What is Agent Orange

What is Agent Orange?

Agent Orange is one of the defoliants or herbicides used by the U.S. Military as part of its herbicidal warfare program from 1962 until 1971.  During this time period, the United States military sprayed nearly 20,000,000 gallons of chemical herbicides and defoliants in Vietnam, eastern Laos and part of Cambodia.

Studies have shown that Vietnam Veterans have increased rates of cancer, and nerve, digestive, skin, and respiratory disorders, in particular, higher rates of acute/chronic leukemia, Hodgkin's lymphoma and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, throat cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer, heart disease, soft tissue sarcoma and liver cancer.  The U.S. Veterans Administration has determined that these symptoms may be associated with exposure to Agent Orange/dioxin, and are on the list of conditions eligible for compensation and treatment.

The Agent Orange Veteran Payment Program was created by the resolution of the Agent Orange Product Liability litigation.  A class action lawsuit was brought by Vietnam Veterans and their families regarding health problems as a result of exposure to chemical herbicides used during the Vietnam war.  The suit was brought against the major manufacturers of these herbicides.

The Settlement Fund was distributed to class members in accordance with a distribution plan established by United States District Court Judge Jack. B. Weinstein.  The plan for distributing the Settlement Fund maximized benefits to class members.  The Payment Program operated over a period of six years, beginning in 1988 and concluding in 1994.  The Settlement Fund distributed a total of $197 million in cash payments.  Of the 105,000 claims received, approximately 52,000 Vietnam Veterans or their survivors received cash payments which averaged about $3800 each.

SFC David D. Hack USA (Ret) was exposed to Agent Orange in  his role as a Career Couselor in visiting multiple firebases throughout the First Infantry Division in 1968.  He was verified in 1993.  Listed below are the various documents and forms which attest to his certification and exposure to Agent Orange in his service to the United States Army.