The fight is ongoing to get compensation to those exposed to Agent
Orange on Guam. Today, one local man also exposed to the chemical during
the Vietnam War is sharing how his long battle is finally over.
Putting
on an Army uniform has become somewhat of a painful memory for Joey
Cepeda. The retired GovGuam worker recalls his time in Korea between
1968 and 1970 during the Vietnam Conflict - the same time Agent Orange
was being sprayed near the Korean DMZ. Cepeda told KUAM News, "The only
thing that we noticed was the vegetation was down and it was kind of
reddish."
It wasn't until decades later Cepeda says he learned
about the negative effects from the chemical. - impacts that ultimately
led to critical heart complications. He says he was forced to move to
San Diego, California back in 2009 to get a heart transplant and for
better healthcare.
"I didn't want to leave my home. I love my
island and I want to go back home too, but unfortunately I can't because
of the medications and there's no doctor that can help me," he stated.
"And still they were refusing me saying, no, Agent Orange didn't cause
my heart problems."
A battle others are all too familiar with, as
many are fighting for their medical benefits after being exposed to
Agent Orange on Guam, as well.
Earlier this month, Florida representative Dennis Ross introduced the Fighting for Orange Stricken Territories in Eastern Regions (FOSTER) Act.
The measure, named after veteran Leroy Foster who confirmed he sprayed
AO on Guam, would provide presumptive AO exposure status to Vietnam
War-era veterans who served in our region so they get the benefits from
the VA.
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