CBS News
Military families feel betrayed over Navy response to jet fuel-tainted water at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii base
This is an updated version of a story first published on April 28, 2024. The original video can be viewed here.
The U.S. military takes pride in protecting its own. That’s why military families we met in Hawaii told us they feel so betrayed.
Two years ago, there was a fuel spill close to the drinking water system at the Pearl Harbor base in Hawaii. As we first reported in April, Navy leadership assured thousands of military families that the tap water was safe.
But nearly two weeks after the spill, parents learned the truth: the water they drank or used to bathe their kids contained jet fuel.
Tonight – you’ll hear from some of the families who say the jet fuel tainted water made them sick. But first – we’ll go to where the water crisis at Pearl Harbor began.
From the air, the historic naval base is easy to spot. Eight miles from Honolulu… sparkling blue waters host battle gray ships…and memorials to those killed by Japan’s surprise attack in 1941.
What you can’t see is the once secret storage site that provided fuel for the Pacific fleet and its planes for 80 years.
Sharyn Alfonsi: It doesn’t look like much from the outside.
Vice Admiral John Wade: Wait ’till you get inside.
Vice Admiral John Wade led us through the Red Hill bulk fuel storage facility…seven miles of tunnels cut through volcanic rock – built to hold 250 million gallons of fuel.
60 Minutes
Vice Admiral John Wade: So this is one of the tanks.
Sharyn Alfonsi: Oh my gosh.
That black hole is a steel lined fuel tank so deep it’s hard to see the bottom 20 stories below.
Vice Admiral John Wade: To just show you how enormous this is, this tank holds 12.5 million gallons. And to give you kind of a reference point, the Statue of Liberty, not the base, but the statue itself, can fit in here with enough room.
And this is just one of the 20 tanks hidden here.
When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, construction was already underway to protect the Navy’s fuel reserves from an aerial attack.
Vice Admiral John Wade: The decision was made to embark on a herculean task to build a bulk storage fuel facility inside a mountain in secrecy.
Sharyn Alfonsi: And how long did that take to do?
Vice Admiral John Wade: It was a little less than three years. At its peak, there were about 4,000 men working here.
But this testament to American resolve became a monumental liability after this…
That’s jet fuel spraying from a cracked pipe. The video was recorded by a worker inside Red Hill on November 20th of 2021.
The fuel…20,000 gallons of it – was trapped in a plastic pipe. The weight caused the pipe to sag…this trolley hit it…
And jet fuel spewed for 21 hours…. close to the well that supplied drinking water for 93,000 people on and around the base at Pearl Harbor.
Sharyn Alfonsi: According to Navy investigators, the workers who responded didn’t have the right tools to contain the spill. They also assumed there was no danger to the drinking water. They were wrong. At least 5,000 gallons of jet fuel drained into the tunnel floor and into the navy water system.
The next day the Navy issued a press release about the incident and told the 8,400 families living in military housing “…the water remains safe to drink.” Even though the Navy had not tested the water yet. A week later residents began to notice a problem.
Sharyn Alfonsi: When did you get this sense that there was something wrong with the water?
Brittany Traeger: My husband came into the kitchen and washed his hands and said, “Gosh, the water smells like I just did an oil change like, the water smells weird.”
60 Minutes
Brittany Traeger lived on base…about two and half miles from Red Hill …with her daughter and husband, who is a Navy chief petty officer. Traeger says she began to feel sick a week after the spill.
Brittany Traeger: I had a cough. My tonsils were very swollen. I remember a very distinct moment where I was walking to the car and I had vertigo so bad that I had to hold onto the car.
Sharyn Alfonsi: The smell was that overwhelming?
Brittany Traeger: Uh-huh.
In an email to residents nine days after the spill, the commanding officer of the base reassured residents “…there are no immediate indications that the water is not safe. My staff and I are drinking the water…”
Sharyn Alfonsi: Did you stop using water? Did you stop taking baths?
Brittany Traeger: So, I did, my daughter did…
Sharyn Alfonsi: Just because you had a bad feeling, not ’cause anybody told you to.
