Latest Chronology on Agent Orange and Children

FORGOTTEN Our Innocent Children

Born & Being Born with Deformities

Caused by their fathers' exposure

to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War

A CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OF REPORTS AND SCIENTIFIC STUDIES

Which Reveals Our Government's Deliberate Malfeasance and Deception

By Richard E Phenneger

Heartache etches the face of Vietnam veteran Al Martinelli, with his son Christopher, underscoring our U.S. Government's tragic abandonment of our Vietnam veterans' children - innocent victims of Agent Orange.

-- Picture by Gabe Green, Coeur dAlene Press

www.vstnow.org ~ [email protected] [email protected]

of 4

A "MORAL OBSCENITY"

THAT SHOULD SHOCK OUR NATION'S CONSCIENCE

I want to tell you a tragic story, long under wraps and cruelly distorted. It must be told once and for all,

clearly, provably, and completely free of political or partisan bias. It is a story of how hundreds of

thousands of American and Vietnamese children, born and yet-to-be born, became innocent victims of

AGENT ORANGE (AO) during the Vietnamese War. It is a story of American malfeasance and cover-up,

falsifications and deceptions at the highest levels of government.

Agent Orange is a powerful and deadly concoction. It contains TCDD (2,3,7,8tetrachlogodibenzo-para-

dioxin), one of the most toxic manmade chemicals known to humankind150,000 times the toxicity of

arsenic. And it was on millions of our soldiers that this destructive concoction was wantonly expended.

The objective key to the whole is shown in the attached CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER OF REPORTS AND

SCIENTIFIC STUDIES in which the overriding opinions from the scientific community should have been

warning enough for anyone, even in time of war. All reports and studies shown in Column A were paid

for, or manipulated by, our Federal Government. The reports and studies listed in Column B were

conducted by independent scientists. (The differences are well defined in the two columns A and B.)

The tragedy started in the early 1960s with the spraying of AO in the Vietnam War. Based on

documented facts our Government knew as early as 19521* that AO was dangerous to health, but it told

our soldiers and the international community that it was not harmful. However, in November 1961

President Kennedy approved the use of Herbicide (Dioxin) spraying in Vietnam. For the following year,

Presidential approval was required to spray Herbicides on any Vietnam target, troops or villages. Then

in late 1962 President Kennedy delegated limited authority to order defoliation missions (herbicide

spraying) to the U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam and our military leaders and they were continued

until April 15, 1970. On this day the U.S. Surgeon General issued a warning that Agent Orange might be

hazardous to our health. Simultaneously the Secretaries of Agriculture, Health, Education and Welfare

and the Interior jointly announced the suspension of it use. Why? Because Agent Orange (2,4,5-T)

caused birth defects. By then the international community was of one voice in condemning the use of

Agent Orange in combat operations and against civilian populations. However, one name stands out,

the name of a widely admired and openly honest American military leader: Admiral Zumwalt, Chief of

Naval Operations. Throughout all the studies, arguments, counter-arguments and cover-ups, this great

man held on to and articulated the real truth about the evil of Agent Orange. He was ignored.

* A 1 or 4, etc. at the end of a word refers to the source of the information provided, which is located on pages 15-17 of the

Chronological listing of reports and scientific studies.

of 4

The Department of Veterans Affairs ("VA") estimated that 4,200,0004 of our Vietnam veterans were

exposed to AO. Many of the children they fathered were born with major deformities and illnesses.

Independent Scientific Studies proved these deformities and illnesses were the result of their fathers' DNA

being altered by AO.14/15 Hidden Federal Government studies also confirm this fact.7 Yet the denial of

truth continued. WHY? Why would any government do this? The answer lies in a series of memos from

President Regan's Agent Orange Work Group ("AOWG") that ordered the manipulation of data and the

altering of scientific conclusions to hide the truth that AO was the cause of deformed children fathered

by Vietnam Soldiers exposed to AO.40/45/47 The White House had determined that the Federal

Government could not afford the cost of caring for these deformed and ill children.28 When these

soldiers were sent to war in the 1960s they were lied to about AO. When they returned home they

were deliberately abandoned to suffer the life-long consequences of AO exposure to the children they

fathered.

Today, we have hundreds of thousands of families, both in the United States and Vietnam, struggling

with the burden of caring for children suffering from their fathers' exposure to AO. Our Government

denies its complicity. The fact that the White House ordered the alteration and manipulation of data

to hide the truth is shocking. It is also shocking that the Oval Office ordered the herbicide spraying as

early as 1961.

In the ongoing research that I was conducting, a local Vietnam veteran, Al Martinelli, came to my

attention. His story is typical of countless ones available to anyone who cares. His story is being cited

here because it generated real interest on the part of the local Coeur d'Alene Press which then

prompted The Press to conduct its own due diligence. Since then over 40,000 copies of this story have

been downloaded, shared or mailed. The story is as follows.

Al Martinelli was a Navy Reservist stationed on the USS Cleveland LPD7 (the "Cleveland") from

November 1967 to December 1968. The Cleveland operated between DaNang and Hue, very near the

coast and at the mouth of the Qua Viet and Hue Rivers. The ship was close enough to the shore to be

exposed to offshore drift of spraying operations by C-123 aircraft at the mouth of the Qua Viet River.

The Cleveland (an amphibious transport dock ship, crewed by 164 officers, 396 enlisted and 840 troops,)

supported the "Mike Boats;" delivering troops and supplies to the battle fields and retrieving troops

after they patrolled in the rivers and operated on land. When the Mike Boats returned to the Cleveland

with soldiers covered with dirt, mud and water contaminated with Agent Orange, Al and his fellow

crewmen became contaminated as they worked on the Boats and helped our battlefield soldiers.

Al fathered two children, each born with major anomalies. After his first child was born with nervous

system defects and skeletal defects (Hypo Condroplasia), he and his wife (Sharon) consulted with a team

of doctors and asked if they dared to have any more children. The doctors searched the Martinellis'

medical records for any history of birth deformitiesnone existed. Al and Sharon were advised that the

chances of having another deformed child was one in a million. So they had another boy. He was born

with Down's Syndrome, defects of the digestive system and hip abnormalities, deformities totally

unrelated to the first child. The doctor that worked with the Martinellis was shocked. Based on their

medical history, such deformities were impossible! When Al took the 2012 North Idaho Vietnam

Veterans Agent Orange Survey he realized and confirmed that his two sons' deformities were the result

of his exposure to Agent Orange during the 1968 Tet Counter-offensive in Vietnam.

of 4

Attachment 2 is the Coeur d'Alene Press publication of the Martinelli story - Fighting for the next

generation.

In conducting its own due diligence, the CDA Press contacted the Department of Veterans Affairs ("VA").

