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Logan Sume
Sarah Crist
English 4
20 November 2014
Legal actions Of Agent Orange
Whether it was testing different strategies or testing different weapons the feedback was always
there giving them the implemented tools to combine the force of brute strength and intelligence
ultimately creating one of the most deadly chemicals on the face of planet earth. This Chemicals name is
Agent Orange and even though there is color in the name the chemical itself it is actually a clear liquid
that got its name because of the solid Orange ring around the barrel it was contained in. These barrels
were put into planes, helicopters, boats, and on the backs of ground troops allowing them to spray from
every angle and altitude possible to make sure they got what they intended. The first action Agent Orange
saw was in Operation Ranch Hand in 1962 lasting until 1971. The purpose of it was to destroy as much
Jungle life as possible because the Vietnamese were using it as camouflage (Veterans Health Council).
The reason this chemical is so deadly is because the compounds used in it are linked to some of
the worlds most deadly or harmful medical conditions. Most suffered from cancers like Lung and
respiratory, Hodgkin disease, multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, brain tumors and even breast cancer in
men which for the most part is highly unlikely in men. How a person is affected by this chemical varies
to where the exposure was on the body and if any of it was ingested (Agent Orange and Cancer). The
exposure people experienced all dealt with what their task at hand was. Overall their job determined the
injuries they suffered, soldiers who shot it from helicopters experienced a lot of internal problems because
of the wind blowing back and having the mist ingested into the lungs, while infantrymen had a lot more
difficulties on the external side of things because they were in such close contact with it. Of the 4.8

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million in total that have been reported with Agent orange exposure only a third of them lived longer than
a few years but doing so with deadly lingering side effects that were even passed on to children.
To most the Vietnam era was seen as a time of change for many reasons. Whether it was from a
political standpoint with many nations like Vietnam falling under the communist curtain or music
becoming a more hardcore style of rock n roll it was all starting to take a turn for the better to a majority
of people on the domestic side of things but unfortunately for those on the foreign side fighting for the
freedom of south Vietnam insuring they didn't fall victim to communism, they did not see the change they
were looking for. After a few solitary missions focusing on distributing the mist onto specific areas of
jungle life or DMZ zones they starting noticing the terrible effects it was having on the soldiers so
finally came the class action lawsuits that began in the late 1970s. Eventually in 1984 the case ended and
the companies responsible for creating the herbicides were sued for a total of one hundred and eighty
million dollars making it one of the biggest in history.
This was seen as a blessing and a curse because there were literally millions of people who were
seeking their compensation but could not receive the money right away. Since this was an issue there
were two different types of payment plans set up. A payment program, which provided cash
compensation to totally disabled veterans and the families of deceased veterans. The second option was a
Class assistance program which provided funds for social services, organizations and networks for the
purpose of establishing and maintaining programs to benefit the class involved as a whole. What made
these veterans applicable for these benefits or payments all depended on the location of their service,
branch of military, and death or injuries could be proven to be linked to Agent Orange (Agent Orange
settlement Fund).
Given these facts it does not change the horrible effects Agent Orange had on the country as a
whole. Besides the pain and suffering it caused millions it hurt Vietnams economy, destroyed wildlife,
and has contaminated rivers used for drinking and bathing resources. It still remains a question of how

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much damage Agent Orange really did to the country of Vietnam but all the different variables it seemed
to destroy is still on the rise and will continue to grow until there is no trace of it left.