From Target Range to Toxic Island: Vieques

2/12/26

As I have been following what’s happening in Venezuela, I came across a concerning piece of history regarding U.S. operations in Puerto Rico.

For decades, life on Vieques, a small Puerto Rican island, was a warzone without war. In the 1940s, the U.S. Navy took over about two-thirds of the island and reserved it for naval training and bombing practice. As a result, the US military placed strict regulations on Vieques’ citizens: fishermen weren’t allowed in certain waters and the people lost access to most of their beloved island. Living on Vieques was both dangerous and disruptive as bombs sometimes landed off target, and residents constantly dealt with the noise of explosions shaking their homes. For years tension between the military and residents built until the climax. In 1999, a 500-pound bomb killed David Sanes Rodríguez, a civilian guard. Protests immediately began. People set up peace camps inside the bombing range to physically stop the exercises, Fishermen moved into restricted waters, and people rushed US military bases on the island. Protesters were arrested, tear gas and rubber bullets were used, and many felt their right of free speech was violated. Some even went to jail for civil disobedience, the most famous being a group known as the “Vieques Four” who played vital roles in leading and organizing protests.

Finally, in 2003, President George W. Bush ordered the Navy out. But the damage was already done. The land and water were left contaminated with unexploded bombs and toxic materials like heavy metals. Cleanup crews now detonate munitions in open air, which residents say releases more chemicals into the environment. Studies have shown higher rates of cancer and other illnesses on the island compared to mainland Puerto Rico, and many families talk about losing multiple relatives to disease. In fact, Ortiz Roque, a Puerto Rican epidemiologist said “The human population of Vieques is by far the sickest human population that I’ve ever worked with.” He also reported that Vieques residents were 30% more likely than other Puerto Ricans to die from cancer. Additionally, there’s still no fully functioning hospital on the island, so people often have to travel by ferry for serious medical treatment. On top of that, much of the land wasn’t returned directly to residents but transferred to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, meaning locals still don’t fully control large parts of their own island.

What really hits hardest is how personal the consequences are. People describe burying family members, struggling to afford healthcare, and watching their community shrink because there aren’t enough jobs or resources. Some residents have even called it a form of “genocide” because of the long-term health impact. 

The story of Vieques did not end with the Navy’s departure. The fight against the effects still continues as residents battle to take back their island, health, and way of life. This makes me wonder wear the story of Venezuela will end.