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RP Members and Connections I post this question on behalf of Sgt David G Duchesneau Vietnam Veteran and Marine.
Do you think the Vietnam War is really over for those of you who suffer from that, "gift that keeps on giving," Agent Orange?
It's been over forty-six years and ten months since David came back from Serving two tours in Vietnam and he still battling the effects of being exposed to Agent Orange. Finally, after all of this time, the VA has recognized Agent Orange. David was exposed to what he was told is, "this defoliant agent that will never hurt you or your health."
How many Vietnam Veterans have become a casualty, a statistic, of the Vietnam War?
Yes, the Vietnam War maybe over, but how many of you are still battling the effects of Vietnam? So now what happens? For many like Sgt David G. Duchesneau and so many others like him, the Vietnam War will never end until that so called Agent,"Agent Orange" finally kills them. Let's hope not!
Do you think the Vietnam War is really over for those of you who suffer from that, "gift that keeps on giving," Agent Orange?
It's been over forty-six years and ten months since David came back from Serving two tours in Vietnam and he still battling the effects of being exposed to Agent Orange. Finally, after all of this time, the VA has recognized Agent Orange. David was exposed to what he was told is, "this defoliant agent that will never hurt you or your health."
How many Vietnam Veterans have become a casualty, a statistic, of the Vietnam War?
Yes, the Vietnam War maybe over, but how many of you are still battling the effects of Vietnam? So now what happens? For many like Sgt David G. Duchesneau and so many others like him, the Vietnam War will never end until that so called Agent,"Agent Orange" finally kills them. Let's hope not!
Vietnam War
Agent Orange
Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
Health
Edited 7 y ago
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 127
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It is definitely not over for my father. He has skin issues from Agent orange and he broke his back while stationed in Hawaii. Since his records were part of a bunch of records that got burnt up, he is having a lot of problems getting the VA to help. They saying it never happened and of course unlike me he didn't get a copy of his med records before he left the Air Force. It is frustrating to see my father struggling (after retiring from the service) at almost 80 years old with the back problems and skin issues without any help from the VA. Sorry just venting, Vets from Vietnam war will never forget because they have conditions that won't let them forget.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
SSG David Antonelli The very same thing happened to my father who just passsed away in October 2016. His records were destroyed in the fire and he had no proof he was wounded in battle and recieved the purple heart. I had to get his DD Form 214 corrected. I called the military hospital in Battle Creek, MI and I was able to have them pull records based on the Freedom of Information Act and I was able to prove he was treated for wounds sustained by stepping on a land mind, get his purple heart added to his corrected DD Form 214 and got him benefits back at the VA for being combat Veteran in the Korean War. Does he remember any hospitals that he was assigned to that you could reach out to? Just a suggestion David.
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SSG David Antonelli
It was the hospital at Hickam AFB Hawaii. But I believe he tried to find out if they had anything on him there. I'll have to ask if he called them, but the Agent Orange stuff he is dealing with VA denying his claim.
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I feel real bad for those that had/have to go through these things. Col. Burrows, I just got off the phone with a gentleman from 1Vet at a Time. Great discussion. You should look him up on Facebook if you have it: Lynn Lowder, former Marine, now Veteran advocate
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
Will do - thanks for the connection CPL Mark Dudek Can you send me the Facebook link to his page by chance?
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It ended for my friend and former boss last year as he passed away from cancer, which we believe was a result of being exposed to agent orange.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
Capt (Join to see) Sorry for your loss Don! So Many lives lost after so many years from the affects of this war! My father-in-law commited suicide because of his demons and PTSD from the Vietnam War. So many lost!
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Personally yes, as I was born after the war officially ended. However, I have met far too many that returned with some form of trauma. So for them, the war rages on. The war may not finally be over for some until there are no longer any veterans of that war alive. Sad, but true.
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Oh and to answer the question it's never over for the veterans who served and the families of the ones who passed
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It will likely never be over for those that served in-country. Not just the physical scars, but the mental ones from lost buddies and failing support of the public. They are a large portion of our Veteran rank. Most of the WW II survivors are either gone or close to it. The Korean era are close behind. I see mostly Viet Nam and Korea Vets at the VA Medical Center. There are also a lot of Gulf War and GWOT younger folks. The IED survivors are plentiful, and many more didn't survive. They're easy to spot because of the missing limbs and prosthetics. God Bless them all.
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SP5 Rich Levesque
Well said, sir. I grew up an Army brat and was taught Duty, Honor, Country from the days when I would slip on my Dad's boots. My brothers also. We all served. Dad was Old Army..... Pre WWII Cavalry and retired in 64 a Major. That's what we were taught by him, and for some of us it was an expensive lesson. A price we were and still are prepared to pay. I hope that I instilled that same sense of Duty, Honor Country to my kids. So far, so good.
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CWO3 (Join to see)
Cpl Gabriel F. - Thank you Leatherneck. Wish I'd had opportunity to serve with you. I've forgotten so many of the names of the young Marines I was blessed to serve with, but not their faces. Semper Fi and meritorious Independence Day.
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CWO3 (Join to see)
SP5 Rich Levesque - Understand as best I can the grief and even anger you must feel, and you deserve to many times over. I was graduating H.S. in 75 so was not there, but a lot were and 58,000 never came back. Plenty more have scars for life. It sucks that the suits and a slice of the public let you guys down, but I'll always have respect for you guys. I can only imagine what a Viet Nam Vet must have felt while watching all the parades and Welcome Homes for the Desert Storm folks, but that falls on the suits. The servicemen and women of DS were just following orders, but you guys deserved the Welcome Home you never got. I agree that any recognition now is just too little and too late.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs My son-in-law's father is a recent casualty of Agent Orange, one of the American Legion members here in Brevard NC is fighting a variety of cancers caused by the toxin, and the list goes on. No, Viet Nam is not over, not for many.
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COL Mikel J. Burroughs
SP5 (Join to see) I'm sorry to hear about your son-in-law's father and the American Legion members. Prayers going out to all of them!
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I believe it to be true. I have brothers developing new AO problems all the time. My best friend, a Dust Off medic who serve three tours in Vietnam, came over to visit today. He reported to me that he has cancer AGAIN! This is the 3rd time. He had stomach cancer several years ago then a few years after that it was prostate cancer. Now he was just yesterday diagnosed with stage 3 liver cancer. How much can one man take. These are all in addition to other AO issues he deals with. He was medically discharged at the result of a helicopter crash that crushed both his legs. He and I was been friends since high school. I have been extremely lucky in retrospect. Please all that feel so inclined, please keep him in prayer.
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PVT Raymond Lopez
The 5th Cavalry’s traditional regimental song comes from a mistral show song mocking the large numbers of Irish immigrates in the frontier Regular Army. Don’t ever mock Cavalrymen because they have a truly sick sense of humor and the adopted the song as their own! In the song there is a verse that goes: “if you want a furlough to the Captain you must go and he says “be gone and wait till you’re dead in the Regular Armyo!” The Veteran’s Administration has adopted the song as their own march only their version goes “If you want a pension to the VA you must go and they say be gone and wait until you’re dead out in our waiting room!” Written with malice of forethought!
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I doubt that the Vietnam war will ever be over for our Vietnam veterans, Sir.
I just hope that the care for our Vietnam veterans will improve to a standard that they deserve!!
I just hope that the care for our Vietnam veterans will improve to a standard that they deserve!!
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