Agent Orange?

During the Vietnam War, the United States utilized herbicides to eliminate enemy hiding positions, curtail crop production, and clear land for defense purposes.

The overall herbicide program during the Vietnam War was code named Operation Trail Dust. The United States Air Force conducted much of the spraying using C-123 cargo/transport planes under the code name Operation Ranch Hand.  Herbicides were also sprayed by helicopters, river boats, land vehicles and soldiers on the ground.

The 4-inch wide colored bands painted on the 55-gallon drums containing the different chemicals identified the defoliants. Agent Green, Agent Pink, Agent Purple, Agent Blue, Agent White, and Agent Orange; with Agent Orange being the most widely used among the defoliants sprayed.  It is estimated that approximately 20 millions gallons of herbicides were sprayed in Vietnam. Twelve million gallons were Agent Orange.

Agent Orange is an equal mixture of two chemicals:                                           Dichlorophenoxy Acetic Acid – or 2, 4, D, and Trichlorophenoxy Acetic Acid – 2, 4, 5, T.

In the creation of 2, 4, 5, T – an unintentional and harmful by-product is created:                 TCDD or 2, 3, 7, 8 – Tetrachlorodibenzoparadioxin. 

TCDD is the chemical that is at the center of the debate surrounding this issue. It’s believed to be responsible for inflicting pain, suffering and death on our veterans.  TCDD has been labeled the most toxic dioxin, and is present in our environment – but at levels considered safe.

The Agent Orange Act of 1991stated in part that the VA needed to compensate Vietnam Veterans for illnesses caused by exposure to defoliants sprayed in Vietnam.  The following is a list of diseases that the VA is compensating for: (Please look at the VA website to get further information on the diseases being compensated for.)

1.        Chloracne                                                                                                         2.        Porphyria Cutanea Tarda
3.        Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. 
4.        Hodgkin’s Disease.
5.        Soft Tissue Sarcoma.
6.        Multiple Myeloma.
7.        Respiratory cancers, including cancers of the lung, larynx, trachea, and bronchus.
8.        Prostate Cancer.
9.        Acute and Sub-Acute Transient Peripheral Neuropathy
10.      Type - 2 Diabetes. 
11.      Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia.

Additionally, the following conditions for children of Vietnam veterans will be compensated:
1.        Spina Bifida. 
2.       Certain other birth defects in the children of women of Vietnam veterans.