Randy Noller, a spokesman for the VA in Washington DC, responded to the documented government

denial of responsibility for Agent Orange deformities by saying, ". . . VA makes these decisions relying on

our scientific advisors from the independent Institute of Medicine [IOM] of the National Academy of

Sciences [NAS]." "IOM has ongoing analysis of the scientific literature looking at questions of health

effects from exposure to Agent Orange, including birth defects." However, let's look at the actual history

in the attached Chronological Order of Reports and Scientific Studies:

A. 1969 - Page 3, right column, paragraph 3 states, ". . .NAS Research Council Committee received a

"confidential" report prepared by the Bionetrics Research Council Committee "BRC" that 2,4,5-T

(which contains TCDD) showed a significant potential to increase birth defects." Contrary to Mr.

Noller's statement, this NAS sponsored report was ignored - not relied upon.

B. 1970 - Page 4, right column, paragraph 3. - Use of 2,4,5 - T (which contains TCDD, or 2,3,4,8-

tertrachlogodibenzo-para-dioxin) was a "teratogen" (causing developmental malformations &

monstrosities - birth defects). Dow also confirms the BRC/NAS report, when dioxin was disbursed

in quantities exceeding production specifications, birth defects did occur. Again, the VA ignored

these findings that supported the conclusions of the NAS in 1969.

C. 1974 - Page 5, right column, paragraph 1 - NAS expressed concern over TCDD because of (1) it's very

high toxicity to animals, (2) it's presence in Agent Orange, (3) preliminary reports of presence

of TCDD in fish in Vietnam, and (4) the lack of any data permitting assessment of TCDD effects on

humans. The NAS recommendation that long-term studies be made did not start until 18 years later

and birth defects were not included in the studies.

D. 1980 - Page 6, right column, paragraph 2. - An anonymous memorandum sent to Senator Daschle

on VA stationary which stated; ". . . Agent Orange and Agent Blue, are mutagenic and teratogenic.

This means they intercept the genetic DNA message processed on an unborn fetus, thereby

resulting in deformed children being born. Therefore the veteran would appear to have no ill

effects from exposure but he would produce deformed children due to the breakage in his genetic

chain . . ."

E. 2010 - Page 13, right column, paragraph 3. - IOM Veterans and Agent Orange: Update. IOM stated

"Work needs to be undertaken to resolve questions regarding several health outcomes, most

importantly COPD, tonsil cancer, melanoma, brain cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and paternally

transmitted effects to offspring." As late as 2010 the VA has continued to ignore the IOM's

recommendations regarding birth defects. Clearly, birth defects had not been researched by the

IOM or NAS.

Mr. Noller's statement that the IOM has an ongoing analysis ". . .including defects" is blatantly false. The

1991 Agent Orange Act (P.L. 102-4) instructed the VA to commission the IOM to conduct an analysis

of the effect of Agent Orange on the health of Vietnam soldiers. However, birth defects were not

included. (Note page 11 of the attached Chronological Study, right column, starting at paragraph 4.)

of 4

Mr. Martinelli's case is but one of tens of thousands that could be cited, all of which prove out the

warnings of the majority scientific community, of Admiral Zumwalt and other highly respected and

credible participants in the debate. Furthermore, the havoc wrought upon hundreds of thousands of

Vietnamese children is as much a part of the story as anything else.

The problem is not just the VA's denial, it is the failure of Congress to properly oversee the Department

of Veteran Affairs. The data outlined in the Chronological Order of Reports and Scientific Studies is not

new. The real tragedy is: (1) the continued failure of the Oval Office to recognize the enormous harm

the Federal Government has inflicted on the soldiers it sent to Vietnam and the children these soldiers

fathered, and (2) the failure of Congress to fix a problem they have known about for decades. Where

does the buck stop? What must we, the 21,000,000 Veteran families, mothers, fathers, grandmothers

and grandfathers do? These families consist of at least 60,000,000 voters. The answer is simple, the

task daunting.

We must act as one and demand that our White House and Congress: (1) stop the ongoing cover-up,

falsifications and deceptions that have caused the early death of hundreds of thousands of our Vietnam

veterans and the birth of untold thousands of ill and deformed children, (2) complete the Agent Orange

Exposure Study that was ordered by Congress four decades ago, but cancelled by the White House to

hide this massive, life destroying cover-up, and (3) establish a Trust Fund to care for these children who,

because of the failures of Congress, cannot care for themselves. The Trust Fund can also advance

scientific research to reverse the damage done to the DNA of our Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent

Orange.

The cost of this is primarily your time. Will you devote the time to flood our Congressional leaders with

your demands to fix the problem? VST has the legal talent to help make this happen. We need your

help and will provide you all of the materials and contacts you will need. Let VST know you are on board

by e-mailing us at [email protected] and simply say: "YES, I will help to get Congress to fix the problem."

Please send this letter and Chronological Study to everyone you know. Ask them to join in the battle.

I want to stress that my passion (and I hope yours, too) is generated by conscience, by a plea for the

exercise of universal moral values, a plea to protect and care for our children, born and yet-to-be born.

It is not driven by politics, or partisan flimflammery. It is an outright plea for justice and rightness and

plain, unqualified honesty by our Federal Government.

Can you imagine the impact of mothers, fathers, grandmothers and grandfathers joining with Al and

Sharon Martinelli and countless thousands of others in seeking the truth and identifying wrongdoing

Fighting for the next generation?

Richard Phenneger

President VST

attachments

A special note - the four-year cost of developing the Chronological Order of Reports and Scientific Studies has been totally born by trusted friends, educators, writers, attorneys, committed volunteers and scientists who care. Without them we would have failed. They have created the foundation upon which we stand. If you can help going forward, it would be wonderful. $5.00 will go a long way. Veteran Services Transparency, Inc. (VST) is a 501(c)(19) Corporation - Federal Tax ID #27-1042577

CHRONOLOGICAL ANALYSIS

OF REPORTS AND SCIENTIFIC STUDIES

"ATTACHMENT 1"

Revised - 04/08/2014 ATTACHMENT 1 Page 1

+

1962 Purple and Blue were the first herbicides to arrive in

Vietnam. Later, it was determined Purple had a

higher concentration of TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-

dibenzo para dioxin) [DIOXIN] than any of the

(Continued)

1943 A botanist, Arthur Galston studied the

compound triiocobenzoic acid (a plant growth

hormone) in an attempt to adapt soybeans to a short

growing season. He found that excessive usage

caused catastrophic defoliation a finding later

used to develop herbicides disbursed in Vietnam.1

1943 The U.S. Army contacted the University of

Chicago to study the possible use of herbicides (2,4-D

& 2,4,5-T) to destroy enemy crops in War. This grew

out of a warning by NAS (National Academy of

Sciences) to the Secretary of War of the potential

dangers to the U.S. of biological warfare. 92/94

1950 Most of the chemical industry knew that

large quantities of TCDD may be formed as a

byproduct of the 2,4,5-T manufacturing process if

the manufacturing procedures were not carefully

controlled. (TCDD is a carcinogen a cancer-causing

substance.)5

1952 Internal memoranda revealed that Monsanto

(a major manufacturer of 2,4,5-T) had informed the

U.S. Army Officials that its 2,4,5-T (later called Agent

Orange and Purple) was contaminated during

production with TCDD (DIOXIN); DIOXIN is 150,000

times more toxic than arsenic. It is the most dangerous

molecule ever created by man.64/7

COLUMN B COLUMN A

The tragic chronological history of how untold thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands, of children became innocent victims of AGENT ORANGE ("AO) is outlined below. AO contains TCDD (2,3,7,8tetrachlorodibenzo-para-dioxin), one of the most toxic chemicals known to man. The Tragedy started in the early 1960s when our government ordered the spraying of AO in the Vietnam War, knowing that AO was dangerous to health. They told our soldiers and the International Communities that it was not harmful. Millions of our soldiers were exposed to AO, and fathered children born with major deformities. The chronological listingbelow of the studies conducted by independent and government paid/controlled scientists provides a simplified process for studying and comparing their results. The left column lists the reports and scientific studies that concluded AO was not harmful. The right column lists the reports and scientific studies that concluded AO was harmful and causes or couldcause birth defects.

