Agent Orange
An herbicide predominantly used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War.
Agent Orange
What is Agent Orange?
Agent Orange is a mixture of herbicides, primarily 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T, that the U.S. military used extensively during the Vietnam War. The name “Agent Orange” comes from the orange band that marked storage barrels. The military sprayed Agent Orange and other tactical herbicides to defoliate forests and destroy crops.
Why was Agent Orange Used?
The U.S. military employed Agent Orange for two primary strategic objectives: defoliation, to improve visibility and hinder enemy ambushes in Vietnam’s dense jungles, and crop destruction, to disrupt enemy supply lines.
What does Agent Orange do?
The 2,4,5-T component of Agent Orange contained a highly toxic dioxin, TCDD. This contaminant causes severe health problems associated with Agent Orange exposure.
Exposure has been linked to a range of serious conditions, including:
- Cancers: Agent Orange exposure is associated with various cancers, such as leukemia, lymphomas, and soft-tissue sarcomas.
- Birth defects: Agent Orange exposure increases the incidence of severe birth defects in children born to exposed individuals.
- Other health issues: Agent Orange exposure is also linked to conditions like diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, and neurological disorders.
Where was Agent Orange used?
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recognizes that veterans who served in certain locations were likely exposed to Agent Orange. They’ve made it easier for these veterans to get benefits by “presuming” exposure in these areas:
- Vietnam: If you served on land in Vietnam, on the rivers and canals, or even on ships close to the Vietnamese coast (within 12 nautical miles, as defined by law) between January 9, 1962, and May 7, 1975, the VA presumes you were exposed. This includes those who served in the “Blue Water Navy.”
- C-123 aircraft: Those who worked on or around C-123 planes during and after the Vietnam War may have been exposed to leftover Agent Orange residue.
- Korean demilitarized zone: Soldiers who served along the Korean DMZ during a specific period (September 1, 1967, to August 31, 1971) are also presumed to have had exposure.
- Thailand military bases: Veterans who served at U.S. or Thai military bases in Thailand during a certain timeframe (January 9, 1962, to June 30, 1976) are also covered by this presumption.
- Herbicide testing and storage: The VA also recognizes that exposure could have happened at sites in the U.S. and other countries where the military tested or stored herbicides, including locations added more recently by the PACT Act.
Related Blog Posts
VA Expands Agent Orange Benefits Across 129 US Locations, Canada, & India
February 23, 2024
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is expanding eligibility for disability benefits related to Agent Orange exposure.
Breaking Down an Agent Orange Illness Claim
January 3, 2023
Does an Agent Orange illness trouble you? Agent Orange may be one of the most well-known herbicides, and not for a good reason. This defoliant was widely used throughout the 1960s, mainly in Vietna...
Lawmakers Consider Expanding Agent Orange Presumption
May 5, 2021
A bipartisan effort is underway to extend Agent Orange exposure benefits to service members who served in other parts of Southeast Asia during Operation Ranch Hand. Pennsylvania Reps. Brian F...
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