A Personal Reflection on Heritage and Advocacy

My family’s story is not only one of proud military service and enduring sacrifice but also one marked by the deep, lasting consequences of toxic exposure and the fight for justice. My mother, the daughter of my grandfather who bravely fought and earned a Bronze Star at Okinawa and likely in the Philippines, tragically died from cancer caused by exposure to the toxic water contamination at Camp LeJeune. This poisoning, which occurred while my father trained as a Marine for Vietnam duty, has left a profound mark on our family’s health.

I myself suffer from severe disabilities linked to that same toxic exposure. The toxic dust I encountered in environments such as New York City after 9/11 added layers of injury to my body and life. My brother, embodying the family’s commitment to service, deployed as a Critical Care Air Transport Team (CCATT) nurse in Afghanistan, continuing the legacy of sacrifice and dedication.

This personal and familial history connects deeply to the very locations and battles that shaped our nation, such as Okinawa and the Philippines — places where both my grandfather and my first legal client, Alan M. Voorhees, fought. It is symbolic and poignant that I now live in San Jose, Occidental Mindoro, where General MacArthur’s famed landing occurred during the liberation of the Philippines.

The legacy of military service, the tragic impact of environmental and chemical exposure, and the enduring pursuit of justice through legal advocacy are inseparably linked in my life. Just as my grandfather’s generation fought for freedom, my own fight is against the invisible chains of toxic injury and legal injustice. As a disabled appellate lawyer, I press forward with vigorous and novel advocacy under the Americans with Disabilities Act and other civil rights laws to protect others facing discrimination and to hold systems accountable.

Our family’s history is a testament to courage and resilience—the bravery against foreign enemies and the resolve in facing internal battles against harm inflicted by neglect or oversight. It fuels my determination to push the law’s boundaries, to seek reform, and to ensure that neither the sacrifices of those who served nor those injured by such service are forgotten or dismissed.

Dr. Thomas Young, our revered ancestor, fought bravely and at great personal cost against the global superpower of his time—Great Britain. As a prominent leader in the Boston Tea Party, he stood at the forefront of defiance against tyranny and injustice. He endured physical beatings and immense hardship in pursuit of liberty and the foundational ideals of this nation. This legacy of courageous resistance to powerful, oppressive forces runs through our family history like a steady current.

Today, my own battles—as a disabled appellate lawyer challenging systemic abuses, fighting for disability rights, and confronting judicial overreach—continue that same story. The struggle against entrenched, often indifferent institutions is as real now as it was then. Our family’s history reminds us that fighting for justice often entails sacrifice, resilience, and standing steadfast even when the odds are daunting.

The fight may have changed form, but the essence remains: confronting power with courage and principle, demanding fairness, and refusing to be silenced or dismissed. This is why Dr. Young’s legacy is deeply connected to our present efforts and why, despite the challenges and abuses faced, we remain resolute in pushing forward for justice and equity.