Throughout the chronological history you will see reference numbers such as a 1 or a 23, usually at the end of a sentence. These refer you to the source of the information provided. The sources are listed in the "Reference"section(pages 15-17).

Please, read the Chronological History and draw your own conclusions.


1961 Defense Secretary McNamara requested

feasibility tests for defoliation of jungle vegetation in

Vietnam. 2,4-D and 2,4,5-T mixtures used. The

herbicide choice to be based on: chemicals that had

had considerable research, availability in large

quantities, cost, known/proven safety in regard to

their toxicity to humans & animals. . . 2/3

1961 November 30th - President Kennedy gave

approval in principle to herbicide (dioxin) spraying in

Vietnam. For the year following, Oval Office

approval was required for any herbicide spraying of

Vietnam targets. In 1962 limited authority granted

to the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam and military to 95

1962 Purple and Blue were the first herbicides to arrive

in Vietnam. Later, it was determined Purple had a

higher concentration of TCDD (2,3,4,8-tetrach-

lorodibenzo para dioxin) ["DIOXIN"] than any of

the other mixtures, White, Pink, Green and event-

ually Orange (AO). The Air Force conducted most

of the spraying using C-123s OPERATION

RANCH HAND. Spraying was also conducted with

army helicopters, River Boats and by hand. From

1962 to 1971 4.2 million U.S. Soldiers possibly

made transient/significant contact with AO3/4/109

1965 AO became the standard herbicide used from 1965

on. Following 1965 the Federal Government

reported finding DIOXIN in Agent Orange. How-

ever, they denied that AO was harmful. 24 (NOTE -

Monsanto's disclosure to Army in 1952, 13 yrs.

earlier.) 1.9 million liters of Agent Purple was

sprayed from 1962-1965. Agent Purple was

far more toxic than AO. 3/96

approve herbicide spraying of Vietnam targets. 1963 U.S. Army reviewed toxicity studies on 2,4,5-T &

found increased risk of chloracne, respiratory irritations;

this risk was increased when the chemical was applied in

high concentrations by inexperienced people. The

President's Science Advisory Committee reported to the

Joint Chiefs of Staff on the possible health dangers of

herbicide use.93

1964 - Dow Chemical was aware as early as 1964 that

TCDD was a byproduct of the manufacturing process for

Agent Orange.8

1965 Military dispensed AO in concentrations 6 to 25

times the manufacturers suggested rate. It was also

sprayed undiluted. The U.S. Government knew that AO

was harmful to our Soldiers.12/70 (Note Monsanto 1952

internal memorandum on page 1, 4th paragraph.)

COLUMN B COLUMN A


1967 DOD contracted with Midwest Research Institute

(MRI) for an in-depth assessment of the ecological

effects of extensive or repeated use of herbicides.

MRI reported that, . . the possibility of lethal toxicity

to humans. . . .is highly unlikely and should not be a

matter of deep concern . . . (First USAF Ranch Hand

Study Results)10

1968 U.S. Department of State released an assessment of

the ecological consequences of the defoliation

program in South Vietnam provided by Tschirley: . . .

There is no evidence to suggest that herbicide used

in Vietnam will cause toxicity for man or animals. 11

1969 Society for Social Responsibility in Science sponsored

a visit by two zoologists to supplement Tschirleys

report. They reported finding little evidence of the

toxic effects of herbicides to animals, although they

did receive a report (by interview) of many sick &

dying birds & mammals, they did not investigate this

report. They found no evidence that herbicides had

direct adverse effects on human health. 11

1969 While birth defects did significantly increase in

Saigon, critics contended that Saigon was not an

area where heavy defoliation missions occurred. So

they attributed the increase to the influx of U.S

medical personnel who kept better records. (Note

response in Column B) 97

1967 Botanist Arthur Galston warned, we are too

ignorant of the interplay of forces in ecological problems

to know how far-reaching and how lasting will be the

changes in ecology brought about by the widespread

spraying of herbicides in Vietnam. These changes may

include immediate harm to people in sprayed

areas. . . 6

1968 Dr James Clary (former gov. scientist with the

Chemical Weapons Branch, BW/CW Division) letter to

Senator Daschle When we (military scientists) initiated

the herbicide program in the 1960s, we were aware of

the potential for damage due to dioxin contamination in

herbicide . . . . .We never considered a scenario in which

our own personnel would become contaminated with the

herbicide . . . . 59

1969 The National Academy of Science (NAS) Research

Council Committee received a confidential report

prepared by the Bionetics Research Council Commit-

tee(BRC) that 2,4,5-T (which contains TCDD) showed a

significant potential to increased birth defects. The USDA

(U.S. Department of Agriculture) had hired BRC to conduct

the Study. The Study was then provided to the NAS.14/15

1969 - Four months after the NAS Committee saw the BRC

report the first reports of human birth defects allegedly

attributed to AO started appearing in Vietnamese news

papers. 97 The critics argument fails to recognize the fact

that an unknown number of Vietnamese were forced to

move to Saigon because the U.S. had destroyed their food

crops and their villages. (The U.S. sprayed Dioxin on

63,500 acres in 1964; 160,300 acres in 1965; 751,100

acres in 1966 and 547,400 acres in the first four months of

1967, killing crops in the sprayed areas.) 91 Later studies

conducted at the OB-GYN Hospital of Ho Chi Minh City in

South Vietnam proved that AO had a significant impact on

civilian birth defects.15 (Note 10)

OCT. 1969 Dr. Lee F. Dubridge, Science Advisor to the

President, announced that there would be a partial

curtailment of the use of AO. 66

COLUMN B COLUMN A


1970 Teratogenic Evaluation of 2,4,5-T study by K.

Courtney, D. Gaylor, M. Hogan, H Falk, R. Bates and I.

Mitchell (published in Science 5/15/1970). High doses of

AO could cause malformed offspring as well as stillbirths

in mice.

