August 10, 1961, is recognized as the first day Agent Orange test spraying began in Vietnam. Agent Orange (named for the orange stripe painted on the 55-gallon drums it was stored in) was an herbicide produced to clear thick jungle vegetation to expose enemy hiding spots, movement trails, and supply lines. It, along with other “rainbow” chemicals such as Agent Blue, etc. were also used to spray agricultural lands to destroy enemy food crops. Agent Orange was cut with diesel fuel and/or kerosene to create an oily substance so it would cling to anything it came into contact with. Once absorbed, the growth cycle of the plant would accelerate and it would, essentially, grow itself to death in a matter of days. Military grade Agent Orange was inexpensive and quick to produce as any high heat thresholds for safety were disregarded. By doing this, an extremely toxic chemical was created. Our troops were told it was safe. Ground forces were directly sprayed with massive clouds of oily, smelly mist from cargo planes. They slept, ate, and smoked in these contaminated areas. They repurposed the storage barrels into drinking water storage, grills, and makeshift showers. The chemical remains toxic to anything it touches. For YEARS. The flight crews and mechanics of the cargo planes not only absorbed it through their skin but also inhaled it as air particles after the chemical dried onto surfaces. The plane’s structural metal and insulation remained contaminated after Vietnam as they found their way into new service.
Agent Orange was a strategic failure. The enemy simply adapted by moving their supply lines into areas left unsprayed. They increased night operations and used camouflage to blend into barren landscapes. They were smart enough to stockpile food for their troops, so the treated crop lands caused the farmers and peasants to starve. This led to the farmers and peasants joining the ranks of the Vietnamese Army.
Twenty million gallons of Agent Orange was spread throughout Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. It was often mixed up to 50 times the concentration needed for killing vegetation. Today, hot spots of contaminated land are still being cleaned up. Small amounts of the soil are entombed in landfills while higher concentrations have to be heat treated to destroy the dioxin particles.
Our Vietnam Veterans and the Allied Forces that stood beside them are still fighting. For example, leukemia, prostate cancer, Hodgkins and Non-Hodkins lymphoma, Type 2 diabetes, Parkinson’s, Ischemic heart disease, birth defects. All have been linked to Agent Orange exposure. August 10th is Agent Orange Awareness Day. Educate yourself and others of the invisible scars our Vietnam Veterans continue to bear.
Erin Hensel
Auxiliary President