Brittany Traeger: Correct. They gave us an email address that we could send an email to if we wanted to have our water tested. So, I emailed those people who then emailed me a phone number that I should call. And I called that phone number for days and it was just busy. They were overwhelmed and inundated with reports.
Ten days after the spill, there were more than 200 reports from six neighborhoods across the base of strong fuel odor coming from kitchen and bathroom faucets. But the Navy said its initial tests did not detect fuel.
Brittany Traeger: It defied logic, you know? Even though there was a leak and even though our water smelled like jet fuel and even though there was sheen on it, they continued to say, ” The tests are coming back negative.”
After 12 days…and four statements assuring residents the water was not contaminated with fuel…the Navy reversed course…on Dec. 2, 2021 it announced more comprehensive tests conducted by the Navy had detected jet fuel in the water.
Three weeks after the spill, tests from Hawaii’s Department of Health revealed jet fuel levels 350-times higher than what the state considers safe.
Richelle Dietz lives on base with her husband, a Navy chief petty officer….and their two children.
Richelle Dietz: Jet fuel’s not something that you would even think could happen to be in your water.
Sharyn Alfonsi: How were people reacting to the news?
Richelle Dietz: I was so sick to my stomach from that news that I actually threw up when I heard.
Sharyn Alfonsi: Because why?
Richelle Dietz: Because my kids had just been poisoned.
60 Minutes
Within a month the Navy set up medical tents for residents. Some complained of stomach problems, severe fatigue and coughing. The military moved more than 4,000 families to hotels.
Small studies of military personnel suggest jet fuel exposure can lead to neurological and breathing problems.
But the long-term impact of ingesting jet fuel is unknown because it’s so unlikely to ever happen.
Richelle Dietz told us days after the spill her daughter’s tonsils became inflamed, and her son started suffering from chronic headaches.
Sharyn Alfonsi: I can hear people saying, “Tonsils, headaches. Kids get that stuff. How do you know it’s related?”
Richelle Dietz: Um, because they never had it before November of 2021. It wasn’t– an issue.
It’s unclear how many got sick. But of 2,000 people who responded to a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention – more than 850 sought medical care. The water system was flushed over three months…and bottled water brought in.
Brittany Traeger said her 4 year old now suffers respiratory problems which require hour-long treatments…at least two times a day that includes a nebulizer and this vibrating vest to clear her lungs.
Sharyn Alfonsi: Tell me about your daughter’s health.
Brittany Traeger: Thirteen days after the contamination, after our water smelled like jet fuel, my daughter woke up in a hotel with a cough…and it pretty much never went away.
Three months passed before Pearl Harbor’s drinking water was deemed safe again. The Navy’s own investigations into the spill…described quote “cascading failures” and revealed poor training, supervision, and ineffective leadership at red hill that fell “…unacceptably short of navy standards…”
For the last 10 years, Hawaiians have raised concerns about the threat from smaller leaks at Red Hill.
The primary water supply for the city of Honolulu is 100 feet below the Navy complex.
In March of 2022, the secretary of defense ordered Red Hill permanently closed.
Vice Admiral John Wade was brought in to get the 104 million gallons of fuel out of the tanks and move it safely to sites around the Pacific.
Vice Admiral John Wade: We’ve gotta defuel. That’s the imminent threat. There’s ongoing and will be continued long-term environmental remediation to restore the aquifer, the land and surrounding area. And then there’s also a medical component for those that have been impacted.
Sharyn Alfonsi: You view now this thing that was a lifeline for the fleet is a threat.
Vice Admiral John Wade: That’s right. That’s right.
In six months, Wade’s team in Hawaii successfully removed almost all of the fuel. But it took two years before the Navy issued disciplinary letters to 14 officers involved in the spill response…including, five admirals.
Sharyn Alfonsi: Was anyone fired because of this?
60 Minutes
Meredith Berger: At the time that the accountability came through, uh– we had officers that had already retired. And so uh — they had already separated from service.
Meredith Berger is an assistant secretary of the Navy. We met her at the Pentagon in November. She told us the Navy has been accountable.
Sharyn Alfonsi: We’re talking about 20,000 gallons of– fuel leak, 90,000 people had their water contaminated. It looks like people retired, or were reassigned, and no one was fired. How is that accountability?
