I am the daughter of a Vietnam war veteran. My Father suffered and died of cancer related to agent orange.

I was the first born, within months after my father's return in '66 or '67.
I have suffered most of my life with various diseases. Auto Immune disorders, such as lupus, rare kidney disease, such as FSGS, just to name a few. I have three sisters and one brother, whom have never had anything but the common cold.

I know in my heart that this is related, and I want to know if anyone else has experienced anything like this.
dhodm@aol.com
Subject: agent orange

I know that the Vietnam Veterans of America are very active in this field, are you in touch with them?

The Disabled American Veterans (DAV) has the National Service Officers (NSO)who has a respected position with the Veterans Affairs.Find a DAV Chapter in your area and ask for representative NSO. Bring all treatment records and synopsis of your father's events and your treatment. Bring also a copy of your father's DD214. Good luck!

Does this also effect children born now?
Does anyone know?
My sisters new boyfriend is a Vietnam War Veteran too, and she always wanted to have children.

Please give me some information!

I am a Vietnam Vet with six (6) children. Thankfully none of us suffer from the affects of Agent Orange, even tho I have had exposure to it.
I have talked to some vets where it has been a major problem. Others like me, thank God, have had no problems.

I can't give you a scientific method to tell you if having children will be a problem or not. I just say that if the Veteran is not having problems, go ahead and have children. It did work out OK for me.

Hope this helps.

bump

There are many children whose Mother and Father
were exposed to agent orange,in Viet Nam and in Korea.
Children born with SPINA-BIFIDA and other related
illnesses and/or diseases are the most common.
I have a son who has SPINA-BIFIDA and he nor me can get compensation/healthcare because i did not
serve in Viet NAM.My tour of Duty was KOREA because i had my younger brother serving over in NAM.
We are waiting patiently for two bills to pass---
S.1091-FOR PRESUMPTION OF HERBICIDE EXPOSURE FOR
VIET-NAM ERA VETERANS.
H.R.1541-FOR CHILDREN OF VIET NAM ERA VETERANS
WHO HAVE SPINA-BIFIDA AND OTHER RELATED DISEASES/ILLNESSES DUE TO PARENTAL EXPOSURE TO HERBICIDES( AGENT ORANGE).
All viet-nam veterans children are covered.

My brother died of complications associated with Agent Orange. On another site a guy got bladder and prostrate cancer they think is related to agent orange.

I was in VN in 65 and low and behold I got bladder cancer 5 years ago. Currently in remmission. Testing and the procedures are not comfortable. I've also or have partial ED to which I will not go into. I'm 56 now and I wasn't in VN that long but I do remember the air was full of red dust the whole time.

The VA say's its a good possibility that I was exposed to something but they won't say its AO.
Since AO takes so long to affect anyone they assume you came in contact with some other substance since being discharged. It's the system and the government won't take responsibility.

How do I feel now? Well as each year goes by I feel good but each when the testing comes about I worry because you know it will come back at some time either back to where you had it or it will spread somewhere else. Blood and urine and prostrate checks will keep you informed. Catch it earlier and you have a chance.

Best thing to remember is to keep the faith and keep a positive attitude. Without those tools you will go over the edge from worry.

Best of luck to all of you and stay positive.

Always sorry to hear of health problems among Marine and other service families.

More disturbing is the willingness of so-called Agent Orange experts to pander to what are likely genuine fears of real people.

Few areas of technology have suffered more from junk science in the public debate, In my forty years of experience with this topic (and other phenoxy herbicides) I have been constantly amazed at the ability of the junk science purveyers to overcome the valid evidence exemplefied by 55 years of industrial worker health experience—and ensuing experimental (real scientific)data.

That's what war , especially an unpopular one, can do to us.

Saddest of all, the chances are these real people are suffering real health problems and are only being diverted from appropriate medical care by focusing on "exposure" to this weapon.

I am also the daughter of a Viet Nam vet. As his only child, I have no reference to go by. I suffer from various medical defects which do not occur on either side of my family tree. I have been clinically diagnosed with 17 birth defects, including a rare kidney disease, a rare skin disease, and a rare eye disease. Rare of course unless you are talking about chemical warfare.

