Gulf War veterans say they have been suffering for 20 years after being exposed to depleted uranium in the Persian Gulf in 1991.

"Many have died or are dying of various cancers, auto immune diseases, neuromuscular diseases, neurological diseases," Richard said. "This government has done everything to keep a tight lip, lie and deny; our war has never been acknowledged officially, nor have they acknowledged the seriousness of the health consequences."

It has been two decades since the United States and its allies pushed Saddam Hussien's forces out of neighbouring Kuwait, pursuing them into Iraq. Canada joined the fight, being deployed into combat overseas for the first time since Korea.

While the battle was short, the fallout of chemicals and elements that wafted into fighters' clothing and vehicles and blew on desert winds has plagued modern war vets.

Gulf War Illness is recognized by the U.S. government as a serious and real affliction.

There is a comprehensive website with full descriptions of the ailments, a massive senate report and information for physicians. Special benefits are also available to the afflicted American soldiers.

Canadian Gulf War vets say they get next to no response from the feds in Ottawa.

Pascal Lacoste, 38, a Bosnian vet, ended a hunger strike in Quebec after Veterans Affairs Minister Steve Blaney promised to ask a panel of experts to study the affects of depleted uranium on troops.

"I find it despicable, criminal, that a veteran who put his life on the line for this country has to resort to threatening to end his life for attention," said Richard. "We have been crying for help since we went on these missions."

kris.sims@sunmedia.ca