WASHINGTON, March *28*, 1997 (GulfLINK) - Eric Berryman, director of veterans' outreach for the Defense Department's Office of the Special Assistant for Gulf War Illnesses (OSAGWI), briefed directors of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs (NASDVA) on how the Defense Department is investigating potential causes of Gulf War illnesses.

The NASDVA is the organization that groups together officials employed by each of the 50 states to work veterans issues for their state. Berryman said the office would be working with the NASDVA much as it works with the veterans service organizations and other military service organizations (VSOs and MSOs).

"We'll be sending out information to these state veterans officials so they have the same information that we have been providing to the American legion, VFW and other VSOs and MSOs," Berryman said.

"Our goal is to get as much information out to as many groups as possible," Berryman said. "There has been a lot of misinformation and incomplete information floating around. The challenge is to get the full and correct information circulated. We see the NASDVA and the state veterans affairs officers as another excellent group that is in contact with veterans all over the country."