1970 Dow Chemical Company, the primary manufacturer

of 2,4,5-T & 2,4-D denied the teratogenicity of

2,4,5-T, stating that according to their tests (with

2.4.5-T that Dow had produced and then had been

disbursed in accordance with their production

specifications), there was no indication of any fetal

abnormalities. Note Column B 67

1970 (Follow-up to Dow Chemical Co. 2,4,5-T Study);

HOWEVER, the Dow texts did confirm the BRC findings

that, when dioxin was disbursed in quantities exceeding

(then-current) production specifications, birth defects

did occur.67 Note the military dispensed AO in

concentrations 6 to 25 times the manufacturers

suggested rate.24

1970 Surgeon General of the U.S. issues a warning that

the use of 2,4,5-T might be hazardous to our health.

The Secretaries of Agriculture, HEW, and the Interior

jointly announced the suspension of certain uses of 2,4,5-

T. These suspensions resulted from published studies

indicating that 2,4,5-T was a teratogen (causing

developmental malformations & monstrosities [birth

defects]).16/67

1970 The Depart of Defense suspended all use of AO.

1970 - Teratogenic evaluation of 2,4,5-T (Science, May

1970) "The herbicide 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid is

teratogenic and fetocidal in two strains of mice. . . .

. . . the occurrence of hemorrhagic gastrointestinal track in

the rat fetus suggest that this compound also has fetotoxic

properties.

1972 57 horses in an Eastern Missouri arena died

shortly after exposure to arena turf that had been oil-

treated with surplus oil sludge contaminated with TCDD.

Causes of death? Skin lesions, severe weight loss &

heptotoxicity. Birds, dogs, cats, insects & rodents were

also found dead in and around arena. A six-year old girl

that was exposed developed epstaxis, gastrointestinal

complaints and severe hemorrhagic systitis.65

COLUMN B COLUMN A


1974 In the NAS 1974 Report on its South Vietnam

Study, concern was expressed regarding TCDD (Dioxin)

because of: (1) its very high toxicity to animals, (2) its

presence in Agent Orange, (3) preliminary reports of

presence of TCDD in fish in Vietnam, and (4) the lack of

any data permitting assessment of TCDD effects on

humans. As a result, NAS recommended that long-term

studies be made to obtain a firmer basis of assessing the

potential harmful effects on man. The NAS committee

could not gather any definitive indications on direct

damage by herbicides to human health.17

1974 However, during the NAS Committee's South

Vietnam Study, the committee was unable to visit the

Montagnards where they lived to verify common and

consistent reports of serious illness and death,

especially among children, after exposure to herbicide

sprays. (Rand Corporation 1967 Report, page 15,

addresses spraying impact on Montagnards.)

1977- Not for Release VA Doc. AOs high toxicity and

deformed children similar to thalidomide situation.7

1978 Paul Reutershan, E. Gorman (pers. Injury lawyers)

filed suit in N.Y. against Dow Chemical & two other

chemical manufacturers for diseases suffered by Vietnam

Veterans & their families (including birth defects) due to

exposure to Agent Orange.18

1978 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued

an emergency suspension of the spraying of 2,4,5-T in

national forests after finding a statistically significant

increase in the frequency of miscarriages among women

living near forests sprayed with AO. AO exceeded risk

criteria for teratogenic (causing birth malformations) and

fetotoxic (causing harm to the fetus) set by regulations.19/89

1979 - Dr. Paul Haber (VA) reported it was theoretically

possible that about 4,200,000 soldiers could have been

exposed to AO. 4 (note #22)

COLUMN B COLUMN A


1979 During Congressional Hearings before House

Commerce Committee, the Subcommittee on Oversight

and Investigations, quoted, Human Disease Linked to

Dioxin: Congress Calls for 2,4,5-T Ban After Dramatic

Herbicide Hearings, 28 Bioscience 454 (August 1979).108

This study, also known as the Alsea Study, cited as

showing the 1st correlation between 2,4,5-T

(contaminated with TCDD) and teratogenic (BIRTH

DEFECTS) in humans.108/99

1980 Senator Daschle and Rep. Bonior received an

anonymous memorandum written on VA stationary which

stated: chemical agents 2,4,5-T and 2,4-D commonly

known as Agent Orange and Agent Blue, are mutagenic

and teratogenic. This means they intercept the genetic

DNA message processed to an unborn fetus, thereby

resulting in deformed children being born. Therefore,

the veteran would appear to have no ill effects from

exposure but he would produce deformed children due

to the breakage in his genetic chain . . . 7

1982 Study ordered by P.L. 96-151 & expanded by P.L.

97-72 was transferred to the CDC (Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention), October 1982.22

1983 Monsanto Zack & Gaffy Study Basic conclusion

that TCDD (Dioxin) not a factor in medical health.98

(Also Published in the "Environmental Science

Research,1983.)

1983 January 18th 1983 the CDC accepted responsibility

for the Agent Orange Exposure Study. (AO Study) 25

It substantially modified the Study Protocol and

launched the Study.32

October 1982 GAO investigated the effectiveness of the

Agent Orange examination program. The GAO stated the

VAs work was poorly designed & being administrated by

physicians who were not familiar with the reported

health effects of Agent Orange. 23

Dr. G. Roush (Monsantos Medical Director) Researchers

deliberately omitted 5 deaths from exposure and

classified 4 workers as unexposed in the Monsanto Zack

and Gaffy Study, to equalize the death rates among

exposed and unexposed workers. Dr. Roush further

admitted that the overall death rate from cancer was

65% greater in the exposed population than expected.

ADMITTED FRAUD AND DECEPTION26/98

1983 ". . .the Reagan Administration decided to revised

the charter of the White House Panel by eliminating

(Continued)

1983 By focusing the work of the AOWG on Agent

Orange only, the administration laid the groundwork for

(Continued)

COLUMN B COLUMN A


1983 (Cont.) its mandate to explore the effects of all

herbicides and contaminants and concentrating . . .

only on Agent Orange." White House Panel called

the Agent Orange Work Group (AOWG). 28 - page 27

1983 Dissenting Views of Hon. Richard K. Armey, Hon.

Frank Horton, Hon. Howard C. Vielson, Hon. J.