Meredith Berger: It’s accountability within the system that we have established. And we have heard that this was too long, um and that maybe it didn’t go far enough.
Two thousand military families agree the Navy didn’t go far enough and are suing the government. The Traegers and Dietzs have joined the lawsuit alleging they were harmed by negligence at Red Hill.
Sharyn Alfonsi: Are you angry that it happened? Or are you angry at what happened after?
Richelle Dietz: It’s a little bit of anger, but it’s also this feeling of betrayal.
Sharyn Alfonsi: What do you mean, betrayal?
Richelle Dietz: So my husband has been in for almost 18 years. We have moved our family cross country, cross oceans. We gave so much of our life to the Navy for them to ignore warnings and then we were directly and blatantly lied to about it.
Navy leadership has apologized for the spill but has not said that the contaminated water is the cause of the ongoing illnesses.
The Navy did set up a clinic on base to collect data and treat anyone who believes they have health issues related to the tainted water.
Sharyn Alfonsi: What happens in five or 10 or 15 years? Will those services still be available to these families?
Meredith Berger: So that’s– that is part of why, um, we are making sure that we’re collecting that information to inform future actions and what the requirements are for those types of uh, needs and care.
Sharyn Alfonsi: That doesn’t sound like a guarantee of care in the future.
Meredith Berger: And I wanna be careful, ’cause I don’t do the health care part of things. And so I– I don’t wanna speak outside of, um, of– of where I have any authority or decision.
So we followed up with the Defense Department…which told us it’s reviewing the question of long term health care for military families…including more than 3,100 children.
Two years after the spill, some residents have reported water with a smell or sheen. The Navy is conducting daily tests at Pearl Harbor and says it is confident there is no fuel in the tap water.
Richelle Dietz is still using bottled water. She and Brittany Traeger along with the other military families are awaiting a judge’s decision in their lawsuit.
Sharyn Alfonsi: What is the remedy that you want?
Brittany Traeger: In our family it’s restoring my faith in our nation.
Sharyn Alfonsi: That’s a big thing to say.
Brittany Traeger: There’s a body of government that failed. They contaminated our water, they lied to us, they did not protect us, and they did not intervene. And accountability looks like a lifelong care plan for me, my family, and the people affected. And that will restore my faith in my nation.
Produced by Guy Campanile. Associate producer, Lucy Hatcher. Broadcast associate, Erin DuCharme. Edited by Michael Mongulla.
Watch CBS News
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.
Across the United States, the issue of women clergy is currently a focal point in several Christians denominations, including the Catholic Church, where women are not allowed to be ordained.
The CBS Mornings series, “The State of Spirituality with Lisa Ling,” explores unique paths to faith, spirituality and religion. The latest installment of the series focuses on women in Albany, New York, leading a grassroots rebel movement in support of women clergy.
Around 52 million Americans identify as Catholic. According to Pew Research, around 64% of U.S. Catholics support the idea of women priests, but for hundreds of years, only men have been allowed to become ordained clergy.
“I think they’re afraid of change,” Bridget Mary Meehan said.
Meehan and Mary Theresa Streck are both part of the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests—a worldwide movement advocating for the ordination of women in the Catholic Church. The women part of this movement are ordaining themselves in direct defiance of the Vatican.
Inside a warehouse-looking building in upstate New York, the rebels who are part of this movement convene for Sunday mass, hoping to inspire change.
“Change begins by somebody doing it,” Streck said.
Streck, along with congregants, are part of the Upper Room. It is described as an inclusive Catholic Community, where all are welcome. Streck, a woman priest part of the movement, presides over Sunday mass.
“People are looking for what we’re offering,” she said. “And they want to see ordained women, celebrating mass.”
The day CBS News visited the Upper Room, the sermon was delivered by Meehan, a bishop within the movement.
“Mary Magdalen’s energy rises up in us and inspires us to create a renewed model of church,” she preached.
The Roman Catholic Church does not allow women to be ordained, arguing in part, that clergy should be unmarried men in the image of Jesus and his 12 disciples. The women who are part of this movement disagree and have formed a resistance.
The Albany Diocese, in a statement to CBS News, said: “The Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany is not affiliated with this group.” The Vatican did not respond to our requests for comment.
