Years after the veterans' service in Vietnam, they fell ill, being diagnosed with multiple diseases. Nobody understood the cause of the sudden outbreak of sickness in the veterans. People began to speculate Agent Orange as the cause of seeing its damage towards the Vietnam jungle. Soldiers who came in close contact with Agent Orange or any other chemical herbicide were the only people sick. Veterans acknowledged this fact, recalling being sprayed or seeing sprayings of Agent Orange, some traveled through contaminated areas. Nobody questioned if Agent Orange was harmful, only if you brought it up.
Are You Being Honest?
Don Blackburn, Vietnam War Veteran, Video Courtesy of Timeline
Nothing?
Q. Did you ever advise anyone in the Department of Defense that you had heard that Agent Orange contained a poison?
A. No.
Q. What, if anything, did you do with this information in the late sixties, sir?
A. Nothing.
~ Richard Hickman, Manage of US Government Marketing for Dow
More information on Agent Orange would be released in the upcoming years, angering veterans' trust towards their government, breaking the barrier of secrecy and lies.
Barrier Of Denial
After learning Agent Orange's toxic effects, veterans requested compensation from the Disabled Veterans Association for their disabilities. Reports were denied due to lack of evidence of their disease caused by Agent Orange, no evidence of serving in Vietnam, and some ignored.
Former Senators
“It is time for their wait to end. It is time for this country to fulfill its commitment.” ~ Former Senator George Mitchell
"To those who say, 'We don't have enough evidence,' I would ask-how high does the body count have to go? How many Vietnam veterans have to die before we have 'enough evidence' to start admitting the truth and compensating veterans? This Administration's rhetoric is out of touch with reality. They tell us that Vietnam veterans are "national heroes." But they continue to turn a deaf ear to Vietnam veterans who need help." ~ Former Senator John Kerry
"Those who so nobly served our country & their families have been patient long enough. This should not be a political debate. They deserve answers. They deserve action. This is a fair and equitable approach to deal with the controversy that surrounds Agent Orange. For too long, much too long, the government response to Ao has been based on opinion, perhaps even politics, but certainly not on facts. . . Our VN vets served our nation with dignity and honor. In spite of the risks, they answered our country’s call to fight. It is time we settle the controversy of Agent Orange." ~ Former Senator John McCain
Same Company, Different Opinions
“The VA has to be changed. It moves to slow. The attitude out there is that the VA is in control and things will be done their way or they won’t be done. The Helena VA hospital had film about delayed stress for six months before the administration allowed anyone to see it. The VA just doesn’t want to acknowledge that the problems affecting Vietnam Veterans exist. The Vietnam Veterans just don’t fill the same molds as the World War II Veteans.” ~ Carrol Jenkins, Former VA Employee
“That Is nonsense. We have no desire at all to cover up or hide behind bueaucracy to negate any possible relationship between illness and Agent Orange.”
~ Dr. Paul A. Haber, Assistant Chief Medical Director At The VA
“The VA is a bargain for this country when it comes to health care.” ~ Frank Buxton, Deputy Director Of Veteran Affairs
“We have the best system of health care for veterans of any system on Earth.” ~ Ray Mazzeral, Spokesperson For WilkesBarre VA Medical Center
Veterans who could not recieve compensation argued against the Disabled Veterans Association, going to court to prove their existence in Vietnam. The Disabled Veterans Association used uneducated studies and ignored conditions veterans faced in Vietnam, they believed smoking caused their disease. The Disabled Veterans Association would continue to receive backlash from veterans, filing lawsuits for compensation, recieving tons of evidence, breaking the barrier of denial.