RI Marine fighting for life: Preview

CUMBERLAND, R.I. (WPRI) - From fighting for our country, to a "Fight for Life."

A local marine found himself battling cancer, and also fighting for the benefits he and his family desperately need.

Jose Belliard is a Gulf War veteran. He believes exposure to a chemical overseas has caused him to develop a rare, terminal cancer. You'd never know by looking at him, but the 37-year-old from Cumberland is in the fight of his life.

Jose Belliard, Gulf War Veteran: "My life expectancy at this point is sixteen months, twenty-four months or so."

At 19-years-old, Belliard was on the front lines in the march to Baghdad. His orders were to spread a chemical on captured Iraqi troops to kill lice and disease. It's a chemical he believes caused him to develop non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

Alex DiPrato: "Spreading this stuff on these prisoners, how confident are you that this [caused] your condition now?"

Jose Belliard, Gulf War Veteran: "100 percent."

But getting the government to connect his illness to his service became a battle of its own. It's one that Belliard was determined to fight, not only for his own medical needs, but also for his children when he's no longer here.

Belliard's battle with Veterans Affairs has been going on for more than a year. But since we started looking into this, Belliard's case has gotten renewed attention, and just days ago, a new development.

It's a fight for life, tonight on Eyewitness News at 10:00 on Fox Providence, and at 11:00 on WPRI-12