Takeaways:
• Cindy Winegar and Daryl Zubey, widows of Vietnam veterans, share their experiences of caring for their husbands who were exposed to Agent Orange during the war.
• Agent Orange was a chemical sprayed by American GIs in Vietnam to kill vegetation, but it caused long-term health issues for both Vietnamese and American veterans.
• The PACT Act of 2022 was passed to provide expanded benefits to veterans exposed to harmful chemicals during their service, including Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange.
• The Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is working to connect qualifying veterans with benefits from the federal Veterans Administration.
• Daryl Zubey is lobbying for a memorial specifically dedicated to veterans exposed to Agent Orange to honor their sacrifice and raise awareness of their plight.
Poor Vietnam.
And those in S. Korea, stationed on the DMZ during the 70s (and down stream bases) when they also used AA along the Z. The US Army has recognized it in a limited amount but only if you can show paperwork of assignment directly along the DMZ during that time. Absolutely no recognition of ground water and river/stream contamination moving down stream to bases less than 30 miles away and without a hint of how to filter it at the processing station(s).
Don’t ASK the VA for help, DEMAND it and never give up. I didn’t even know I was entitled to benefits or what had caused some of my health issues until I heard from a buddy in my old unit in 2012. I’d been getting my chain pulled by them for 10 years before I got the full amount to which I was eligible and now, with the help of an attorney, I am working on getting the retroactive difference.
US Army, RVN 67-’69