Agent Orange: Contaminating Americans and Vietnamese
Brief History Of A Weaponized Herbicide
In the 1950s, chemist J.J. Krause invented 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T as herbicides for killing weeds in rice fields. Years after the U.S involvement in Vietnam, bureaucracies reccomended to use 2,4,-D and 2,4,5-T as a jungle defoliant as an idea reached the Pentagon. President Kennedy endorsed supporting Vietnam with the latest technology to fight communism including this new herbicide.
Draft Letter From President John F. Kennedy to President Ngo Dinh Diem 1962, Image Courtesy of Docs Teach
Disregarding Standard Research Protocols From The Start
Dozens of chemical companies contributed to the development of Agent Orange (2,4-D and 2,4,5-T are used in the ingredients of Agent Orange). In their haste to put it into combat zones, the following corners were cut.
According to Dr. James Clary, former scientist of the Chemical Weapons Branch,
"We Never considered a scenario in which our own personnel would become contaminated with the herbicide and not worry about the enemy."
The concentration of weaponized Agent Orange would increase fifty times more than sprayed on U.S. agricultural products. Americans spraying and being sprayed were under the wrong impression that they were using the domestic formula that had been used for a decade without serious environmental damage.
Secret Spray Missions
The US and the military secretly used modified C-123s for spray missions in Vietnam. Pilots practiced spraying methods in Vietnam, learning to maneuver around their enemies. The US tried its best to keep the missions secret, hiding the planes in bases in Vietnam and sneaking in 35,000 pounds of chemical herbicides into Vietnam. These missions would be known as Operation Ranch Hand.
South Vietnam Defoliation Missions
South Vietnam Defoliation Missions, Image Courtesy of PROJECT CHECO
Spraying Agent Orange in Vietnam
Helicopter Spraying Agent Orange, Image Courtesy of Cybersarge
Four Planes Spraying Agent Orange, Image Courtesy of the National Museum US Air Force
Multiple Planes Spraying Agent Orange, Image Courtesy of Cybersarges
Aerial Footage of Planes Spraying Agent Orange in Vietnam, Video Courtesy of Daily Mail
A Plane Spraying Agent Orange in Vietnam, Image Courtesy of Business Insider
Planes Spraying Agent Orange Over Rivers in Vietnam, Image Courtesy of Cybersarges
Plane Spraying Agent Orange in May, 1966, Image Courtesy of Politco
Barrels of Chemical Herbicide
Soldiers Sorting Out Barrels of Chemical Herbicides, Image Courtesy of Cybersarges
Soldiers and Barrels Filled With Agent Orange, Image Courtesy of Cybersarges
A Barrel of Agent Orange, Image Courtesy of Global Risk Mitigation
Soldiers Handling Barrels Filled With Agent Orange, Image Courtesy of Cybersages
Rows of Barrels Containing Agent Orange, Image Courtesy of Cybersarges
Storage Containing Agent Orange, Image Courtesy of Research Gate
Barrels of Agent Orange, Image Courtesy of Cybersarges
Multiple Rows of Barrels Containing Agent Orange Located on a Island, Image Courtesy of Research and Tell
The Aftermath
Agent Orange contaminated everything it contacted: air, water, food, and soil. Leaves fell off trees as expected. Crops withered, died, and replanted crops failed. Rivers turned dark brown, poisoned fish rendered inedible. It was a success for the U.S government but a tragedy towards Vietnam's ecosystem.
The Jungle
Before and After the Defoliation Spray Runs in Vietnam, Image Courtesy of Scroll.in
Multiple Trees Dead in Vietnam, Image Courtesy of Global Risk Mitigation
Whole Forest Dead Due to Defoliation, Image Coutesy of Global Risk Mitigation
Silent Forest in Vietnam, Image Courtesy of Cybersages
Exposed Trenchs in Vietnam By Agent Orange, Image Courtesy of the National Musuem of The US Air Force
Sprayed Section Near the River in Vietnam, Image Couresty of All Thats Interesting
Trees Losing Their Leaves From Agent Orange, Image Courtesy of Global Risk Mitigation
"The river itself looked absolutely terrible. It looked like the color of coffee. I'm up there on the deck, and I'm looking at that river, and all this crap floating through it, its like a dead river, and not much vegetation along the side. "
~ Dave Maier, Contaminated Vietnam Veteran
The government would continue to hide the toxic ingredients in Agent Orange after the spray missions. Scientists would delete studies and change the ingredients making it seem less toxic. Millions of people would be sprayed and suffer from the governments' decisions.