The Use of Agent Orange in the Vietnam War Essay -- Vietnam War Essays

The Use of divisor Orange in the Vietnam contend Agent Orange is a plant killer, which was used during the Vietnam War to annihilate the massive amount of trees (Nguyen, 1). The destruction that occurred, however, is far more extensive than in one case believed. Complications in health occur much more frequently to those undecided to the chemical than those who managed to avoid contact (Nguyen, 2). The use of Agent Orange in the Vietnam War affected the American soldiers health and genetics. Agent Orange is a 5050 mixture of two major compounds, 2,4-dichlorophenoxy acetic acid and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxy acetic acid (Nguyen, 2). This defoliant also contains dioxin, which is one of the more or less lethal compounds known to man (Nguyen, 2). Ironically, the dioxin, which makes Agent Orange lethal to humans, isnt intended to kill plants at all (Vancil, 1). It is extremely hard to prove, however, that dioxin is accountable for the countless illnesses acquired by more Vietn am veterans because each individual has their own tolerance to dioxin (Vancil, 1). Many soldiers in the Vietnam War encountered Agent Orange repeatedly. Their lives revolved close to the 55-gallon drums, which once were filled with an extremely harmful herbicide. Unaware of the possible consequences, many soldiers built showers and hibachis out of these discarded drums (Doyle, 139). They also used the barren drums to install potatoes and watermelons (Doyle, 139). One man described to his wife how they would bathe and s...