You Can Hear the Drums and Feel the Heat as Agent Orange Rises to the Surface

These are honorable men who gave to their country. They are NOT asking for more than their country promised them. Isn’t it time we fulfilled our promises?

The battle against Monsanto and Agent Orange rages on, and these days it is getting much needed attention.

(LOS ANGELES) - Agent Orange is current again. It is relevant again. It is becoming a talking point among many. It is highly emotional, a hot button tender spot, among all who discuss it. For those who fought, those who didn’t, those in favor and those against the war, it still remains this country’s most hated armed conflict — brutal and bloody.

Many politicians, government consultants, science advisors for the United States Department of Agriculture, chemical company executives, and many vocal Americans strongly shout this war is over and done with — let’s move on!

These same Americans have not been willing to listen to or hear those patriotic soldiers who went, made great sacrifices of life and limb, and now want the help they were promised. They feel the subject of Agent Orange, the truth of the war, as well as those soldiers should just simply go way — for good. Poof!

After all, many feel and state loudly…“Hasn’t it been forty plus years and four wars ago? Get over it, you freeloaders! Move on!”

Not so fast!

Every day new revelations are coming to the forefront about Agent Orange and other hazardous toxic materials that were used here in the United States, other countries like South Korea, and numerous US military facilities.

Veterans Today reported July 6, 2011 that there are twenty-four military bases
in the US with TCE water contamination (http://www.veteranstoday.com/2011/07/06/24-
bases-with-reported-tce-water-contamination/). Also in Veterans Today, Ed Mattson, in his current three part powerful series,
focused on Agent Orange (http://www.veteranstoday.com/).

Press TV reported July 12, 2011 that an independent California-based research
institute says that the US dumped hundreds of barrels of toxic chemicals, including
Agent Orange, in South Korea (http://www.presstv.ir/detail/188806.html).

Each and every day in veteran blogs, multiple on-line news outlets, and mainstream newspapers, there is coverage of some new discovery of Agent Orange being improperly disposed of. And, reports of discovering new contaminations or cover-ups.

New documents being released inform us of current findings of contamination within the remaining C-123’s fleet that was used during the Vietnam War for Agent Orange spray operations. As of 2010, the Air Force declared ALL of the remaining C-123 planes were contaminated with dioxin. They ordered them destroyed into little pieces and smelted to get rid of the remaining carcinogens.

A bright light is being shined on the uncovering of all of this new information about the use and disposal of Agent Orange.

Brighter still is the outcry of our service members and their appeal for the benefits due them for their exposure to Agent Orange.

The exposure is not even in dispute with the Veterans Administration. If you were in Vietnam “boots on the ground” during 1962-1975 and developed one of the 14 “VA Presumptive Diseases Caused By Exposure,, you were presumed exposed to the deadly carcinogen.

Period.

Benefits are due you.

During my quest to find help, compensation, and support from the government for my Agent Orange exposure as a volunteer with the USO in Vietnam, hundreds of these fine soldiers have reached out, offered me support, humor, friendship, and guidance. They always share their “never give up” attitude. “You are one of us. Keep on keeping on!”

They are supportive of me, even as they fight their own health battles, appeal battles, and the battles of public opinion so harsh and cruel against them.

Their fight never ends. They are fighting for their rightful benefits. Among themselves, online, in blogs and among giant networks of proud veterans, they are discussing their long overdue compensation, and the handling of the government in its “wait it out” policies for many who are in their sixties. Many will die without a resolution to their claims.

It is clever governmental bureaucratic stalling at it supreme best! Denials and appeals are shuffled back and forth to the claimant gathering many more reams of paper evidence and notes.

But, mostly, it is the ever-critical time delays.

I am very fortunate and blessed to be connected to a group of terrific veterans from the war years in Vietnam. These men are heroic, generous of spirit, and fighters within every ounce of their bodies and soul.

As I fight my fight for the two cancers I have endured through my exposure, I have gotten to know many of them. I am honored that they share their stories with me. I have gone along with them down their paths, and they have taken me with them along their journeys, as we all search for justice.

These are honorable men who gave to their country. They are NOT asking for more than their country promised them.

Isn’t it time we fulfilled our promises?

Lesli Moore Dahlke is a Salem-News.com Contributor based in Los Angeles who was born and raised in the Golden State of California. She describes herself as a child of the 50’s, growing up in the same place she has always lived- the San Fernando Valley, which is a vast suburb of Los Angeles, where her father Del Moore was a noted television and movie actor.

Lesli studied journalism and recieved a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Television and Film Production from California State University Northridge. Her credits include commercial film production, numerous areas of television production; including producing live sports programming, documentaries for The Discovery Channel, PBS Network programming and Telecourse, as well as producing the first series for the Playboy Channel and various other ventures. Her experiences were vast, challenging and never routine, yet Lesli’s most challenging experiences were yet to come, with the diagnoses of two virulent cancers caused by her exposure to Agent Orange while with the USO as an innocent 18-year old girl. Send Lesli an email ad this address: lesli@alossofinnocence.com