Why did the VA turn their backs on the Vietnam veterans that were clearly suffering from "Agent Orange"?

SPC Richard Zacke — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 15:03:28 -0500

I lost a very close and dear friend from Agent Orange ( called a presumtive disease) he wasn't that bad in the late 70's but he deteriated slowly over the years. They struggled for money so I did what I could like pay a mortage payment here and there. He fought the VA for about 40 years. He gave me book to read about Agent Orange and it went somthing like this.

It was a program of chemical warfare codenamed "Operation Ranch Hand". From 1961 to 1971 the U.S. Military sprayed more than 20 million gallons across 4.5 milion acres of Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.

The herbicides used were in 55 gallon droms with different colored rings on them and were named Agent Pink, Agent Green, Agent Purple, Agent White, Agent Blue and of course the most popular and strongest Agent Orange! Agent Orange came in four different strengths known as AO-1 (agent orange), Agent Orange-2, AO-3 and "Super Orange".

13 Million gallons were used just in Vietnam most of it was "Super Orange". In the production of Agent Orange a bi-product was produced known as DIOXIN which is also produced in other chemical manufacturing including Cigarettes. And of all other forms of manufacturing the Dioxin in Agent Organe was the most danerous to humans. Because of the Dioxin in Agent Orange it had not only immediate effets to humans but it had long term effects. Includeing birth effects and spina bifina.

Short-term exposure to dioxin can cause darkening of the skin, Liver problems and a severe acne skin disease called "Chloracne". Dioxin has been linked to Ishemic Heart disease, hormone disruption, type 2 diabetes, nerve disorders and muscular atrophy (waste away).

I miss my friend everyday and I'n glad the even though he never knew that he won his case his wife and children will benifit from 40 years back pay. RIP "Jim"

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Mar 2 at 2020 3:16 PM

SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 15:16:21 -0500

They didn't want to admit that there was a problem, nor take care of the vets.

Response by SGT Ed Matyjasik made Mar 2 at 2020 3:26 PM

SGT Ed Matyjasik — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 15:26:39 -0500

Good question. I think it all boils down to MONEY. When I got out in 1971 and went to the VA for medical help for combat wounds they told me that the Army lost my medical records from Vietnam and they refused to do anything for me. Then years later I read that the VA did this to thousands of Vietnam veterans. And then around 2004 the DAV did a search for my records and they got them for me. Around 2006 I was rated 100% disabled, 3 years ago I got cancer from Agent Orange exposure. So far as of now I am cancer free. May your friend RIP.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2020 3:37 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 15:37:05 -0500

That's how government health care works

Response by Sgt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 2 at 2020 6:11 PM

Sgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 18:11:29 -0500

SPC Richard Zacke Those of us that are left continue to fight the VA.

Response by SGT Robert Pryor made Mar 2 at 2020 9:44 PM

SGT Robert Pryor — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 21:44:32 -0500

There's nothing funny about the residuals of exposure to herbicides in Viet Nam, but the following statement made me laugh: "Short-term exposure to dioxin can cause darkening of the skin." Now you tell me. All these years I though it was that exposure to the sun, day in and day out, that darkened our skin.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Mar 3 at 2020 10:30 AM

SFC Michael Hasbun — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 10:30:18 -0500

The single most wilfully naive opinion one can hold is the belief that your government cares one bit about you... We are tax cattle, nothing more.

Response by SPC Andrew Murray made Mar 4 at 2020 8:02 AM

SPC Andrew Murray — Wed, 04 Mar 2020 08:02:04 -0500

Consider the following. When an insurance company lets their patients die the patients stop paying the insurance company. When the VA allows their patients to die the VA stops paying the patients.

Response by Mitchell Bullard made Apr 18 at 2020 6:49 PM

Mitchell Bullard — Sat, 18 Apr 2020 18:49:08 -0400

My dad was in Vietnam from'65-'68.He coughed every breath he took until he passed away in Oct.1999. He finally got approved for VA Disability after fighting forYEARS.... HE Passed just shy of 2 YEARS LATER