Vietnam Veterans Still Fighting Agent Orange

For many Vietnam veterans in Sumner County, across the nation, the Vietnam conflict still isn’t over as the effects of exposure to Agent Orange takes its toll on the veterans, their descendants and survivors.

“Operation Ranch Hand” was the code name for the spraying of a host of herbicides, primarily Agent Orange, by the U.S. military in Vietnam and other Southeast Asian countries to protect American and allied troops by defoliating the dense jungle vegetation hiding enemy positions.

Over the past few decades, a substantial body of scientific and medical research has shown that Agent Orange and other herbicides containing dioxin have a high probability of causing or contributing to a variety of health conditions suffered by veterans who served in Vietnam between January 1962 and May 1975. Approximately 2.8 million veterans served in Southeast Asia.

No one knows for sure how many of these veterans were exposed to Agent Orange. Some were deployed in areas during and immediately after spraying operations, while others actually handled Agent Orange and did the spraying. Veterans exposed to Agent Orange and its dioxin contaminants have reported a variety of serious health problems and symptoms.

The Veterans Administration has determined that 13 diseases suffered by Vietnam veterans, including prostate cancer, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, respiratory cancers (of the lung, bronchus, larynx or trachea), chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Type II diabetes and some heart disease are among those caused by exposure to Agent Orange. Vietnam veterans and their families who may have suffered from these diseases may file for compensation. Some birth defects affecting children and grandchildren may have also been caused by Agent Orange.

---- Jerald Terwilliger Former Chairman American Cold War Veterans "We Remember" ---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Teams to Search Cambodia for Vietnam War MIAs

I have for a long time been a staunch supporter of the POW/MIA problems. It is a tragedy that

so many are still Missing. Their families and loved ones need and deserve closure.

Everyone please contact your elected officials and demand a full and complete accounting of all

MIAs from the countries involved. We must bring them home. They are not forgotten.

 

Teams to Search Cambodia for Vietnam War MIAs

 

From a Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command News Release

WASHINGTON, Feb. 4, 2011 - Two archeological teams from the U.S. Joint Prisoners of War/Missing in Action Accounting Command are scheduled to arrive in Cambodia soon to search for Americans unaccounted-for from the Vietnam War, and physicians and nurses from military commands in Hawaii will accompany them to participate in a health engagement mission.

As part of the recovery portion of this dual-purpose deployment, more than 40 recovery team members will excavate a burial site and an underwater aircraft crash site in search of four missing Americans in Cambodia's Kampong Cham and Kracheh provinces.

The deployment, expected to last about 40 days, marks the command's 44th joint field activity in Cambodia, officials said.

Recovery teams search for human remains, life-support items and other material evidence that may further the identification of Americans missing from past conflicts.

In addition to recovery efforts, U.S. and Cambodian personnel will participate in a medical engagement outreach event, treating 4,000 to 8,000 people in rural and highly underserved communities, officials said. The specialized 12-member team of experts in various medical specialties will provide basic health assistance, laboratory services and optometry examinations.

The U.S. medical team members are from Tripler Army Medical Center, the 18th Medical Command and the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command. U.S. and Cambodian physicians will reinforce medical capabilities by participating in an information exchange, benefitting both countries educationally and socio-culturally, officials added.

"[Tripler] is sending physician residents from OB/GYN and family medicine to conduct expert exchanges with local physicians, and will be invited to work alongside the Khmer physicians and treat their patients," said Army Capt. Drew Webb, a Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command physician assistant.

This will be the first time a Tripler resident program has deployed to a foreign country on a humanitarian outreach mission, Webb added.

"The big takeaway for all of this is that the [Tripler] residents will get training and experience in such a unique environment," he said.

Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command is a jointly manned U.S. Pacific Command organization of more than 400 military and civilian specialists that has investigated and recovered missing Americans since the 1970s, officials said, noting that 1,702 Americans still are listed as missing in action from the Vietnam War.


Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

DOD announces Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemeration

                The Department of Defense announced today its program to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. The program will:

              - Thank and honor veterans of the Vietnam War, including personnel who were held as prisoners of war or listed as missing in action, for their service and sacrifice on behalf of the United States and to thank and honor the families of these veterans.

              - Highlight the service of the armed forces during the Vietnam War and the contributions of federal agencies and governmental and non-governmental organizations that served with, or in support of, the armed forces.

             - Pay tribute to the contributions made on the home front by the people of the United States during the Vietnam War.

             - Highlight the advances in technology, science, and medicine related to the military research conducted during the
Vietnam War.

             - Recognize the contributions and sacrifices made by the allies of the United States during the Vietnam War.

                DoD representatives will coordinate with other federal agencies, veteran groups, state, local government and non-government organizations for their input in Vietnam War commemoration activities. For more information call 877-387-9951 or visit the official website at http://www.vietnamwar50th.com/ .

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans
"We Remember"

---------------- "And so the greatest of American triumphs... became a peculiarly joyless victory. We had won the Cold War, but there would be no parades." -- Robert M. Gates, 1996

Do You Like the Oldies Music?

Here is a link that supposedly contains every song recorded during the Vietnam War.
http://www.micom.net/songs

A lot of songs from the Cold War Era. Click on a title and travel back in time. Enjoy
and don't feel old, just feel better.

Jerald Terwilliger
National Chairman
American Cold War Veterans,
"We Remember"