Dennis Hastert, Hon. Jon L. Kyl, and Hon. Chuch

Douglass Regrettably however, instead of

advancing the debate on Agent Orange in a positive

direction, the Human Resources Subcommittee has

abused this issue in order to launch an ideological

assault upon a Republican White House with which

it has never agreed. Consequently, constructive

suggestions for further review and detached review

of science are given a back seat . . . 29

1984 Monsanto Zack & Suskind 1980 Study AND the

Suskind & Hertzberg 1984 Study that TCDD (Dioxin)

not a factor in medical health.26/88

1984 Sept. AOWG ordered that . . . . all documents

related to Agent Orange research studies slated for

review by any person or organization outside the

Federal Government be submitted first to the

Chair, AOWG. 33 (Emphasis added)

1984 The White House Agent Orange Working Group

also withheld a second report on the Birth Defects

of RANCH HAND Vets. This is the report RANCH

HAND scientists disclosed to Senator Daschle in

1987. Ranch Hand scientists (Dr. Albanese and Dr.

Michalek) told Senator Daschle that the White

House AOWG withheld the Birth Defect Study. The

report was finally published in 1988.60/106

1986 The Justice Department ordered the Defense

Department not to assist the Special Master (person

organizing the Distribution Plan ordered by Judge

Weinstein) overseeing the legal settlement

between manufacturers of AO and Vietnam

Veterans. 37

1983 (Cont.) manipulating the [AO] Study to the point of

uselessness. (as reported in Admiral Zumwalts 1990 AO

Report and the 101st

Congress 2nd

Session House Report 101-

672, page 28-37) The White House had been warned by the

OMB (Offices of Management & Budget) that the cost of

caring for Vietnam Veterans suffering from diseases

related to their exposure to AO while serving our Country

in the Vietnam War would be in the hundreds of billions

of dollars. The White House was deeply concerned that

the Federal Government would be placed in the position of

paying compensation to veterans suffering diseases

related to Agent Orange and, moreover, feared that

providing help to Vietnam Veterans would set the

precedent of having the United States compensate civilian

victims of toxic contamination exposure. . . 28( Page 28) 3rd Para.

1984 Dr. Suskind Purposefully omitted secret

Monsanto Studies that documented psychoneuroses and

long term nervous system & liver damage.88

1984 December 17, 1984, The Air Force Birth Defects

study concluded that There was an increase in the risk of

Ranch Hand birth defects with time (pre versus post

Southeast Asia), and this change is statistically

significant, had remained unpublished. The study also

concluded, A significant change in risk of the occurrence

of neonatal death was noted. . . U.S. Air Force School of

Aerospace Medicine, Project Ranch Hand II: An

Epidemiological Investigation of Health Effects in Air Force

Personnel Following Exposure to Herbicides: Reproductive

Outcome Update, WORKING DRAFT NOT FOR PUBLIC

RELEASE 90

1986 Judge Weinsteins Distribution Plan included

funding for a class of children fathered by Vietnam

Veterans, of children with birth defects. 36 (Question If

the Defense Department provided assistance, would that

suggest that the Government agreed AO could be the

cause of Vietnam Veteran illnesses & birth defects?)

COLUMN B COLUMN A


1986 A July 18th OMB memorandum provides evidence

that it was the White House, not CDC, that was

making decisions during possibly the most crucial

phase of the AO Exposure Study. The memorandum

states that the decision on whether to cancel the

[AO] study will be influenced by CDCs public

testimony before the House Veterans Affairs

Committee on July 31, 1986. It is important that

the testimony leave the AOWG with options on the

future of the Agent Orange study . . . The

memorandum contains an admission that the final

decision was based on the Federal Governments

legal culpability, not necessarily the independent

work of scientists. 40 (Emphasis added)

1987 . . . the Chair of the AOWG informed the Chairman

of the White House Domestic Policy Council, it has

been concluded that military records cannot

support a valid epidemiological study of the health

effects of Agent Orange exposure on Vietnam

Veterans . . .I advise you to recommend to the

Domestic Policy Council that the Agent Orange

exposure study be cancelled. 45 (emphasis added)

1986 The Subcommittee on Oversight and

Investigations of the Committee on Energy & Commerce

documented how untutored officials of the Office of

Management & Budget (OMB) interfered with and

second- guessed the professional judgments of agency

scientist & multidisciplinary panels of outside peer review

experts effectively to alter or forestall CDC research [on

AO]41

1986 Environmental Study Group, Department of

Defense (ESG) personnel informed the IOM team that

ESGs ability to make determinations on company

locations has been hampered by CDC's imposed

constraints. The ESG also pointed out that there is a

considerable loss of numbers of veterans with potential

exposure from the study because of CDCs stringent

eligibility requirements. 42

1986 After reviewing the work of the Environmental

Study Group, Dept. of Defense (ESG), the IOM team

concluded that CDC had wrongly restricted the study.43

Testimony (1990) Opinions & comments of scientists

regarding the use of exposure data & correlation with

spray in an Agent Orange Epidemiological Study. They all

disagreed with the AOWG opinion that military records

cannot support a valid epidemiological AO study:

1. Dr. Jeanne Stellman stated that available

records were quite sufficient to determine exposure

to AO. 102

2. Richard Christian (ESG member) CDC conclusions

false, he had personally informed the CDC that adequate

military records existed to identify Company-specific

movements as well as spray locations. 101

3. (Regarding the 1988 IOM site visit) The IOM said it

was satisfied that the ESG was capable of determining

locations & filling in gaps, and that the ESG was highly

competent in recording data collected. 100

4. IOM critical of CDCs alteration of protocol and the

AOWG's lack of scientific experience. 44/100

5. Dr. Dennis Smith "historical records available

appear to be of tremendous importance to our Agent

Orange Project."107

COLUMN B COLUMN A

1987 Two months later the Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention (CDC) acknowledged the instruction

to cancel the [AO] study. . . . AOWG has instructed

CDC to begin the process of cancelling the contracts

and closing out all activities related to the Agent

Orange Exposure Study. 47

1987 NOTE Once the Agent Orange Exposure Study

was cancelled on the premise that assessing exposure was

scientifically impossible, Federal scientists were able to

dismiss any link between diseases and maladies they

discovered and Agent Orange. 48/60

1987 Ranch Hand Scientists (Dr. Albanese, Dr. Michalek)

confirmed to Senator Daschle that an unpublished 1984

Birth Defects Study shows that birth defects among Ranch

Hand children were double those of children in the control

group and not "minor" as originally reported. The

unpublished Study proved the 1988 published Study was

altered by the AOWG resulting in the perpetration of

fraudulent conclusions.60 This increase in birth defects

takes on added significance when one considers that the

original CDC Birth Defects Study, which found no increase

in birth defects, merely examined birth defects as reported

on birth certificates, rather than as reported by the childs

parents [or doctor]. The CDC never recorded hidden birth

defects, such as internal organ malformations and other

disabilities that only became apparent as the child

developed. Consequently, it is very likely that the CDC's

negative findings on birth defects were also vastly

understated.60 In addition to the elevated birth defects,

Ranch Hander's also showed a significant increase in skin

cancers unrelated to overexposure to the sun as originally

suggested in the 1984 report. Air Force scientists also

admitted that Air Force and White House Management

representatives were involved in scientific decisions in

spite of the studys protocol which prohibited such

involvement.

(Quote from Admiral Zumwalts Agent Orange Report) 60

1988 The Chairman of the AOWG sent a memorandum

to its members advising them that the future

release of any information related to Agent Orange

must be cleared by the AOWG. Quote, The release

of any report, without the review mandated by the

Agent Orange Working Group [AOWG] procedures,

could constitute a serious breach and may undercut

our credibility. Any premature release could cause

embarrassment to the government. Research

(Continued)


COLUMN B COLUMN A


1988 (Continued) findings and conclusions must be

submitted to the AOWG 48 hours prior to release for

review, comment and clearance before going to

Congress or the public. 49 (Emphasis Added)

1989 The CDC released its 1983 study concluding that

AO was unlikely the cause of elevated cancer in

Vietnam Veterans. (Note: The CDC Study was

released even though it had been cancelled by the

AOWG in 1987.)