The problem is, my father was SpecOps Recon Seal. He was never diagnosed as AO exposure, even though his health has been **** since he came home 30+ year ago. He is now a double amputee with multiple other health problems. He cannot get the Navy to admit he was AO exposed, even though he was in country in '68 and '69 when they did the most spraying. So what is the recourse?

I cannot file a claim without him being declared as exposed. Any suggestions?

Kristi, DV
USAR, USN

There are three guest posts which I could give some help but have no way of contacting them. If you wish a copy on my research go to my profile e-mail me and I will send you a copy by e-mail
Dave Barker

I am employed by Ohio AMVETS the American Veterans. The AMVETS have given me 100% support in my research over the last 20 years. My books were made possible by the support of this noble veterans organization.
Please read The Verdict is in: Guilty which is chapter five of my book IN SEARCH OF THE TRUTH FOR THE VIETNAM COMBAT VETERAN. Also please read the three chapters on BIRTH DEFECTS In those essay's it was stated the proof had surfaced regarding birth defects in children of exposed veterans. As a matter of fact in 1984, I had attempted to do a survey of Vietnam veterans exposed to herbicides, and their offspring. This project was through the VFW MAGAZINE. It was not a successful venture as I only received 103 responses out of approximately 250,000 Vietnam veterans who were members at that time. Not getting exactly what I wanted from that project, I sought other sources. Those sources included the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Occupational Health Safety Administration (OSHA), the Battelle Institute, The Ohio State University Medical and Biochemistry Department, and the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Their resources were far better than mine, with the exception of the CDC.
I challenged the CDC nearly a decade ago when they claimed they could not find 1,100 exposed Vietnam veterans for sample studies. My critique then, as it is now, I had personally filed that many claims by 1988 in one county. How could the CDC claim they could not find 1,100 exposed Vietnam veterans in the whole country? However, I did find much valuable information from the other mentioned sources. In the article, Poison: Agent Orange the issues of birth defects was mentioned. The latest report release from the NAS now states the possibility of a link of exposed to dioxin veterans, to increased risk of Spina Bifida in their offspring. The case studies give support to that position. I still maintain there are many other birth defects as a result of the exposure
We have reviewed much evidence to conclude there is a severe problem with many Vietnam veterans children. This in fact, does show a much higher incident rate of birth defects than all other categories of veterans surveyed. When the President announced the inclusion of Spina Bifida in the Vietnam veterans offspring, as a condition contributed to Agent Orange exposure, we broke big ground in truth.
The VAO-96 states “There is limited/suggestive evidence of an association between exposure to the herbicides considered in this report and spina bifida. There is inadequate or insufficient evidence to determine whether an association exists between exposure to herbicides and all other birth defects.” There is no comment to say there is no association. It is obvious the information is at this time not complete. Research must and will go on. The VAO-96 further states: “Biologic Plausibility- Laboratory studies of the potential developmental toxicity, specifically birth defects, of TCDD and herbicides as a result of exposure to adult male animals are too limited to permit conclusions.”
During the CDC research in the 1980’s and review of available data, several areas were covered. There was a telephone poll conducted that gave limited studies. The CDC attempted to use this as “validated research” and created some clouds over the Agent Orange issues. The data gathered by CDC in 1989 was restudied in VAO-96 and placed in apparent correct status. The VAO-96 states in part “As part of the CDC Vietnam Experience Study (1989), the reproductive outcomes and the health of children of male veterans were examined. The VES assessment included a telephone interview, a review of hospital birth defect records for a subsample of veterans who underwent a medical examination, and a review of the medical records of selected birth defects for all study subjects.” This report actually revealed a significantly higher birth defect rate among the Vietnam veterans offspring 64.6 per 1,000 total births vs. Non Vietnam veterans rate of 49.5 per 1,000 total births. It is important for you to know, there were several different areas of birth defects! Not only spina bifida; also, birth defects of the nervous system, ear, face neck, and integument (skin). About half of the health problems were respiratory, as in asthma; also, otitis media.
In general the Vietnam veterans reported more health problems than non Vietnam veterans. This was 1989 and prior! Please remember, many birth defects were not reported. Those defects not showing until the child reached age three for example were usually lost issues. Think about this for example: speech problems, hearing disorders, tooth and gum problems. Problems that would not appear for a few years. So again a factor worked against the Vietnam veteran and even worse, their children. There is no possibility the CDC would have followed up, on what was thought to be a normal healthy child , concerning two million plus, Vietnam veterans. Seven years later VAO-96 allowed one birth defect, spina bifida. With a much higher ratio, we have Cerebral Palsy which has been all but ignored.
So in a nutshell, the birth defect issue is still a major issue, to be resolved later! If we hold our ground and continue to press our issues we will eventually be victorious. If we stand idle, we will lose. There are untouched issues such as learning disabilities.
Dave Barker

