The Effects of Agent Orange

If you were to ask the seven million Vietnamese that were exposed to Agent Orange about their feelings about the war, what would they say? “I have no future, no happiness,” said Do Duc Diu. He went on to say that he lost eleven of his children to this deadly toxin (Agent Orange Record). Nineteen million gallons of Agent Orange were sprayed across South Vietnam leading to the death of more than 400,000 Vietnamese (Orange Innovation). Agent Orange had numerous devastating effects on not only the people intended but also other innocent people not involved with the war.

Agent Orange was created by a group of chemical companies including Dow, Monsanto, Hercules, Northwest Industries, Diamond Shamrock and North American Phillips (Agent Orange Record). These companies created Agent Orange so the U.S. Military could clear the dense jungles, where the Viet Cong where taking refuge (Orange Innovation). Also Agent Orange was sprayed strategically to destroy crops in the Vietnamese villages. When humans are exposed to Agent Orange they are at risk to more than a dozen different cancers and diseases (Vietnam Veterans of America).

Agent Orange was sprayed from the years of 1962 to 1971 by airplanes, boats, helicopter and soldiers with backpacks. They sprayed 3,181 villages, wreaking havoc and devastation to these areas. Not only did the Vietnamese suffer from the after-effects of Agent Orange, but some U.S. soldiers also became sick due to this deadly toxin. In the U.S., people were exposed as well. The employees that were loading the tubs on to the planes and those who also handled the backpacks of it were affected. At the U.S. Army Chemical Corps. The workers were impacted because the barrels were stored on site before th...

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...emical companies that helped produce Agent Orange. Yannacone filed a class action lawsuit for Reutershans case against six chemical companies that helped produce Agent Orange. The case grew as lawyers across America started representing more people affected by Dioxin. The case ended up in Jack Weinstein’s court at the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in New York City. The night before the trial Weinstein tried to come up with a settlement option. Weinstein thought the chemical companies had a weak defense and could not see the jury siding with them. Weinstein thought the chemical companies had a weak defense and could not see the jury siding with them. The companies agreed with a settlement as long as they did not have to own up to it. Now that closer was brought to this case, those looking for compensation received it and the talk of Agent Orange died down.