1989 A CDC study found that Vietnam veterans were

more likely than non Vietnam veterans to report birth

defects. The study also concluded that Vietnam veterans

reporting exposure to herbicides are at even greater risk

of reporting miscarriages, birth defects, serious health

problems, and infant mortality.

Any possible link between herbicide exposure and the

reported birth defects was dismissed by the CDC because

of the cancellation of the exposure study.50 CDCs review

of birth records found that the offspring of Vietnam

veterans were twice as likely to have digestive system

birth defects and were also twice as likely to suffer early

neonatal death. The birth records review also indicated

that the offspring of Vietnam veterans were more

susceptible to cerebrospinal malformations, such as spina

bifida, anencephaly, and hydrocephalus.51 The CDC

explained this problem as a underreporting of the birth

defects among non-Vietnam veterans, rather than an

excess among Vietnam veterans.51 CDCs semen analysis

of Vietnam veterans also found problems; Mean sperm

concentration 20% lower. CDC quickly concluded there

was no link to AO. 52

1990 Air Force releases a follow-up morbidity report on the

Ranch Hander's. That report, 1987 Follow-up

Examination Results, described statistically significant

increases in health problems among Ranch Hander's

including all cancers skin and systemic combined, both

verified and suspected; skin cancers alone; hereditary and

degenerative neurological diseases and other problems. The

Air Force concluded, however, that these and other

problems cannot necessarily be related to Agent

Orange/dioxin exposure, as they do not always show a

dose-response relationship . . . 61

COLUMN B COLUMN A


1991 Dow Chemical Company, response to 2,3,7,8

TCDD study by Michael A. Gallo; Robert Wood

Johnson Medical School University of Medicine . .

New Jersey Attacks the validity of Gallos scientific

study that tied TCDD (Dioxin) to Birth Defects.

NOTE Dow 1970 admission on page 4, Column B

that when dioxin was distributed in quantities

exceeding (then current) production specifications

that birth defects did occur.

1991 TCDD Study by Michael A. Gallo; Robert W.

Johnson Medical School University of Medicine . . .New

Jersey the human teratogenicity (developmental

malformations and monstrosities) studies of these

compounds [TCDD] suggest that adverse reproductive

effects can be caused by them. The studies (principally

toxicologic, but also some epidemiologic) conducted thus

far suggest TCDD is capable of producing these effects.

1991 - Congress passes the Agent Orange Act (P.L. 102-

4),which superseded The "Veterans' Dioxin and Radia-

tion Exposure Compensation Standards Act of 1984 (P.L.

98-542)."

1991 The Agent Orange Act (P.L. 102-4) established for

the first time a presumption of service-connection for

diseases associated with herbicide exposure [ such as AO].

Under the Agent Orange Act, veterans seeking disability

compensation for diseases they thought to be associated

with herbicides no longer were required to provide proof

of exposure. P.L. 102-4 authorized the VA to contract with

the IOM to review and summarize the scientific evidence

concerning the association between exposure to

herbicides used in support of military operations in

Vietnam during the Vietnam Era and each disease

suspected to be associated with such exposure.

P.L. 102-4 mandated that the IOM determine, to the

extent possible:105

1. "whether there is a statistical association between the

suspect diseases and herbicide exposure, taking into

account the strength of the scientific evidence and the

appropriateness of the methods used to detect the

association;"

2. "the increased risk of disease among individuals

exposed to herbicides during service in Vietnam during the

Vietnam Era;" and

3. "whether there is a plausible biological mechanism or

other evidence of a causal relationship between herbicide

exposure and the health outcome."

(Continued)

COLUMN B COLUMN A


1991 (Continued) The VA is then required to review the

reports of the IOM and issue regulations establishing a

presumption of service-connection for any disease for

which there is scientific evidence of a positive association

with herbicide exposure." (emphasis added) "Once the

VA has established presumption of service connection for a

certain disease or medical condition, a Vietnam veteran

with that disease is eligible for disability compensation.

The amount of compensation is based on the degree of

disability and, again, veterans are compensated only for

approved conditions that have demonstrated sufficient

evidence of an association with herbicide exposure."

(Note - no mention of analyzing birth defects as an IOM

assignment.)105

1992 Air Force finally publishes a Ranch Hand Birth

Defects Report. The 1992 report confirmed the high rate

of birth defects and infant deaths among children

fathered by Ranch Hand veterans. But the report stated

that because the birth defects did not increase

consistently with dioxin exposure, Agent Orange wasnt to

blame. 77

1992 1994 - NAS concluded in 1994 that the 1992 con-

clusion might be inaccurate. The NAS criticized the Ranch

Hand study and singled out the 1992 birth defects report

as an example of its many flaws. NAS stated that the

study group was too small to begin with and had omitted

hundreds of subject from the analysis. That made it

harder to connect birth defects to Agent Orange, or easier

not to. NAS reported Some aspect of the Ranch Hand

experience to have increased the risk of fathering children

with birth defects, but the implications of this finding are

unclear. 78

2000 Results of the Hatfield Study. Agent Orange

dioxins is still very prevalent in and around where the

dioxin was sprayed and around the airfields in Vietnam

where it was loaded and stored. The dioxin has spread

into the food chain. One mothers breast milk contained

dioxin levels six times higher than what the World Health

(Continued)

COLUMN B COLUMN A


2000 (Continued) Organization deems safe. She has a two

year old with spina bifida, recognized by the U.S. as a child

birth defect from AO. Another family living and working at

one of the air fields has two children, both with dev-

astating illnesses, including rare blood & bone diseases.

One daughter died at 7. The 10-month old son requires

painful blood transfusions every month to stay alive. Their

only healthy child is the one they had before moving to the

airbase. The U.S. denies any accountability.79

2009 Dr. Jeanne Stellman (an epidemiologist who spent

decades studying AO for the American Legion and the

NAS) - We do not know the answer to the Question:

What happened to Vietnam veterans? The government

doesnt want to study this because of international liability

and issues surrounding chemical warfare. And theyre

going to win because theyre bigger and everybodys

getting old and there are new wars to worry about.

