The Use of Agent Orange in Vietnam - 936 Words

The Vietnam War is the most controversial war in United States history. From the Bay of Tonkin, to the draft, Vietnam often debated in the United States. One of the instances that made Vietnam so controversial was the use of Agent Orange in South Vietnam. Agent Orange is the name of a pesticide composed of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T). Agent Orange also contained a chemical compound called dioxin, which has been found to be very toxic to humans. It was sprayed over Vietnam during Operation Ranch Hand, as a part of the United States Military’s herbicidal warfare from 1961-1971. It was dispersed over the Vietnamese jungle via airplanes, tanks, and ground troops. Agent Orange wreaked havoc on the Vietnamese ecosystems, people, and on United States service men. The use of this chemical was damaging to both American and Vietnamese people and greatly damaged the Vietnamese jungle. Agent Orange and the chemical’s eff ects continues to be studied, through military and environmental history and the use of oral accounts and written accounts. The first reports of Agent Orange were from the military. The first sources justify the use of the chemical as a military strategy to help prevent the loss of more American lives in Vietnam. The military sources also argue that the use of Agent Orange would use less man power, while being more cost effective, and the use of the herbicide would ultimately help with the outcome of theShow MoreRelatedAgent Orange : Description, Use, And Effects Of The Vietnam War Essay1452 Words   |  6 PagesAgent Orange: Description, Use, and Effects of the War in Vietnam Many of the scars of the Vietnam War have healed, but one toxic wound continues to fester. An herbicide used by the United States promised to save the lives of many GIs by decreasing the strategic cover of the Viet Kong, who were North Vietnamese Communist. Agent Orange proved to have side effects that were not intended. Not only did it destroy the environment, but the lives of those it surrounded. While people can make moral judgmentsRead MoreEssay On Agent Orange1623 Words   |  7 PagesAgent Orange was a strong and powerful herbicide used by the United States during the Vietnam War. Agent Orange was used to eliminate forest cover for the North Vietnam Army, and kill crops to try and starve them. It was very effective in its job and was used for 10 years during the Vietnam War. Agent Orange not oly kills the plants that it was targeting, but it also had a amjor affect on the people that were exposed to it. Agent Orange is a very deadly weapon, and people are still facing the co nsequencesRead MoreEffects of Agent Orange During the Vietnam War Essay993 Words   |  4 Pagesapplication of the chemical nicknamed Agent Orange was sprayed on Vietnamese foliage in an attempt to stop guerilla warfare, launching a herbicidal disaster (Herbicidal Warfare). The consequences of agent orange, unbeknownst to the former government officials, led to a series of catastrophic effects including, but not limited to neurobehavioral and physical anomalies of the human body. As a result of the lacking knowledge of Agent Orange, the United States and Vietnam are still cleaning up the herbicidalRead MoreAgent Orange : Medical Ethics1657 Words   |  7 Pagesyears the Vietnam war and it’s after effects have shaped and changed so many individuals and their lives. I will expose a deeper look at what actually occurred during the war and most importantly what actually caused the millions and millions of lives; both Vietnamese, Japanese, and American. Problem statement: With war comes after effects and throughout the past Forty years many American Veterans from Vietnam have had health complications and issues due to the widespread use of Agent Orange duringRead MoreAgent Orange : A Herbicide / Defoliant Used By The U.s. Military During The Vietnam War1420 Words   |  6 PagesAgent Orange was a herbicide/defoliant used by the U.S. military during the Vietnam War as part of the Herbicidal Warfare Program. Agent Orange was given its nickname due the the barrels it was stored in, marked with a single orange stripe, other herbicides used in southeast asia were given similar nicknames such as Agents Blue, Green, Pink and Purple. Despite the large veritable rainbow of different defoliants, Agent Orange was primarily used during Operation: Ranch Hand [HowStuffWorks Science]Read MoreAgent Orange : History, Science, And Politics Of Uncertainty1132 Words   |  5 PagesAgent Orange Throughout the Vietnam War, American soldiers faced a problem. Thick foliage covering Vietnamese soil hid Vietnamese soldiers, causing difficulty for the Americans, but advantages for the Vietnamese. This foliage also allowed Vietnamese soldiers access to essential crops. Both of these advantages from plant growth allowed Vietnamese soldiers to fight efficiently and allowed them success. According to the book Agent Orange: History, Science, and the Politics of Uncertainty by EdwardRead MoreAgent Orange : A Herbicide Mixture Used By The Us Military During The Vietnam War Essay1350 Words   |  6 PagesAgent Orange is a herbicide mixture used by the US military during the Vietnam War. (Agent Orange Vietnam War History). The Department of defense advance project (DARPA) had an important role in the U.S development of herbicides as a military weapon (usa.gov). The first large scale defoliation by the US military took place in Fort Drum using a chemical called agent purple and a spr ay system that was the model for the one used in Vietnam (Buckingham). The use of chemicals in war is considered biologicalRead MoreAgent Orange, Ddt, And Benzene821 Words   |  4 Pagesenvironment can create devastating health problems such as cancer in humans. This paper will evaluate three of the many carcinogenic chemicals that have the propensity to cause cancer and other health problems. Therefore, the paper will evaluate Agent Orange, DDT, and Benzene. In addition, the paper will discuss incidents relating to each respective chemical. Also depicted in this paper is the type of cancers caused by each chemical and other related health problems associated with each chemicalRead MoreAgent Orange, Ddt, And Benzene809 Words   |  4 Pagesenvironment can create devastating health problems such as cancer in humans. This paper will evaluate three of the many carcinogenic chemicals that have the propensity to cause cancer and other health problems. Therefore, the paper will evaluate Agent Orange, DDT, and Benzene. In addition, the paper will discuss incidents relating to each respective chemical. Also depicted in this paper is the type of cancers caused by each chemical and other related health problems associated with each chemicalRead MoreThe Effects Agent Orange Produced on Health Essay1668 Words   |  7 Pagessafe and it won’t hurt you at all,† he added. â€Å"We were told you can drink it, you can brush your teeth with it, or you can bathe in it. It won’t hurt you. Those were lies.† (â€Å"U.S. Soldiers Sprayed Agent Orange across Korea† 1) Agent Orange was an herbicide used by the United States military forces in Vietnam between 1962 and 1971 to destroy their enemies’ food supply, land, and protection. Twelve million gallons of this toxin were sprayed. (Department of Preventive Medicine 1) It affected the Vietnamese