Agent Orange Info

[Hoverbug]

An old Army buddy sent me this and I thought I would post it thinking it may be helpful. Happy Trails!!

http://www.gmasw.com/ao_amts1.htm

[Hoverbug]

An old Army buddy sent me this and I thought I would post it thinking it may be helpful. Happy Trails!!

http://www.gmasw.com/ao_amts1.htm

[Webster]

Basically, if you served in Vietnam, go to any VA Hospital and ask to be checked out by the Agent Orange group there.

There are too many veterans who don't get things checked out and don't realize that they could be sick because of their service. You paid for it, use it. There are many diseases caused by AO...diabetes and prostate cancer are the top two.

[Ray,IN]

Hoverbug that link doesn't work for me.

[Hoverbug]

Ray, I have not been on the forum for a few days, but I just clicked the link and it worked.

George,we have a VA clinic here in KFalls and I have nothing but good things to say about the care I recieve. However, when I was being evaluated for my disability rating I was simply asked if I had been exposed to Agent Orange. My reply was "Not to my knowledge".Boy was I wrong! We all know the agent was used extensively in IV & III Corps but as this info reflects large volumes were put down in I & II Corps as well. My AO. As a Dustoff pilot our unit supported all of II Corp. I also spent 6 weeks at Khe Sahn, Phu Bai and the surrounding area in support of operation Lam Son 719. All of which recieved large doses of the different agents. I'll be updating my VA records. Happy Trails!!

[Webster]

I don't know who that AO doctor was, but he wasn't doing his job. Just asking doesn't cut it. I never got sprayed with the stuff that I know of; however, as a journalist, I flew all over RVN in the same aircraft used to spray it so I had first-hand exposure.

[FloraBama]

My information may be a little dated but for several years I hosted the "Agent Orange Debrief" web forum and also conducted a research analysis of AO exposure on my combat unit.
But to answer the question on who was exposed; the VA policy is that "every service member stationed in South Vietnam is 'assumed' to have been exposed to Agent Orange." As has already been stated here, I would strongly recommend physical examinations for Vietnam vets; yearly if at all possible.
Cheers all.

[Traveling Teacher]

My husband is a Viet Nam vet (USMC) and was exposed to AO as well.

Our first child was anencephalic and stillborn. Our second child was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis when she was 9 yo, and had a malignant brain tumor removed when she was 15 yo (1993). She still has a brainstem tumor that was diagnosed when she was 9 but has just "sat there" causing no problems. She's done great -- had no chemo or radiation -- graduated from college, got married, & is a kindergarten teacher. However, the downside is that she's been told by the doctors at MDAnderson Cancer Center NOT to have children.

My husband and I are 100% convinced this all traces back to AO exposure. The VA lists spinal bifida as a genetic defect that's shown up in the pregnancies of those exposed to AO. Anencephaly is in the spina bifida "family" as well -- open neural tube defect. Because our daughter is not "disabled," she can receive no services or benefits (never mind the enormous yearly medical expenses for MRIs, and the fact that to adopt a child is upwards of $30K).

My husband began having skin disorders about 15 years ago. It was finally diagnosed as psoriasis. It's gotten really bad, and nothing seems to control it. Our daughter's father-in-law is a VN vet, and has type II diabetes. He told us about the VA. When my husband went, he was told that his psoriasis was diagnosed while he was in Viet Nam, but he was never told about it! It has caused very painful psoriatic arthritis, which ended up causing a work disability from the railroad.

We both agree that ANYONE who was in Viet Nam should get into the VA system, because as he's discovered, it was years before he really began having problems that can be linked to AO exposure. Once these new vets coming back from Iraq get into the VA, the waiting list will get longer.

Thanks for the ears!
(formerly of Houston, TX...but now Brenham, TX for retirement)

[JD Allen]

Thanks for posting Agent Orange info. I didn't know about Agent Orange till after I was diagnosed with diabetes. I was a crew chief on a Chinook helicopter in Vietnam and we operated in III and IV corps. As you know, but others may not, anyone in Vietnam for one day is considered to be exposed to Agent Orange no matter where they were or what they did. We flew into and out of field sites daily everywhere in the south part of the country. I expect I was exposed to Agent Orange without being aware of the exposure.

I moved to Klamath Falls (Keno) after I got out of the Army and my wife and I lived there for 9 years. I worked for Weyerheauser Timber Company for 5 years and then I went to OIT for 4 years. We moved to the Seattle area after I graduated. I was also a Drill Sergeant in the US Army Reserves while we were in Klamath Falls. Later I was once again a Chinook helicopter crew chief after we moved to the Seattle area. I retired from the US Army Reserves in 1995 and I will be eledagable for full retirement in April 2008.

My father and mother, Milo & Vi, moved to Klamath Falls in 1973. They were active in a Klamath Falls RV club in the late 1980's and 1990's. Perhaps you ran into them at some event.

[Rick 2005 Dolphin 5376]

Not nearly as bad as direct agent Orange exposure but Johnson and Johnson likes it enough to expose our children to it in "No more tears shampoo". To make Sodium lauryl sulfate less irritating to the eyes they modify it to make Sodium laureth sulfate. A by produt of the modification is Dioxin 14. Ingrediant #1 in AO.
Our company "Neways" has been aware of this for 20 years and has no harmful ingrediants in any of their products
www.livesafeandhealthy.net

[Danzman]

FACT: I was diagnosed with type II diabetes and was automatically given 20 % disability by VA. After that started I was given 20% from DA. Da takes the money from your retirement check then gives you another check for that amount that is tax free. It's worth the hassle. But you have to have served in Nam.

[SideRoads]

Anyone who served in Nam is eligible for the AO screening.

I put off for years avoiding checking into it, because of the VA rep during/post VN. Until, my son did an internship with the VA in Gainesville and he encouraged me to register and get examined. It took 6-8 months to get the appointment, but the fishing was good during that time.

It is the best thing I did, and the VA was outstanding. It was one of the best physical exams I ever had, and the AO screening process was excellent.

I have excellent health insurance, but have returned yearly for the annual exam, because VA has been extremely thorough.

Our family has no history of any major health issues including diabetes.

However, the VA has followed my sugar levels and helped to ID a potential problem that has risen each year since the initial exam.

You will not be sorry if you go through the process of AO Screening and exam. The folks seemed genuinely concerned and competent regarding the exams and followups.

Good Luck

[Traveling Teacher]

RICK 2005
DOLPHIN 5376

I just went and looked at my store brand baby shampoo and it lists Sodium Trideceth Sulfate -- is this an AO byproduct, too???

Thanks for the eyeopener! (Just purchased it last week because my husband's opthalmogolist recommended using it!)

~~ LeAnne Rigsby

[Rick 2005 Dolphin 5376]

Yes it is and most people do not know. If you'd like, I will send you a "toxic Bathroom guide". It has a list of harmful ingredients that 99% of personal care products have in them, that you want to stay away from. Send me an email with your mailing address and I'll get you out a package of info about my company's safe and effective products. I make this offer to anyone who would like to know more. Julia and I are passionate about this mission. Let me know if you'd like to know more