(quote copied from chicagotribune.com)

2010 IOM Veterans & Agent Orange - Update 2010

(Congressionally mandated biennial update) stated Work

needs to be undertaken to resolve questions regarding

several health out-comes, most importantly COPD, tonsil

cancer, melanoma, brain cancer, Alzheimers disease, and

paternally transmitted effects to offspring. Institute of Medicine

2911 Hatfield Report Dioxin congerer profiles confirm

that the main source of dioxin contamination at Bien Hoa

Airbase was Agent Orange & other dioxin-containing herb-

icides. TCDD contributed over 80% of the TEQ (TCDD Toxic

equivalents) in most soil and sediment samples analyzed

from the Airbase. 83

2011 Hatfield Report The evidence indicates that

dioxin moves from the former Agent Orange storage and

washing/loading area (Z1 Area), & the Pacer Ivy Area into

surrounding drainage ditches, small creeks, ponds &

lakes, & ultimately into humans (via ingestion of

contaminated fish, ducks and mollusks, direct dermal

contact with soils and sediments, and likely via in-

halation of dust) . . . 84 (Emphasisadded)

COLUMN B COLUMN A


2011 Hatfield Report The maximum TEQ concentration

recorded in Tilapia fat from Mr. Hoc Lake in the Pacer Ivy

Area in 2010 (4,040 pg/g wet weight basis) is more than 200

times the acceptable level established by Health Canada.

Tilapia fat tissue samples from Mr. Quy Lake (2,460 pg/g),

NE Perimeter Lake (1,680 pg/g), Gate 2 Lake (1,520 pg/g),

and Z1 Lake (1,440 pg/g) all exceed this guideline by more

than 70 times (Figure 7). 85

2011 Hatfield 2011 All breast milk samples analyzed

exhibited TEQs exceeding the WHO Tolerable Daily Intake

guideline of 4 pg TEQ/kg bw/d. High dioxin and furan

levels in breast mild are cause for concern, and emphasize

the need for raising awareness of potential contaminated

food items originating from Bien Hoa Airbase 86

COLUMN B COLUMN A


1 - Agent Orange Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia AGENT ORANGE (Page 4) 2nd Para.

2 Boston College Environment Affairs Law Review Vo. 8/Issue 2 12/1/1979 Soldiers of Orange; (Page 160) 4th Para.

3 Boston College Environment Affairs Law Review Vo. 8/Issue 2 12/1/1979 Soldiers of Orange; (Page 161) 1st/2nd Para.

4 Boston College Environment Affairs Law Review Vo. 8/Issue 2 12/1/1979 Soldiers of Orange; (Page 164) 1st Para.

5 Boston College Environment Affairs Law Review Vo. 8/Issue 2 12/1/1979 Soldiers of Orange; (Page 175) 2nd Para.

6 Boston College Environment Affairs Law Review Vo. 8/Issue 2 12/1/1979 Soldiers of Orange; (Page 164) 3rd Para.

7 See Admiral Zumwalt's Report to the Secretary May 1990 (Page 26, Note #86)

8 See Admiral Zumwalt's Report to the Secretary May 1990 (Page 23) 3rd Para.

9 Article The Extent and Patterns of Usage of Agent Orange and other Herbicides in Vietnam (Page 684) 3rd Para.






15 See Admiral Zumwalt's Report to the Secretary May 1990 (Page 5) 1st Para.



18 Agent Orange On Trial Mass Toxic Disasters in the Courts by Peter H. Schuck; (Page 37) 1st and 2nd Para.



21 Agent Orange: Veterans Complaints and Studies of Health Effects Issue Brief No. IB83043; (Page CRS-7) 5th Para.



24 See Admiral Zumwalt's Report to the Secretary May 1990 (Page 3) 4th Para.

25 Agent Orange: Veterans Complaints and Studies of Health Effects Issue Brief No. IB83043; (Page CRS-8) 2nd Para.

26 Admiral Zumwalts 1990 Testimony Before the Human Resources Committee, U.S. House; (Page 3) 3 rd Para.

27 GAO 1990 Briefing Report Agent Orange Studies; Poor Contracting Practices at CDC; (Page2) 2nd Para.

28 TWELFTH REPORT by the COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS; (Page 27-37)

29 TWELFTH REPORT by the COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS; (Page 39-42)

30 See Admiral Zumwalt's Report to the Secretary May 1990 (Page 10) 2nd Para.



33 TWELFTH REPORT by the COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS; (Page 32) 4th Para.


35 Agent Orange On Trial Mass Toxic Disasters in the Courts by Peter H. Schuck; (Page 220) 2nd Para.

36 Agent Orange On Trial Mass Toxic Disasters in the Courts by Peter H. Schuck; (Page 218) 2nd Para.

37 TWELFTH REPORT by the COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS; (Page 29) 3rd Para.



REFERENCES


40 TWELFTH REPORT by the COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS; (Page 31) 2nd 3rd Para.




44 TWELFTH REPORT by the COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS; (Page 20) 2nd & 3rd Para.

45 TWELFTH REPORT by the COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS; (Page 32) 2nd Para.

46 TWELFTH REPORT by the COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS; (Page 22) 4th Para. & (page 23) 2nd Para.




50 TWELFTH REPORT by the COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS; (Page 33) 3rd & 4th Para.


52 TWELFTH REPORT by the COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS; (Page 34) 1st, 2nd Para.








60 See Admiral Zumwalt's Report to the Secretary May 1990 (Page 20) Full Page

61 See Admiral Zumwalt's Report to the Secretary May 1990 (Page 20 & 21) last Para. on Page 20, 1st Para. on Page 21

62 San Diego Union Tribune Robert Weissman Nov 2, 1988 (Page 9) last Para.

63 San Diego Union Tribune Robert Weissman Nov 2, 1988 (Page 11) 1st 6th Para.

64 Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia AGENT ORANGE (Page 3) 3rd Para.




68 Admiral Zumwalts 1990 testimony before the Human Resources Committee, U.S. House; (Page 2) 6th Para.

69 THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES Agent Orange Act of 1991; Public Law 102-4; 102nd Congress (1st Session)

70 US Comptroller General-Health Effects of Exposure to Herbicide Orange in South Vietnam should be Resolved (Page 2) 3rd

Para.

71 Affidavit of Admiral Zumwalt; 1996 Lawsuit Ivy vs. Diamond Shamrock Chem. Co. (Page 7) Para #25, #26, #27

72 Zumwalts Interview 1996 Agent Orange and the Anguish of an American Family (Page 4) 4th Para.



75 San Diego Union Tribune Robert Weissman Nov 2, 1988 (Page 2) 5th & 6th Para.


77 San Diego Union Tribune Robert Weissman Nov 2, 1988 (Page 9) last Para. & (page 10) 1st Through 2nd Para.

REFERENCES


78 San Diego Union Tribune Robert Weissman Nov 2, 1988 (Page 10) 1st- 8th Para.

79 Agent Oranges Lethal Legacy: At former U.S. Bases in Vietnam a Potent Poison in Clear and Present Danger;

Chicago Trib. Part 4 (Pages 2-5)

80 Congressional Research Services Veterans Affairs: Health Care & Benefits for Veterans Exposed to Agent Orange (Page 4) 2nd Para.

81 Hatfield Consultants 2011 Environmental & Human Health assess. Of Dioxin Contamination (Vietnam) (Page 2) 3rd Para.

82 Hatfield Consultants 2011 Environmental & Human Health assess. Of Dioxin Contamination (Vietnam) (Page 3) 4th Para.


84 Hatfield Consultants 2011 Environmental & Human Health assess. Of Dioxin Contamination (Vietnam) (Page 5) 1st Para.

85 Hatfield Consultants 2011 Environmental & Human Health assess. Of Dioxin Contamination (Vietnam) (Page 5) 3rd Para.


87 Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia AGENT ORANGE (Page 8) 2nd Para.

