Agent Orange: 49 years on, Tempe addresses a horrible legacy still looming over Vietnam vets

Tempe City Hall will be lit orange August 26-September 1 to help raise awareness in the community.

PUBLISHED AUG 9, 2024

US Air Force aircraft spraying defoliant over Vietnam.

Tempe, Arizona: The City of Tempe and the Tempe Veterans Commission are observing Agent Orange Awareness Day on Saturday, August 10. On this day, advocates aim to bring light to the continuing toll of the war by placing thousands of orange candles at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

Locally, Tempe City Hall will be lit orange August 26-September 1 to help raise awareness in the community. A mayoral proclamation will also be read at the August 26 Tempe City Council Meeting.

Nearly three million service members served in Vietnam and most returned home. But since then, thousands of Vietnam veterans have fought illnesses related to Agent Orange exposure. This deadly toxin has impacted the lives of thousands of veterans and their families -- and is largely unknown to most Americans.

A US military helicopter spraying Agent Orange during the Vietnam War.

What is Agent Orange?

Agent Orange is one of the most infamous chemical defoliants used by the US military during the Vietnam War. Agent Orange was a mixture of two herbicides: 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T. The latter was contaminated with a dioxin compound known as TCDD, which is highly toxic.

During Operation Ranch Hand (from 1962 to 1971), the US military sprayed approximately 20 million gallons of herbicide over Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. About 11-12 million gallons of this total was Agent Orange.

Why is Agent Orange so dangerous?

The dioxin (TCDD) in Agent Orange is one of the most toxic compounds known to science. It has been linked to a wide range of serious health issues, including various cancers, birth defects, and other chronic diseases.

Were US personell also exposed?

An estimated 2.6 million U.S. military personnel who served in Vietnam were exposed to Agent Orange. The US Department of Veterans Affairs recognizes several conditions as being associated with exposure to Agent Orange, including Hodgkin’s disease, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma, prostate cancer, respiratory cancers, and more. Additionally, the VA recognizes spina bifida in the children of Vietnam veterans as related to Agent Orange exposure.

Has the US government compensated veterans?

The US government has provided compensation to veterans affected by Agent Orange through the Agent Orange Act of 1991. By 2020, the VA had paid out over $300 billion in disability compensation related to Agent Orange exposure.

Large stacks of 55-gallon drums filled with Agent Orange at a US supply base in Vietnam.

Did the manufacturers ever compensate the vets?

There have been numerous lawsuits against the manufacturers of Agent Orange, including a major settlement in 1984 where seven chemical companies, including Monsanto and Dow Chemical, agreed to pay just $180 million to US veterans.

What was the impact in Vietnam?

An estimated 400,000 people were killed or maimed, and about 500,000 children were born with birth defects as a result of exposure to Agent Orange. Vietnam continues to seek international assistance to address the ongoing health and environmental impact of Agent Orange, including cleanup efforts and support for affected individuals.