Adm. William McRaven, renowned for his leadership in the mission that killed Osama bin Laden, has continued to serve the nation in new ways. After retiring from the Navy and then serving as Chancellor of The University of Texas System from 2015 to 2018, Adm. McRaven has turned his attention to an important cause close to his heart.

His latest mission is fueled by a $1 million gift, part of the Bezos Courage & Civility Award, and a promise to help veterans suffering from Gulf War illness (GWI) – a condition affecting thousands of those who served in the 1990-1991 Gulf War, with symptoms such as persistent headaches, memory loss, fatigue, insomnia, and other debilitating issues.

Thanks to research at UT Southwestern, led by Robert Haley, M.D. (Medicine '71), new discoveries are finally shedding light on GWI. Dr. Haley's groundbreaking work has linked low-level exposure to sarin nerve gas during the Gulf War to the illness, offering a long-sought explanation and, more importantly, a pathway to potential treatments.

Adm. McRaven's gift will help accelerate these efforts, offering renewed hope to veterans. “UT Southwestern has always been at the forefront of helping our veterans and active-duty service members,” Adm. McRaven said. “Our hope through this gift is that a new dawn will rise for the 175,000 service members diagnosed with GWI who have been struggling for want of effective treatment.”

A LIFELINE FOR VETERANS

Dr. Haley, a Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, has spent the past two decades studying thousands of Gulf War veterans and documenting different manifestations of the illness, which had eluded clinicians and researchers for years. His research, with support from former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison and the late H. Ross Perot Sr., has revealed a genetic predisposition that explains why some veterans developed symptoms while others did not. Troops who were born with the weak form of a specific gene that helps metabolize sarin were less likely to suffer from GWI, while those without it were more vulnerable. This discovery brings researchers closer to developing treatments that can specifically target the disease.

“We had to understand biochemistry and the physiology of a disease nobody had ever seen before,” Dr. Haley said. “Gene expression studies recently gave us what we need to develop a treatment, to test it rationally and scientifically, and that's where this timely funding will go. This funding is going to carry us across the finish line much sooner.”

Dr. Haley said his research is on the cusp of finding new treatments and that existing FDA-approved anti-inflammatory drugs, as well as some investigational drugs, show promise for veterans like Col. Bill Davis, who returned from the Gulf War as a shadow of the vigorous man who bravely served.

During the Gulf War, Col. Davis was a multilingual, highly decorated combat commander, master parachutist, and special-forces qualified Army Ranger. After his return home, he faced a long-term disability with complex and debilitating symptoms.

“When I first met Dr. Haley in 1997, I told him, 'Please take this as it sounds, but I never thought I would feel so good to find out how screwed up I am,'” Col. Davis said. “Back in the formative days of the research program, the various protocols at UT Southwestern and Dr. Haley's great multi-mission team gave me insight and the beginnings of an explanation of what was going on with me.”

After 27 years of participating in UTSW research studies, one thing that remains consistent is Col. Davis' sense of faith, hope, and optimism.

“Even when things are really tough, we must continue to fight the good fight, and remain patient, positive and prayerful – the ‘3 Ps,'” Col. Davis said. “We must also remember that God does not give us a rucksack that we cannot carry.”

In 2005, the Col. Bill Davis Fund for Research on Gulf War Illness at UT Southwestern was established to advance medical research for fellow veterans.

“Col. Davis is one of the finest human beings I know,” Adm. McRaven said. “He is one of many GWI victims out there, and he would not be alive today without Dr. Haley's research.”

A LEGACY OF SERVICE AND GRATITUDE

For Adm. McRaven, a lifelong advocate for veterans, this latest act of generosity is a continuation of his commitment to those who have served. As a Texas Longhorn (UT Austin '77) and a distinguished leader in higher education during his time as UT System Chancellor, he has consistently championed veterans' causes.

“We are indebted to Adm. McRaven for providing as much benefit as possible to those who suffered personally as a consequence of their service to our nation,” said Daniel K. Podolsky, M.D., President of UT Southwestern. “The gift is especially salient this time of year, when we have the opportunity to remember the brave men and women we celebrate on Veterans Day.”

Adm. McRaven's contribution represents a significant step forward in UT Southwestern's mission to deliver advanced care and research for those who have given so much. As Dr. Haley and his team continue their work, the future holds new promise for the thousands of veterans still affected by Gulf War illness.

• Dr. Haley holds the U.S. Armed Forces Veterans Distinguished Chair for Medical Research, Honoring Robert Haley, M.D., and America's Gulf War Veterans.
• Dr. Podolsky holds the Philip O'Bryan Montgomery, Jr., M.D. Distinguished Presidential Chair in Academic Administration, and the Charles Cameron Sprague Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Science.

The Bezos Courage & Civility Award

The Bezos Courage & Civility Award, underwritten by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancée, Lauren Sánchez, this year honored Adm. William McRaven with a $50 million prize that he can donate to non-profits of his choice. Adm. McRaven chose to donate funding to support the research of Robert Haley, M.D., whose studies on Gulf War illness have shown that low levels of exposure to sarin nerve gas released during the war can have life-altering health effects. A second gift was directed to UT Southwestern by Adm. McRaven to support mental health services to veterans. Actor and entrepreneur Eva Longoria was also honored this year with the Award.

Past recipients of the Bezos Courage & Civility Award include activist and entrepreneur Van Jones, founder of Dream.Org, formerly known as Dream Corps.; José Andrés, founder of World Central Kitchen; and singer-songwriter and philanthropist Dolly Parton, founder of the Dollywood Foundation and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library.