While other Christian denominations, like the Episcopal Church, do allow women clergy, these women say they have decided to remain Catholic, even if the church does not recognize them.
“It’s in my bones,” Streck said. “I am a Roman Catholic.”
A turning point for some
Like many organized religions in the 21st Century, Catholic Church membership is declining. Those who have left often say its because of the way the church has dealt with sexual abuse claims involving priests, as well as how the church has historically handled divorce, the LGBTQ+ community and women.
“I think the Catholic Church left me,” Upper Room parishioner Timothy Perry-Coon said, but added the women priests helped bring him back to Catholicism.
“We are the Catholic Church here, too,” he said.
For many who attend the Upper Room, 2010 marked a turning point with their Catholic faith, after the Vatican listed ordaining women as a grave offense— alongside pedophilia.
How the movement began and progressed
The Catholic women priest movement is traced back to 2002—when seven women were ordained on the Danube River in Germany. The Vatican excommunicated all known to be involved and said all those who come after are also considered excommunicated.
“Our response was we do not accept this excommunication,” Meehan said. “We’re leading the church we love into a renewed model of priestly ministry to respond to the needs of Catholics all over the world.”
Both Streck and Meehan are former nuns, raised devout and proud Catholics.
“By the time I was in third grade…I wanted to be a nun. I knew in third grade,” Streck said.
At just 17 years old, Mary Theresa says she was called to join The Sisters of St. Joseph. That was until 18 years later, when another call came—love.
“I met a young priest,” Streck explained. “I knew that I loved him dearly and he loved me dearly. So, we both resigned.”
But Streck said her faith never wavered, “I think it was stronger than ever.”
Streck and her husband, Jay, would get married within the public housing project where they ministered and continued to minister for many years, even after renouncing their vows. But after Jay died of cancer, Streck began to explore a new call: The priesthood. It’s a call she said she knows her husband would have supported.
She said in her first phone call about becoming a woman priest, Meehan told her if she pursued this, she would be excommunicated.
“And I said, ‘okay, well, that’s, that doesn’t mean anything really, because I will continue doing everything that I’m doing,'” Streck said she responded.
In 2013, hundreds attended as Meehan ordained Streck in Albany. It was a first in the area.
“And since 2013… we have 10 women who have been ordained,” Streck explained. “And I think people are saying, well, I’m not going to wait for the church to decide it’s okay.”
Around 300 women worldwide have now been ordained within the larger movement. Streck and Meehan both have doctorate degrees in ministry and have created a process and seminary curriculum for ordination. Yet, Streck and Meehan acknowledge they may never see women priests accepted in the Roman Catholic church.
“But that’s not a good reason not to do it,” Streck said.
Earlier this year, in a rare interview, the Pope addressed the issue of women clergy with CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell.
“For a little girl growing up Catholic today, will she ever have the opportunity to be a deacon and participate as a clergy member in the church?” O’Donnell asked him.
“No,” Pope Francis responded.
But Streck and Meehan said that won’t stop them. They hope they are laying the groundwork for future generations of women priests. If they were given the opportunity to speak with the Pope or those in the Vatican, both women said they would tell them they love the Catholic Church.
“Do not be afraid of us,” Streck said. “We have a lot to offer.”
Meehan added, “We spent our whole lives just creating a church where there’s more justice, more equality and that everyone is so welcome at the table of God’s love.”
Getty Images
Americans are carrying more debt than ever. In the second quarter of 2024, nationwide credit card debt hit a record $1.14 trillion, while personal loan debt reached $245 billion. These high numbers reflect the steep borrowing costs of recent years.
But inflation is cooling down, and many experts are now adjusting to what could be a series of Federal Reserve interest rate cuts. This shift could make borrowing more affordable.
So, which option is better as rates fall: personal loans or credit cards?
The answer isn’t straightforward — it depends on your situation.
Henry Yoshida, certified financial planner and co-founder of Rocket Dollar, explains, “Credit cards are essential in a digital e-commerce environment. But [you may choose a] personal loan for [several] reasons such as credit card debt consolidation or to make a major purchase.”
