Monday, May 26th, 2025
This Memorial Day, I want to share the story of our younger brother, David Egg, a proud US Navy Seabee who gave so much in service to our country.
While serving in the Navy's construction corps, David worked on electrical transformers in Puerto Rico. Some of these units resemble large containers, sometimes described as "big gray buckets." Inside these transformers is a critical component: dielectric fluid. This fluid acts as an insulator, preventing electrical arcing (sparks) between the internal energized components, including the coils, and also helps to cool the equipment. Transformers manage voltage, whether stepping it up or down, and this fluid is essential for their safe operation.
In a situation driven by the scarcity of replacement units, David was tasked by a supervisor with repairing a transformer rather than replacing it. Crucially, many transformers from that era contained dielectric fluids formulated with Polychlorinated Biphenyls, or PCBs. We now know that PCBs are recognized as probable human carcinogens and their manufacture was banned in the U.S. in 1977 due to these health risks.
To perform the necessary repairs, David had to directly interact with this fluid, immersing his arms significantly into it. This direct contact allowed the PCBs to be absorbed into his system. Tragically, years later, this exposure is understood to have led to a devastating cancer diagnosis. The cancer severely affected his digestive tract, necessitating the removal of parts of it, including his colon, and he lived with a colostomy bag for the remainder of his life, enduring significant pain and suffering.
The military acknowledged his sacrifice, providing him with full benefits and honoring him with a hero's funeral. David honorably served our nation, and his death was a direct result of injuries sustained during that service.
It's so important to remember the depth of his suffering, which he bore with incredible nobility. He left behind a great legacy, and his children, Alex and Megan, honor his memory in their lives.
This Memorial Day, as we enjoy the freedoms we hold dear, I hope we all take a moment to remember those, like David, who gave their lives and their health in service to our country.
