An Opinion

from the Peoria (IL) Journal Star
http://www.pjstar.com/opinion/spotlight/x228647287/In-the-Spotlight-Vietnam-veterans-now-fighting-for-health-benefits
John George

As I read the Nov. 11 Forum letter, "He honored the flag, now the flag will honor him," it reminded me of the many soldiers who fought in Vietnam from 1967 to 1971. During that period, a herbicide known as Agent Orange was heavily used around U.S. military outposts to defoliate the surrounding area. A chemical known as TCDD was found in Agent Orange and has caused a wide variety of diseases, many of them fatal.

On a daily basis, tens of thousands of soldiers were exposed to this herbicide. Many have since died or are now suffering from cancer, migraine headaches, blackouts, irregular heart rate, brain tumors and other ailments.

John T. George is retired from Caterpillar as a Global Information Services systems supervisor. He lives in Peoria.

READ MORE: http://www.pjstar.com/opinion/spotlight/x228647287/In-the-Spotlight-Vietnam-veterans-now-fighting-for-health-benefits