Download PDF of this full issue: v11n4.pdf (8.2 MB)

Agent Orange Shorts

By VVAW

Schweiker, Sec. of Health & Human Ser.Discovers A.O.

To the total lack of surprise for Vietnam vets, the U.S. government has suddenly discovered that Agent Orange was dumped on military bases and other sites occupied by U.S. troops in Vietnam. Apparently in response to the fact that sources outside the government were prepared to release 'new" information about Agent Orange dumping, Secretary Schweiker of the Department of Health and Human Services announced that, "as part of a continuing search of Vietnam War files...there was a larger exposure area—both personnel and physical—thank was originally admitted."

Surprise, surprise! Back in 1970, veterans talked about U.S. troops in Cambodia (where we weren't supposed to be) and the Nixon government vehemently denied that any such thing could possibly be going on. A couple of years later if all came out that vets had been telling the truth all along. And here we go again. VVAW and other vets groups have been saying, since the Agent Orange story broke in March of 1979, that the defoliant was used all over the country and that almost anyone who served in Vietnam was potentially exposed to Agent Orange. In 1970 we didn't talk about troops in Cambodia because we read it somewhere—we talked about it because we were there! In 1979 we didn't talk about Agent Orange because we researched files—but because we felt it, saw it, breathed, drank it, sprayed it, and have seen the results in our bodies and the bodies of our families.

In his press conference, Secretary Schweiker went on to say, "There are still parts of the iceberg that haven't been seen yet. We do know that there are reports of perimeter clearing where chemicals were dumped to clear clearings in jungles, and obviously a lot of concentrated chemicals had to be dumped there."

Vets saw these chemicals used not only to clear perimeters around bases; we saw it used along roads (to make it more difficult for potential ambushes from covered areas); we saw it used out in the open to kill off potential "hostile" food supplies; we saw it used within hours of the time when U.S. troops would go through an area. Secretary Schweiker's "iceberg" is one hell of a lot larger than he knows, or at least will tell at this point.

The government has—and will continue—to let out this kind of information when they feel they have no choice whatever. Vietnam vets are constantly faced by the full weight of the U.S. government apparatus (to say nothing of the power of the chemical companies) which will refuse to pay one nickel until they have no choice.

Secretary Schweiker says that the study continues. Independent sources say there are 10 and a half miles(that's right—miles!) of files about spraying and who was where and at what time which are in something close to complete disorder, so don't hold your breath waiting for the final solution. And don't wait, either, for the government to act on their new findings. They will act when vets for them to act.

News for Civilian Victims of Agent Orange

With recent revelations by the government and the on-going discussion about Agent Orange poisoning, civilians who were stationed in Vietnam during the war as Defense Department employees, Red Cross workers, USO workers, members of the press or other occupations are beginning to suffer some of the same anxieties and problems as veterans. However, while vets have an agency—the V.A.—which is supposed to help (even in vets' faces up to this point) civilians have no such agency to which to turn. Joan Maiman, chairperson of the Veterans Leadership Conference, state recently on a Chicago TV show, that " a vehicle and methodology must be established whereby civilians who are experiencing the same problems must be dealt with. At this time the Veterans Leadership Conference is receiving numerous inquiries from around the U.S. about Agent Orange." Maiman, herself a civilian nurse who spent a long period of time in Vietnam, stated further that, " The Veterans Leadership Conference is establishing an outreach program and will respond to questions that civilians who spent time in Vietnam may have about Agent Orange exposure."

The VLC may be contacted by writing Veterans Leadership Conference, 300 N. State St #3409, Chicago, IL 60610, or calling (312) 828-9563.

"ILLINOIS LEGISLATURE BUNGLES AGENT ORANGE LEGISLATION"

In the most empty of bows to Vietnam vets, the Illinois Legislature passed an Agent Orange Bill, Senate Bill 16. With a budget of between $30 and $100 thousand, the bill sets up a committee of 13 legislators and private citizens to investigate the problem of Agent Orange among Illinois citizens of the State and report back to the Legislature in two years.

And that's it. Along with passage of the bill came the decision to ax any outreach, treatment or activity programs since they were "inappropriate" and beyond the scope of any State legislature; apparently they had not heard of bills in Texas, Wisconsin, or New Jersey. Finally, to ice the cake, Legislator Carl Berning was appointed to head the committee; Berning has the distinction of being rated as the State's most incompetent legislator by several watchdog groups—a real honor given the competition, but no much help to vets.