I was just approved for being exposed to agent orange in Korea in 1968 and 1969. Got 20% so far.If you have any guestions please e-mail me at vze2fv6b@verizon.net. I have a list of units that were exposed to AO.Will be glad to help. Will be on vacation until 9 Aug 2003, but will check my e-mail.

I am on a one week training assignment and will return 5/10. Please hold any e-mails to me until then.
Thanks,
Dave Barker

Does anyone here or know of anyone who was born after exposure to AO who has female complications, mysterious viral/bactial infections in body, and long life of illness?
I am sick with an infection that so far has no known cause and have many bladder, uterine, and digestive problems. My infection is severe and mostly affects the female and digestive organs and I may have possibly passed it on to others but they aren't sure yet. I have had this going on for over a year and the other problems were life long. My sister has them also as well as scholiosis (SP?) and an extra body part.

Mr. Barker,

I have learned alot since my husband, who has been a diabetic for over 10 yrs. He finally signed w/ the VA in May 2004 and was 100% disabled Aug 2005. He has too many health issues to list.

I am concerned regarding my daughters. One has deformed kidneys (which causes high blood pressure), the other one has thyroid problems and will be having tests soon to determine her kidney problems.

I know that Spina Bifada only recognized by female veterans, but have you, or anyone else, heard about any other health issues such as mine? The girls are concerned since there is no other evidence on either my husband's or my side of the family with such health issues.

He has now along w/ diabetes, heart and other health issues has been told his kidneys are failing along w/ an enlarged prostate which is not helping his urinary system.

Maybe this is something that could possibly be explored by not just female vets but male vets.

Am patiently awaiting to hear from any and all.
Semper fi to the bravest,
Nancy

Do it today!

My father is 100% disbale be the war according to the VA. He has heart, lung, urinary, prostate, diabetes, and cancer problems. My mother also got he cancers which are not hereditary on her sie. I am affected by many hormonal female probs, cancer of female organs, mineral uptake probs and deficiences as results, urinary issues and diabetes issues.
There is a prgram through VA to help pay for school for a few year but that is all they have. Gov. refuses to recognize any other birth defects for children other than spina bifada.

Dear Mr. Baker,

Thank you for responding so quickly to my inquiry. Yes, I did read and saved your book for future reference. I did not see anything, as of yet, that I have not read before. I read anything I can get regarding Agent Orange. I read about the cocktail recipe and try to understand if my husband's contact with it could have caused our girls's health issues, if they don't have Spina Bifada, which the govt states is by the female veteran. If this horrible chemical can cause so many different cancers and can effect the renal, can't it be passed through the reproduction system. Am I not correct that it causes a low sperm count, that possibly the stronger "one" be that effective?

What can be done in asking "the Veteran" to send information to you or whomever regarding health issues in their immediate offspring. I know not all of our offspring's health issues are related to Agent Orange, but through generations. Alot of the offsprings have to be approaching or are in their 30's by now. Diabetes can and is inherited. How did they determine or separate what is inherited from grandparents and from Viet Nam? My daughters are concerned as well as I am. I had also failed to mention to you that my husband has cysts on his kidneys, which we learned about 6 months ago.

It seems you have the power and pull with the Veterans to get their info coming to you. It is sad to visit the VA for my husband's appointments and see so many faces of tired vets who helped to protect us in a losing battle or is it a war? My heart aches for them and the spouses who have been by their side through all and probably more health, be it mental and physical, issues. The mental can tear down the physical almost as quick as a disease that a simple pill can "fix".

Sorry for rattling on but I just can't find the resources who can help me answer my questions and make me believe their answers. The doctors have been good to us, but it seems that there is something missing when I bring up our daughters medical. I think the word is "coincidental".

Nancy

Thanks for your response. Just call me Dave. My last name is not Baker it is Barker

Here is a link to the National Academy of Sciences, Institute of Medicine.
http://veterans.iom.edu/conflict.asp?id=6139