As rates drop, each option has its pros and cons. Let’s find out what financial experts recommend in this evolving economic climate.
Considering a personal loan now? See how low of an interest rate you could secure here.
Personal loans vs. credit cards: Which is better as rates drop?
Personal loans often work best for large, fixed expenses or debt consolidation. Lauryn Grayes, founder of Wealth Gems Financial, illustrates this by noting that borrowers could potentially save thousands of dollars in interest by using a personal loan to pay off credit card debt versus the card itself, due to the latter’s much higher interest rate.
Bryan Meizinger, executive vice president and chief credit officer at FAIRWINDS Credit Union echoes this benefit, noting that personal loans are useful “if you have multiple debts that you want to consolidate into one manageable payment.” He adds that the fixed repayment schedule can motivate quicker debt repayment than credit cards.
Credit cards, however, shine in their flexibility. Grayes points out, “During COVID-19, [some] relied on [credit] cards to fund essentials when income declined temporarily.” This adaptability makes credit cards valuable in uncertain financial times.
Meizinger notes that while “0% APR promotions can be enticing,” they require discipline to avoid accumulating debt after the promotional period ends. In contrast, personal loans’ fixed terms can help borrowers stay on track with repayment.
Your choice should align with your financial needs and habits. Personal loans may be for you if you need structure and lower rates on large expenses. Credit cards may work well if you’re after flexibility and short-term promotional benefits.
Not sure which is best for you? Start comparing your personal loan options online now.
Pros and cons to know
Here’s a quick recap of each option’s pros and cons:
Personal loan pros:
- Lower interest rates (roughly 40% to 65% less than variable credit card interest rates in any interest rate environment)
- Fixed payments and repayment period
- Promising for debt consolidation
Personal loan cons:
- Requires payback commitment to maintain your credit
- May require good credit for the best rates
- Potential fees (e.g. origination, early repayment)
Credit card pros:
- May be easier to qualify for (compared to personal loans)
- Potential rewards (e.g. cash back, travel points)
- Convenient for short-term or emergency expenses
Credit card cons:
- Higher interest rates (often 20% or more)
- Possible growing debt if you only pay down the minimum each month
- Risk of reckless spending
Expert strategies for managing debt and credit
Financial experts suggest the following strategies for managing debt as interest rates drop:
- Focus on total debt: “Focus less on the top-line interest rate and take pride in tracking your outstanding principal balance as you pay down debt,” Yoshida advises. As you see that number get lower and lower, you’ll gain confidence in eliminating debt.
- Use the debt snowball method: “Start with your smallest unsecured loan balance first,” Meizinger suggests. “Once that’s paid off, move on to the next smallest loan balance.” This approach gives you motivating short-term wins and keeps the momentum going.
- Consider balance transfers: “Take advantage of a signup bonus and introductory low, or 0%, interest rate offer by signing up for a new credit card and transferring the existing balance,” suggests Yoshida. This could save you thousands in interest if you carry a high credit card balance at a high interest rate.
- Understand credit utilization effects: Consolidating credit card debt with a personal loan may reduce your credit utilization ratio (and boost your credit score). But avoid accumulating new credit card debt after consolidation. That could undo these benefits.
- Gradual paydown before consolidation: Reduce card balances through increased payments before consolidating into a loan.
The bottom line
Your choice between personal loans and credit cards as interest rates drop depends on your financial situation. “Lower rates present an opportunity to accelerate debt payoffs, but variable-rate cards pose risks if rates increase later,” Grayes says. To make an informed decision, consider your debt amount, financial stability and risk tolerance.
Speak with a few financial advisors or lenders to explore your options. They can help you understand how these tools work in different economic climates and guide you toward a strategy that best fits your needs.
Also, look into reputable debt relief companies. These organizations can offer helpful services such as debt consolidation, negotiation with creditors or structured repayment plans.
Teamsters union doesn’t endorse a presidential candidate for the first time since 1996
New York women leading rebel movement in hopes of inspiring change in the Catholic Church
Personal loans vs. credit cards: Which is better as interest rates drop?
Teamsters union doesn’t endorse a presidential candidate for the first time since 1996
New York women leading rebel movement in hopes of inspiring change in the Catholic Church