88 Admiral Zumwalts 1990 Testimony Before the Human Resources Committee, U.S. House; (Page 3) 4th Para.


90 Affidavit of Admiral Zumwalt; 1996 lawsuit Ivy vs. Diamond Shamrock Chem. Co. (Page 11) Para #43

91 Rand Report, October 1967, A Statistical Analysis of the U.S. Crop Spraying Program in South Vietnam. Prepared for

the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense; Page 1 Note at the Bottom of the Page.

92 Wikipedia Free Encyclopedia AGENT ORANGE (Page 4) 3rd Para.

93 The Freeman - Government Claims Immunity from Tort Liability - (Page 1) 5th and 6th Para.

94 Boston College Environment Affairs Law Review Vo. 8/Issue 2 12/1/1979 Soldiers of Orange; (Page 160)2nd Para.

95 Operation Ranch Hand; Air University Review; July-August 1983; (Page 2) 4th Para

96 Dr. Stellmans' - The Extent , Patterns & Usage of Agent Orange (Page 682) 3rd Para.


98 See Admiral Zumwalt's Report to the Secretary May 1990; (Page 22) 1st & 3rd Para.






104 See Admiral Zumwalt's Report to the Secretary May 1990; (Page 26) Note 84 (Lilienfeld and Gallo)

105 Congressional Research Services Veterans Affairs: Health Care & Benefits for Vets Exposed to Agent Orange

(Page 3) 1st Para.

106 How the Military Misled Vietnam Veterans and Their Families About the Health Risks of Agent Orange (Robert Weissman);

(Pages 1 & 2 - Full Pages). 107 TWELFTH REPORT by the COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS; (Page 11) Last Paragraph (Dr. Dennis

Smith's Testimony).

108 See Admiral Zumwalt's Report to the Secretary May 1990; (Page 7) Note 19, Last Para.

109 Dr. Stellmans' - The Extent , Patterns & Usage of Agent Orange (Page 684) 3rd Para.

REFERENCES

Al MARTINELLI STORY

FIGHTING FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

"ATTACHMENT 2"

SHAWN GUST/Press

Al Martinelli; center,and his wife Sharon talk about the chal- lenges of having two sons with birth defects.The younger son Chris,41,left, has Downs Syndrome and still lives with his parentsin Cocolalla.The family believes Al's exposre to gent Organgein the Vietnam War is responsible for the children's conditions.

G TrivGuy I

,-

- -

S E R V I N G K O O T E N A I C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 9 2

www.cdapress.com

Saturday September 14, 2013

D (;'

. L

Fighting for the next generatio

r

N

ro

..... .

.....

ORANGE from A1

But, three years later, their

that resulted afterward to - both himself and his children were relevant.

"I'm convinced, after doing a lot of research,

and research to federal lawmakers in hopes of sparking an independent national epidemiological study on the effects of

man for-the VA in Washington, said children of Vietnam veterans may receive benefits if they are born with spina bi:fida,

second son was bqrn with that some of my problems Agent On,mge on veterans a developmental disorder, Down syndrome. and those of my children and their children. or with certain other birth

"We saw one of the doc- torswe had seen three years

before, and you should have

are the result of my exposure to Agent Orange," Martinelli said.

Phenneger said 20 percent of the Vietnam veterans he interviewed

defects born to a female veteran. He said such benefits could be expand-

seen the expression on that The duty of the ship had children with birth ed to others. man'sface,"Al said. "He was Martinelli served on was defects or related ill- "VA makes these devastated when he saw Chris. to offload and retrieve nesses. decisions relying on our That poor guy didnt know Mruines and keep them Phenneger,who has scientific advisers from the what to say." supplied. made trips to Washington, independent Institute of

Martinelli said having two "During the course D.C., to discuss his Medicine of the National sonswith conditfon.s was dev- of our action in that effortswith key players, Academy of Sciences," astating for the young couple area, they were spray- said the study would cost Nollerwrote inan e-mail. starting out after he had ing Agent Orange along an estimated $19 mil " OM.has ongoing analysis served inthe Navy Reserve the river banks and any lion. His talks lead him of the scientific literature during the Vietnam War. roadways they used to to believe that amount is looking at questions of

"It was a tough situation," transport supplies that we reachable. health effects from expo- he said, fightingback tears. offloaded,"he said. saw '"Thisis a drop in the sure to Agent Orange!_ "Having children with com- aircrafts spraying it asbucketfor Congress," hl cludj.ng bifth defects." pletely different maladies they'd come off the river. Phenneger said. Martinelli said -one with a bone disorder Materials we handled He said the study can't Phenneger's eiforts and one with a chromosome had been exposed. It was be completed without the to assist veterans and disorder -was pretty amazing everywhere. assistance of government their families is a "noble according to the doctors. Bt "During that ti.me, agencies that have the cause." He said while the we came to the conclusion that not knowing it then, but records needed. time is ticking to help

it iswhat it is, and we11make knowing it now, we were "So congressional Vietnam vet-erans, there's the best of it." exposed to large amounts approval of the study with hope to help their chil-

The situation of the of Agent Orange both in independent scientists is a dren and younger genera- Martinellis and some other the water and air." must,"he said. tions of veterans. Vietnam veterans is at the core Martinelli isn't eligible Phenneger said he "The biggest reward of fellow Vietnam vet Dick for benefits associated hopes the study will result for uswould be that the Phenneger's research and find- with exposure to the her- in a national Children of folks corning up the line ings on Agent Orange, an herbicide because he was not Agent Orange Trust Fund are treated with more bicide used during the war. "boots on the ground" in to assist those wh9 were respect and get more

Phenneger, of Post Falls Vietnam. He said he has affected by the herbicide. help," Martinelli said. "It's and founder of a nonprofit had both physical and "The veterans who I not going t.o be a perfect N called Veterans Services psychological effects from have spoken with during world -we realize that - ....... Transparency, has interviewed the war, but declined to the past year have said, but when you come back

0

more than 200 area Vietnam discuss the details. 'Dick, what has happened from the combat zone you Q) vets and their families, assem- While Martinelli said to us, has happened, but should be taken care of

bl)

bled a chronological table on he realizes the govern- we've got to take care of in a manner that shows Ci....

Agent Orange findings and has ment won't likely recog- our kids,"' Phenneger respect for these people." N

mingled with several lawmak- nize his conditions and said.'That's why I'm ers, scientists and foundations those of some fellow shifting focus to getting

- - 0 -- N- ---h - ------- - s:: Q)

8 in pursuit of finding more help Vietnam veterans as being action to address that

..c::

for those affected by the her- eligible to receive benefits Agent Orange causes ..r..o..

bicide. associated with herbicide birth deformities."

Documents

Latest Chronology on Agent Orange and Children