After
class on Monday I was thinking about what to blog about. We had discussed so
many issues: execution, Ron Kovic, monks burning themselves in protest and the
Ho Chi Minh Trail. Out of all these topics, I thought of how horrible Agent
Orange is. Then Tuesday I was in the Veteran Affairs (VA) Hospital and struck
up a conversation with a Veteran who had served two tours in Vietnam and was
now suffering from cancer caused by Agent Orange, which gave me a personal
connection to the negative effects of the chemical. He also told me that his
children had genetic birth defects, which is common in people who were exposed
to the chemical.
I told my wife about my encounter at the VA
and she told me about her best friend, Kate. She was born with physical defects
that, through many surgeries, have almost been corrected. My wife told me that
Kate’s father was in Vietnam and was exposed to Agent Orange and that is the
cause of Kate’s physical impairments. Not only do I have a personal connection
with a person affected by Agent Orange, but my wife does as well.
Six
days ago the VA posted a link for Veterans that were exposed to Agent Orange
and other herbicides used to defoliate Vietnam. This link is also for the
children of these Veterans that suffer like my wife’s friend Kate. The link is:
http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/,
and it is filled with great information and resources.
This Photo shows C1-30's in a staggered formation spraying Agent Orange over the forest canopy, with no regard for who it might be landing on, friend or foe.
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