The government lied to Americans declaring Agent Orange harmless to humans. Civilians, contractors, and military service personnel followed orders and trusted the government. They handled barrels filled with Agent Orange without protective gear, loaded, sprayed, and traveled through sprayed areas. Soldiers used the empty Agent Orange barrels for showers and as a water source. Rain runoff with Agent Orange flowed to the ocean and spread farther aided by wind currents.

Agent Orange flowed into the ocean and contaminated navy veterans. It got into naval ships, contaminating soldiers' water source. They showered in it, drank it, and brushed their teeth with it. Some navy soldiers never heard about Agent Orange until after their service. They trusted their government and became contaminated in return.