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Agent Orange Report: The Center for Disease Is Out of Control

By Anne Bailey

Anne Bailey, Midwest Coordinator, VVAW

Recent "revelations" from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) regarding their latest Agent Orange "study" were made public. The press called VVAW for a comment and was very surprised that we are not surprised at the results.

Give us a break, folks! How could anyone really believe that the government would admit its complicity in poisoning GI's? How the hell would they get GI's to fight int heir next little adventure?

We'll just have to keep fighting them until the last veteran affected by exposure if either compensated or is dead. Just as with this post-traumatic stress, the government doesn't give benefits out of the goodness of its governmental heart. Veterans have to fight for every crumb.

People can call us "crybabies" all they want. But we don't cry about things—we do something about them. And what is there to do about this latest outrage? Well, the most important thing that vets can do for themselves is to get those medical records together and get to the VA for yet another Agent Orange screening, and another claim should be filed for disability.

If you have cancer and have been told to get your affairs in order, the best thing you can do for the veterans who are left is to make an audio or videotape diary of your thoughts and experiences. Tell people what you'd like them to know—and when you're done, send along a copy to VVAW: we'll find a way to get the information put to good use.

(Kansas City VVAW is putting together both audio and video presentations on our Vietnam experience; you can send information to them at Firebase KC, 7807 N Avalon, Kansas City, MO 64152) The Center for Disease is Out of Control! Do not fight for it. VA programs under 8 years of Ronald Reagan were cut with a very big knife. We do not have enough hospital beds, enough case workers for claims, nor enough staff. If you are going to fight to win your disability, go one step and write to Congress to demand some money for VA programs. And visit you local VA hospital—vets need visits too.