OldGuy
Recycles dryer sheets
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2007
- Messages
- 87
Old Guy; twice retired
USN/USNR 1967-1988; retired as O-5 cryptologist
Civilian ER, Class of 2001 (18 years!)
If this is old news to anyone wandering through here or the military-related posts, mea culpa.
If it's news, and especially if it applies to you, mission accomplished.
While on Navy active duty I was stationed at NavCommSta Guam from 10/1969-04/1971. Did my time, left, and got on with things.
Earlier this year, I was made aware of the fact that "Rainbow Herbicides" including Agent Orange, were routinely and indiscriminately sprayed all over Guam from 1962 through 1980 to control vegetation. More info is below on the issue and background for those interested.
There are two purposes for my posting:
First,
If you, or anyone you served with or know, was stationed anywhere on Guam from 1962 through 1980, you/they were definitely exposed to Agent Orange because it was being routinely and indiscriminately used all over the island to control vegetation. We have first-hand reports from those who were in X-Division and did the spraying.
If you were stationed on Guam more recently, you were still exposed. The island's water sources are contaminated, so if you bathed, drank the water, cooked, etc., you were exposed. It never stops.
If you were there, please PM me for info on a facebook group that is advocating for those impacted.
Second,
H.R 1713, the LONNIE KILPATRICK CENTRAL PACIFIC RELIEF ACT, has been introduced in the current session of the House of Representatives. This bill will extend the presumption of exposure to Agent Orange to all those who served in the areas listed above, and make dealing with the VA a lot easier in the future.
To date, 55 Members have signed on as co-sponsors, and more are expected to join when they return from recess in September.
Please reach out to your former shipmates. Make them aware of their possible exposure.
And please join in the fight if you can. If you support this legislation, let your legislators know.
Background:
The science, other than VA's consistent denial that there was danger, is agreed that AO was used at Andersen AFB, NCS Guam, NAS Agana, NavSta Guam, Poseidon Point, and virtually anywhere on the island where vegetation needed to be controlled. There are first-hand accounts from those who sprayed that detail when, where, and how much AO was used over the decades. It ain't pretty.
Lots of questions about the possibility that ANYONE who was stationed there, flew through, or even stopped for fuel/provisions, was exposed to Agent Orange and other deadly herbicides and chemicals.
Here's some information that has completely changed my life in the past 9 months.
From 1962 through 1980, Rainbow herbicides including Agent Orange and its toxic component DIOXIN were widely used and stored on Guam, in the Northern Marianas, on Johnston Atoll and in American Samoa.
Any military folks (USN, USAF, USMC, USA, USCG and their dependents) who were stationed on Guam, or came TAD through Guam, or were on ships that stopped on Guam during those years WERE EXPOSED to Agent Orange.
Make no mistake – if you were on Guam from 1962 - 1980, you were exposed to Agent Orange. In fact, EPA reports that the ground and water supplies are still contaminated with these herbicides.
The science, reporting and first-hand accounts are overwhelming. That number is approximately 52,000 American service members, and does not include dependents, the indigenous Chamorro people, or any of our descendants.
How many are still alive, and how many died before their time? Nobody knows.
I know that I can now explain medical challenges that are unique to me in my family. Details not needed here, but no one else has experienced challenges that I've seen in the last 5-10 years. And I'm lucky. My shipmates are dying at a rate equal to that of those who were sprayed in-country, and from diseases that can only be attributed to their exposure to AO. And their descendants are experiencing issues through the 3rd generation at this point.
USN/USNR 1967-1988; retired as O-5 cryptologist
Civilian ER, Class of 2001 (18 years!)
If this is old news to anyone wandering through here or the military-related posts, mea culpa.
If it's news, and especially if it applies to you, mission accomplished.
While on Navy active duty I was stationed at NavCommSta Guam from 10/1969-04/1971. Did my time, left, and got on with things.
Earlier this year, I was made aware of the fact that "Rainbow Herbicides" including Agent Orange, were routinely and indiscriminately sprayed all over Guam from 1962 through 1980 to control vegetation. More info is below on the issue and background for those interested.
There are two purposes for my posting:
First,
If you, or anyone you served with or know, was stationed anywhere on Guam from 1962 through 1980, you/they were definitely exposed to Agent Orange because it was being routinely and indiscriminately used all over the island to control vegetation. We have first-hand reports from those who were in X-Division and did the spraying.
If you were stationed on Guam more recently, you were still exposed. The island's water sources are contaminated, so if you bathed, drank the water, cooked, etc., you were exposed. It never stops.
If you were there, please PM me for info on a facebook group that is advocating for those impacted.
Second,
H.R 1713, the LONNIE KILPATRICK CENTRAL PACIFIC RELIEF ACT, has been introduced in the current session of the House of Representatives. This bill will extend the presumption of exposure to Agent Orange to all those who served in the areas listed above, and make dealing with the VA a lot easier in the future.
To date, 55 Members have signed on as co-sponsors, and more are expected to join when they return from recess in September.
Please reach out to your former shipmates. Make them aware of their possible exposure.
And please join in the fight if you can. If you support this legislation, let your legislators know.
Background:
The science, other than VA's consistent denial that there was danger, is agreed that AO was used at Andersen AFB, NCS Guam, NAS Agana, NavSta Guam, Poseidon Point, and virtually anywhere on the island where vegetation needed to be controlled. There are first-hand accounts from those who sprayed that detail when, where, and how much AO was used over the decades. It ain't pretty.
Lots of questions about the possibility that ANYONE who was stationed there, flew through, or even stopped for fuel/provisions, was exposed to Agent Orange and other deadly herbicides and chemicals.
Here's some information that has completely changed my life in the past 9 months.
From 1962 through 1980, Rainbow herbicides including Agent Orange and its toxic component DIOXIN were widely used and stored on Guam, in the Northern Marianas, on Johnston Atoll and in American Samoa.
Any military folks (USN, USAF, USMC, USA, USCG and their dependents) who were stationed on Guam, or came TAD through Guam, or were on ships that stopped on Guam during those years WERE EXPOSED to Agent Orange.
Make no mistake – if you were on Guam from 1962 - 1980, you were exposed to Agent Orange. In fact, EPA reports that the ground and water supplies are still contaminated with these herbicides.
The science, reporting and first-hand accounts are overwhelming. That number is approximately 52,000 American service members, and does not include dependents, the indigenous Chamorro people, or any of our descendants.
How many are still alive, and how many died before their time? Nobody knows.
I know that I can now explain medical challenges that are unique to me in my family. Details not needed here, but no one else has experienced challenges that I've seen in the last 5-10 years. And I'm lucky. My shipmates are dying at a rate equal to that of those who were sprayed in-country, and from diseases that can only be attributed to their exposure to AO. And their descendants are experiencing issues through the 3rd generation at this point.